Do you ever hit 6 p.m. and feel completely done… like you have nothing left to give? Your patience is gone, your body feels heavy, and all you want to do is collapse on the couch and not move.

For a long time, I thought that was just part of life. I assumed I was exhausted because I was too busy. But then I realized… it wasn’t just what I was doing that drained me. It was where my energy was going.

Let me paint a picture.

Just recently, I had one of those days. The kind where you wake up already tired because you stayed up too late the night before. I rolled out of bed, groggy, and before I could even process what time it was, my kids were at my bedside… wide awake and ready to play board games.

➡️ It was 5 a.m., and my brain wasn’t even functioning yet.
➡️ Breakfast was rushed, getting the kids dressed was chaotic, and getting out the door on time felt like an Olympic event.
➡️ The whole morning felt like I was just reacting instead of being in control.

Then came a full day of back-to-back calls, errands, school pickups, dinner, dishes, bedtime chaos—a constant stream of demands pulling at me from every direction. By 8 p.m., I finally collapsed onto the couch. But instead of doing something to recharge, I mindlessly scrolled my phone. One hour turned into two, and by the time I dragged myself to bed, I felt just as exhausted as when I woke up.

Sound familiar?

That day, I had a realization: it wasn’t just about being too busy. I had the same 24 hours as always, but my energy was leaking everywhere. Into overstimulating mornings, stressful transitions, draining conversations, and tasks that left me depleted.

The problem wasn’t just that I had a lot to do—it was that I wasn’t protecting my energy or being intentional about where it went.

If you’ve ever ended the day feeling like a burnt-out shell of yourself, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: you can shift it.

I’m going to show you exactly how to figure out where your energy is going—and how to take it back. Let’s get into it.

Why You’re Actually Exhausted (It’s Not Just About Doing Too Much)

If you’ve ever ended the day feeling like a burnt-out shell of yourself, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing... it’s not just about how much you’re doing.

For years, I thought my exhaustion came from having too much on my plate. I figured if I could just be more efficient... if I could get through my to-do list faster... if I could squeeze in more self-care... then I wouldn’t feel so drained.

But even on the days when I did get everything done, I still felt wiped out. That’s when I realized something huge: time management isn’t the problem... energy management is.

Think of your energy like this candle.

At the start of the day, you wake up with a full flame. You have patience, focus, motivation. You’re answering questions, handling responsibilities, checking things off the list.

But little by little, the flame starts burning down...

➡️ You rush through the morning, handling everyone else’s needs before your own.
➡️ You sit through meetings that leave you drained.
➡️ You deal with overstimulating noise, endless decision-making, or emotional stress.
➡️ You push through the afternoon crash, telling yourself you’ll rest later.

And by the end of the day…

This is you. Worn down. Barely flickering.

But here’s the thing... some things burn your energy faster than others.

Some tasks feel like a slow, steady burn. Manageable. They take effort, but they don’t deplete you.

Others? They take your energy fast—like wind blowing out the flame.

Have you ever noticed how some things exhaust you way more than others... even if they take the same amount of time? That’s because not all tasks drain you equally.

➡️ A 30-minute meeting can feel like an eternity if it’s draining... but an hour of something you love can leave you feeling energized.
➡️ School pickup can leave you frazzled... but a walk outside can reset your whole mood in five minutes.

It’s not just what you’re doing… it’s where your energy is going.

So instead of asking, “How can I get more done?”... the real question is, “Where is my energy leaking?”

How to Track Where Your Energy Is Going (So You Can Take It Back)

If you’ve ever wondered, Why am I so exhausted when I haven’t even done that much today?… this is your answer.

In the last section, we talked about how not all tasks drain you equally. Some things slowly burn your energy over time, while others drain you instantly. And the only way to start protecting your energy is to first see where it’s actually going.

So instead of guessing, we’re going to do a simple Energy Audit… a super easy way to track what’s draining vs. replenishing you. This isn’t about adding another task to your plate. It’s about making tiny, intentional shifts that change how you feel at the end of the day.

