Managing mental energy to overcome emotional eating

Being mentally exhausted or overwhelmed are typical reasons for emotional eating and constant snacking during the day. Especially if you work from home and you can easily grab a snack when you feel mentally tired, stressed, overloaded and overworked.

That’s why it’s important to learn to manage our mental energy.

Mastering emotional energy

Mastering mental energy management improves your cognitive potential, enabling optimal performance, focus, and creativity.

Some of the main areas you can start focusing on are

– the interplay of physical, emotional and mental energies,

– realistic optimism – balancing thoughts for mental energy,

– cognitive renewal through breaks,

– engaging in creative activities,

– training your brain as a muscle, and

– setting clear priorities and cultivating focus.

In my article on Page 24 of the Summer 2023 Wellness edition of Expert Profile Magazine, I wrote about these in detail.

You can read the article HERE.

Here is a little snippet from the article:

The Interplay of Physical, Emotional, and Mental Energies

Physical, emotional, and mental energies are interconnected, each influencing the others. When we neglect our physical well-being through lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and a sedentary lifestyle, it becomes difficult to concentrate. Similarly, when our emotional energy is low due to anxiety, frustration, or anger, our mental energy and focus suffer as well.

Harnessing the Power of Physical Activity

Engaging in even moderate physical activity has a direct impact on our mental energy. Research reveals that exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, resulting in enhanced cognitive performance. In a study conducted on women aged 60-75, those who engaged in brisk walking scored significantly higher on cognitive tests compared to those who focused on gentle stretching. Physical activity serves as a catalyst for mental energy.

Cognitive Renewal: The Power of Breaks and Relaxation

Similar to physical energy, mental energy also requires periods of rejuvenation. Taking regular breaks, engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation, and disconnecting from technology are essential for recharging our mental batteries.

In the book, How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, the author Michael Gelb asked thousands of people: “Where are you when you get your best ideas?” The most common answers included: in the shower, resting in bed, walking in nature, jogging, sitting on the beach, meditating or dreaming. Almost nobody had their best ideas while sitting at work.

In his Treatise on Painting, da Vinci wrote: “It is a very good plan every now and then to go away and have a little relaxation… When you come back to work your judgement will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose the power of judgement.”

You can read the rest of the article HERE.

Even if emotional eating isn’t an issue for you, by embracing the techniques in this article, you can boost productivity, tap into your creativity, and overcome challenges with resilience.

This is the second article of my 4-part series on managing energy instead of time for Expert Profile Magazine. (My first article was about physical energy. The remaining 2 will be about emotional and spiritual energy.)