July 24, 2025

The Real Reason You’re Exhausted (And How to Fix It)

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel completely drained, even though you haven’t done anything physically exhausting? I’ve come to realize that it’s not always about what we do — it’s about what we leave undone. Those small, unresolved tasks, thoughts, and distractions are what Steffany and I call energy leaks. They quietly rob us of clarity, productivity, and peace of mind.

Over the years, I’ve learned that managing my mindset is as much about removing distractions as it is about building focus. In this week’s episode of Mindset Matters, Steffany and I unpacked what energy leaks are, how they affect us, and how we can start closing them.

Here are five key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Unfinished Tasks Drain Mental Bandwidth
   That pile of papers you keep walking past? The closet you’ve been meaning to clean? These are more than just chores. They’re incompletions, and each time you mentally acknowledge them without action, you create a micro-drain on your energy. You may not even realize how much they weigh on your capacity to focus until you address them.
2. Unspoken Conversations Create Emotional Leaks
   Avoiding difficult conversations or harboring unexpressed thoughts keeps you tethered to emotional stress. These open loops don’t just sit in the background; they affect your mood, energy, and even how present you are with others.
3. Broken Self-Commitments Erode Trust
   Whether it’s skipping your morning routine or breaking a diet you promised yourself you’d follow, these little betrayals diminish self-trust. When we lose trust in ourselves, our motivation takes a hit. Every “I’ll do it tomorrow” that doesn’t happen contributes to a cycle of self-judgment and procrastination.
4. Gossip and Distraction Steal Energy
   Let’s be honest — gossip is an energy leak. It takes us away from our own growth and keeps us in someone else’s story. The same goes for distractions like social media or constantly checking your phone. These behaviors scatter your focus and pull you away from the moment you’re in.
5. Awareness is the First Step to Closing the Leak
   The good news? Energy leaks can be identified and closed. Start by making a list of what feels incomplete in your life — from chores to unresolved emotions. You don’t need to finish them all right away. Just bringing awareness to them starts the process. Sometimes the act of naming them is enough to take back your power and refocus your energy.

When we clean up these leaks, we create space for clarity, creativity, and deeper connection. It’s not about doing more — it’s about cleaning up the clutter that gets in the way of what really matters.

If you want to generate more energy in your life, don’t just think about what to add. Start by asking yourself what you need to release.