Use Your Calendar or Timebox Your Day

You don’t need to track your entire day as you go… we’re making this simple. At the end of the day, either:
✔ Look at your calendar (if you use one) and review what you did
✔ Or jot down a quick timeline of your day from memory… nothing fancy

📌 Example:
6 AM – Wake up + get kids ready + school run
8 AM – Coffee + workout
10 AM – Client calls
12 PM – Lunch
1 PM - Content creation
3 PM – School pickup + after-school classes
5 PM – Kids' dinner + bedtime
7 PM - Dinner
8 PM – TV + unwind
9 PM - Scrolling on social media

Mark What’s Boosting vs. Draining You

Now, go down your list and label each task with:
🔋 (Boosting) – Gives you energy, feels good
🚫 (Draining) – Leaves you exhausted, overstimulated, or overwhelmed
➖ (Neutral) – Doesn’t really change your energy

📌 Example with Labels:
6 AM – Wake up + get kids ready + school run 🚫 (Chaotic, stressful)
8 AM – Coffee + workout 🔋 (Energising, feels good)
10 AM – Client calls 🔋 (Connection, fulfilling)
12 PM – Lunch 🔋 (Nice break, feels refreshed)
1 PM - Content creation 🔋 (Creative, fulfilling)
3 PM – School pickup + after-school classes 🚫 (Stressful, lots of driving)
5 PM – Kids' dinner + bedtime 🚫 (Overstimulating, lots of demands)
7 PM - Dinner ➖ (Okay, but rushed)
8 PM – TV + unwind 🔋 (Relaxing, decompressing)
9 PM - Scrolling on social media 🚫 (MIndless, causes anxiety)

This step alone is eye-opening. You’ll start seeing patterns almost immediately.

How to Protect Your Energy (So You Don’t End the Day Running on Empty)

Now that you’ve tracked where your energy is going, let’s talk about how to protect it… because knowing what drains you is only half the battle. The key is not to eliminate all energy drains (that’s impossible), but to be intentional about balancing them with more energy boosters.

The real shift happens when you start making small, intentional changes to stop the biggest energy leaks and add in more things that actually fuel you.

Here are three simple ways to do that:

1. Set a Boundary Around Your Biggest Energy Drain

Look back at your Energy Audit... What’s the one thing that consistently drains you the most? That’s where you need a boundary.

Example Adjustments:
🚫 If meetings drain you, block a 10-minute reset afterwards instead of jumping straight into another task. This gives your brain a moment to breathe.
🚫 If social media sucks you in, set a timer before scrolling so you don’t accidentally lose an hour.
🚫 If you feel overstimulated by noise all day, carve out one quiet moment… even if it’s just sitting in your car for a few minutes before heading inside.

✅ Why it works: When you put even a small boundary around your biggest drain, you stop bleeding energy unnecessarily.

2. Swap a Drain for a Boost

You might not be able to remove an energy drain completely, but you can pair it with something that recharges you.

Example Adjustments:
🚫 If school pickup is stressful, play music or a podcast you enjoy on the way.
🚫 If mornings are chaotic, prep one thing the night before… like kids’ snacks or their outfits—so you start the day feeling more in control.
🚫 If cooking dinner feels exhausting, try a meal that’s easier or actually enjoyable to make.

✅ Why it works: Instead of just “getting through” the draining parts of your day, you make them more tolerable… or even enjoyable.

3. Schedule More Energy Boosters

Most people wait until they’re already exhausted to rest—but by then, it’s too late. Instead, proactively add small energy boosts throughout your day.

Ideas for Quick Boosters:
✔ Step outside for 5 minutes of fresh air.
✔ Do a short stretch or deep breathing before switching tasks.
✔ Take a real lunch break instead of eating while working.
✔ End the day with something that actually recharges you (instead of just numbing out with your phone).

✅ Why it works: When you intentionally add in energy boosters, you don’t hit that 6 p.m. wall feeling completely depleted.

Taking Back Your Energy Starts Today

I know how exhausting it feels to pour everything into your day and still end up completely drained by the evening. You push through, thinking this is just how life is… but deep down, you’re wondering, why does it have to feel this hard?

But here’s what I want you to take away from this: small shifts really do add up. It’s not about doing less—it’s about protecting what keeps you going. And the first step is simply paying attention to where your energy is actually going.

So here’s what I’d like to invite you to do:

📌 Try the Energy Audit tonight. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just jot down what you did today and mark what drained you vs. what fueled you. Even a quick review of your day will start showing you patterns.

📌 Share what you notice. I love hearing from you! What surprised you? What’s draining you the most? What’s actually fueling you more than you expected?

Sometimes, even just naming what’s depleting you can feel like a relief. It gives you clarity. And clarity makes it easier to shift things… even in small ways.

I see you, I get it, and I want you to know... your energy matters. Protect that flame. 💕

Find Out Why You're Drained Every Day and How to Change It