Our life is centered around relationships. From our family, to our community, to the world at large, we can’t avoid being in relationships. Even introverts and shy personality types are in relationships and must engage with people every day. Who we spend time with directly affects our energy. It’s important to consider if the people in your life are draining yours.
 
People carry their energy with them
 
People give off a vibe. There’s a saying that young children and dogs can tell if someone is worth knowing. People have ways about them that make them easier or harder to be around.  Their energy can directly affect the energy and the people in the room.
 
A stranger in a room can create a presence that can change the entire atmosphere. Additionally, there may be people in your life who always seem to shift your mood when you come into contact. Without intentionally trying to defend yourself, it can change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors just by being around them.
 
There’s more than one way to drain someone’s energy
 
There are plenty of ways for someone to drain your energy. Some are negative and some are neutral, but they all result in the same outcome- feeling worn out and tired after engaging.
 
Negativity is draining- Someone looking at the dim side of life, will drain your energy. People who are negative can make you feel defeated and tired in a short amount of time.
 
Problem solving is draining- Some people have a tough time solving their own problems and look to others for support and guidance. People who are always in crisis mode can wear you out and drain the energy you need to solve your own problems.
 
Talking too much is draining- Introverts and people who need time to recharge are drained by small talk. Though talking in and of itself isn’t a negative thing, for some it drains their energy and makes it harder to accomplish their daily tasks. 
 
It’s important to remove yourself from draining people
 
Under a lot of circumstances, you can avoid people who have a creepy vibe or otherwise give off negative energy. If you encounter someone in a bad mood you can politely disengage and shake off the experience. If someone’s low energy is draining yours, you can exit their presence and reclaim your enthusiasm before their energy invades yours. If you simply must disengage from people in order to keep your stamina, it’s ok to tap out.
 
It might be impossible to disengage from people entirely, but you can limit the type and amount of draining people and experiences in your life. Identifying the types of people who tend to drain your energy helps. Limiting your exposure to them will go a long way to helping you generate and keep your energy levels higher. 

There are some very obvious reasons people have low energy. Running out of steam and feeling blah is usually an indicator of an illness, injury, or being overextended. It makes sense when you are sick, hurt, or doing too much that your energy levels will fall. In these cases, rest, recovery, and taking some things off your plate can help you revive your energy.
 
There are also some less obvious reasons people have low energy. Believe it or not, low energy can happen when you are otherwise healthy, injury free, and aren’t overwhelmed. Here’s how-
 
Reason #1. You aren’t living your best life- Living your best life is a cliché at the moment, but it’s worth paying attention to. If you aren’t setting and achieving milestones in your life, it can zap our energy. Underachievement can cause boredom, depression, anxiety, and a sense of what’s it all for, anyway? This lack of something to look forward to and work towards can actually drain your mental energy.
 
Remedy- Set some goals and go after them! Find something to work towards. Tackle that project, try that career shift, take on that new challenge. Do something to get excited about and you’ll generate energy to make it happen.
 
Reason #2. You aren’t hanging out with the right people- We are the sum of the five people we spend the most time with. If the people surrounding you aren’t up to much, it can bring you down. People who complain, gossip, and aren’t happy can’t help but transfer their angst onto others. This can drain your energy and leave you feeling down and out.

Remedy- Assess your friendships and replace negative friends with positive and encouraging people. Find a tribe that is looking to do bigger and better things and you’ll revive your energy as you enjoy new activities and engage in positive relationships.
 
Reason #3. You’ve stunted your growth- Life’s meant to be an ongoing transformative experience. We are designed to be life-long learners. That means learning doesn’t end with your educational graduation. People who resist change and fail to learn and expand tend to feel worn out with an ever-changing world. It can feel tiresome trying to manage new situations with old ways of thinking.
 
Remedy- Make learning part of your every-day life. Take a class, read a book, watch a how-to video. Engage in a new activity, join a group, or find a pastime that you can get excited about. Low energy can be caused from boredom and a sense of being stagnant. Replace boredom with wide-eyed wonder and revive your energy by always learning something new.
 
People lose their energy in plenty of ways. While some are obvious, there are things zapping our energy that people don’t always think of. Combat low-energy by seeking to live your life to its fullest potential, surrounding yourself with high-quality people, and being a life-long learner.