Reclaim Your Energy After a Tough Week
Last week felt like walking through a storm with no umbrella, no shoes, no raincoat, with wind whipping around you and Florida’s signature sideways rain falling as if it was getting extra credit to fall. In a nutshell, it was a dumpster fire of a week. And listen, it wasn’t just one thing. No, no, no. Life had to go full drama. It was a combination of heartbreak, tough decisions, and some serious physical exhaustion. I had to say goodbye to a friend I just made in this new city (which still doesn’t feel like home), deal with the emotional pain of laying off nine people (yes, NINE), and on top of that, I got hit with some kind of bug that left me too weak to keep anything down. The week wasn’t just tough—it was a full-on dumpster fire. By the time it was over, I didn’t feel like myself. I felt drained, like my energy tank was running on fumes. I mean if there were gold medals for dumpster fire weeks, last week would have been a contender. It wasn’t bad enough to be tragic, but it was stressful and uncomfortable at every turn. Every time I thought I’d found my footing, something else knocked me right back down. By Friday, I was spent—exhausted, frustrated, and completely over it.
But here’s the thing: somehow, I made it through. And if you’ve ever had a week that slapped you around like this one did me, this one’s for you. Because even when life decides to throw everything at you, there’s a way to rebuild, recharge, and come back stronger—without losing your mind in the process. Here’s how you do it.
1. Give Yourself Permission to Rest!
Look, I know we’re all conditioned to push through everything like superheroes, but after a week like this, I knew I had earned a break, not that I need to earn one. Rest is not optional—it’s mandatory. Your body and your mind are practically begging for it. And don’t you dare feel guilty about it! I chose to roll back the amount of activities I engaged in throughout the week. On Friday, I signed off early cause I was managing a migraine and took a nap. And on Saturday, I took some cognitive rest. I went to test drive a car that I was interested in purchasing, went out for lunch with Rodney, and spent some time upgrading this site, all of which made me happy. How does this apply to you? Glad you asked.
Tip: When life is throwing punches your way prioritize your rest. One way is to schedule a “do-nothing” day. Yep, I said it. Plan a day where you don’t answer emails, selectively answer your phone, don’t tackle chores, and don’t even think about tomorrow’s to-do list. Your job is to rest, recharge, and indulge in whatever brings you peace—whether that’s binge-watching your favorite shows or sipping a chai latte in total silence.
2. Feel All the Feels
Last week, even though I was feeling like trash both physically and emotionally, I had to show up for my team. So even though I was feeling a lot of emotions, I was trying really hard to not to show them. But even though I tried hard not to show them with my team, the truth is, it’s totally okay to feel all the emotions: frustration, sadness, anger, whatever shows up. Trying to act like it’s all good when it’s not will just keep you stuck. Honor what you’re feeling, even if it’s not cute. I waited until the end of the day to let all my feelings out, but I did let them out. My sister and Rodney heard a lot of it, and they were great about holding space for me.
Tip: When life has you on an emotional roller coaster, take a moment to check in with yourself. If you’re a writer, grab a journal and spill it all. Or if writing feels too formal, hit record on your phone and just talk it out. Let those emotions have their say—because once they’re out, you’ll feel a little lighter and a lot more clear.
3. Reconnect with Your Happy Place
When life feels like it’s taken everything out of you, it’s time to reconnect with what makes you you. Your happy place might be the beach (yep, that’s me), a good book, or even just sitting in total silence for five minutes. The point is, find what grounds you and lean into it. This week was kind of cold here and I was feeling like trash so even though I didn’t go to my happy place, I played a lot with my plants and made space for them in my office. I also may or may not have engaged in some retail therapy with accoutrements for my plants but that’s another story for another day.
Tip: Take some time when you’re feeling off kilter to do something that brings you back to center. For me, it’s sitting by the ocean, chai latte in hand, just letting the sound of the waves calm my spirit. Maybe for you, it’s putting on that 90s R&B playlist and dancing in the living room, or calling your bestie for a vent session. Whatever it is, make time for it—it’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
4. Focus on What You Can Control
Not everything is under your control, and that’s okay. What is in your control is how you take care of yourself and how you respond moving forward. You don’t have to fix everything at once. Start small, and watch how those little wins start to rebuild your energy. There was not a whole lot that I could control last week, but I focused on what I could. I appealed to hiring managers I know to try to help the folks who were getting laid off get some leads, I worked on my websites, and I worked on my 2025 planner. All of it made me happy and they were things I could control and it took my mind off of what I couldn’t.
Tip: When it feels like Murphy was writing his law about your life, write a list of what’s actually in your control right now. It might be something as simple as choosing what time you go to bed, deciding to move your body for 10 minutes a day, or setting one small goal for the week. Don’t worry about fixing everything at once—just focus on the next best step and do it. You will feel better when you accomplish the small thing.
5. Gratitude for the Growth
Yeah, last week was trash, but even in the mess, there’s always something to be grateful for. And the truth is, the tough stuff is where we learn the most about ourselves. This week I learned that all of the mindfulness practices I have incorporated in my life over the past six months are working. Back in the day when I was having a dumpster fire week I would have lost my temper and snapped at someone. Not last week. Don’t get me wrong, I was frustrated and emotional, I just handled it better. I meditated, I took breaks, and I balanced my day with activities that filled my cup. The other thing was that last week confirmed for me that coaching is my happy place. I didn’t schedule any clients last week because I knew it would be a tough week. But a client asked to be squeezed in and by the time the session was over I was full of joy. I was also able to help two fellow solopreneurs get some clarity about business decisions and that also made me really happy. The thing is even our dumpster fire moments teach us some things, so take a moment to determine what gifts you got from the experience. It is important, no matter how bad the experience, to look for the lessons or gifts and give thanks for them.
Tip: At the end of the dumpster fire experience, take some time to reflect on what you learned or how you’ve grown through this chaos. Write it down or say it out loud, and give yourself a pat on the back for making it through. You’ve earned it.
Do Not Fret, You’ve Got This
So, the next time a week tries to knock you out, take back your power. Give yourself permission to rest, feel your emotions, and reconnect with what makes you feel good. You’re stronger than you think, and tough weeks are just a stepping stone to bigger and better. I am fairly certain that you’ve survived worse, and that you’ll come out of this even stronger. I know I did.
If this post hit home for you, hit that like button, share it with someone who could use a little love right now, and follow me on Instagram for more real talk on how to get through life’s dumpster fires with grace and a little humor. Ready to reclaim your peace? Schedule a coaching session for more tips on how to bounce back like the boss you are. Until next time, keep your head up.
