How To Increase Your Energy By Enneagram Type
Energy is one of the most important aspects of performing at a high-level, because when we don’t have the energy to do what we need + want, then we can’t work effectively or efficiently + see the results we desire.
I want you to know that it is 100% possible to have the energy you need to work, play, rest, jump, dance, run, + live. Whatever you wish to do, have, + be in life, having the energy to do it all is possible.
For today, I’m giving you some common energy struggles as well as something to try to increase it. And you know me, I looooove using Enneagram as a tool to go deeper + even more personalized with these strategies, so that’s what I’m doing. Find your number + try it out!
ENNEAGRAM 1
A common energy struggle for 1s is perfectionism which can manifest into high mental stress, restrictiveness in your schedule, + an unwillingness to take breaks regularly.
Some strategies to try:
Take regular breaks during your workday. Try a reformatted Pomodoro Technique + working for 50 minutes with no distractions, then take 5-10 minutes of a break. This helps manage your mental energy throughout the day.
Schedule times to play. This will help you disconnect from work + reconnect to life so when you get back to work, you feel mentally + emotionally refreshed.
Practice believing that done is better than perfect. This will help you to move on from tasks + projects more quickly instead of falling into that perfectionist nature.
BONUS: Try incorporating more mindfulness into your routine. Whether this is through yoga, meditation, journaling, or breathing exercises, this can really help keep you more centered on what matters most.
ENNEAGRAM 2
A common energy struggle for 2s draining your battery for other people’s priorities that you don’t have any energy left for their own priorities.
Some strategies to try:
Set an alarm to go off 3+ times per day to remind you to check-in with yourself + your energy. Ask yourself what YOU need right now.
Remove “yes” as a default answer to helping someone + instead switch it out for “I’ll let you know tomorrow”. This will help you be more intentional with your commitments + make sure your energy is prioritized.
Set aside a 3-hour chunk of time each week where you are tending to your self-care needs. Do what will recharge your energy. Whether that’s rest, play, or working on a big goal, do what YOU need to do during this time.
ENNEAGRAM 3
A common energy struggle for 3s is burnout, like, basically weekly. You work so hard, have that natural motivation, drive, + focus but too often it can turn into workaholism, real quick.
Some strategies to try:
Unplug daily. Technology can be a drain on our energy. Take at least an hour every single day to unplug from technology completely. No, this doesn’t include the time that you’re in the shower or sleeping.
Just like the 1, it’s important to take regular breaks during your workday. Try a reformatted Pomodoro Technique + working for 50 minutes with no distractions, then take 5-10 minutes of a break. This helps manage your mental energy throughout the day.
Reconnect to your grand vision + your why. This will help naturally increase your energy because you’ll get so excited.
ENNEAGRAM 4
A common energy struggle for 4s is staying on the emotional roller coaster. I know it’s important for you to stay in your feels, + you 100% can without them ruling your energy throughout the day.
Some strategies to try:
Learn how to manage your emotions in healthy ways that allow you to have more flow in your day to day life without having an emotion stop you in your tracks for a chunk of time.
Instead of focusing on the “not so good”, shift your focus to what feels good, makes you joyful + helps your body feel nourished.
Create routines + a solid schedule. I know it’s easy to go with the flow of the day but by intentionally spending time where it matters most, you’re making sure you give your energy to those things instead of short-term gratification.
ENNEAGRAM 5
A common energy struggle for 5s is what I like to call burning more brain calories than you have in a day. It can be easy for you to overthink + over-analyze but that can be exhausting, especially if you're doing it every single day.
Some strategies to try:
Make decisions quickly. Instead of researching + thinking endlessly about something, decide what is required to know to make a decision + once you know that, make the decision.
Plan your hardest or most energy-intensive tasks + activities during *your* natural energy-rich time each day. Maybe it’s at 5 am, 3 pm, or 7 pm but be sure to save those peak energy levels for the highest priority items.
Increase convenience + automation in your life. For those times when you get lost in your mind, it’s easy to skip meals, workouts, meditations, social plans, paying bills, etc. Go through each area of your life or business + see what you can make more convenient like batch cooking meals, setting out clothes for the entire week, etc. And do the same for automation. What are all the things that can be automated that you wouldn’t have to think about anymore?
ENNEAGRAM 6
A common energy struggle for 6s is feeling anxious. It can be very draining to have uninvited anxiety in your daily life.
Some strategies to try:
Plan ahead. Decision fatigue may also be another struggle for you. So instead of making decisions on the fly, see how much you can decide + plan ahead of time.
Cut back on the stimulants like caffeine. Caffeine can be a great booster when we need it but it can also drain your energy, as a 6, much faster than it can replenish sometimes. Try swapping some of your caffeinated beverages with some herbal tea to help calm the mind + body.
Find more of the things that fill your soul up + add them into your calendar each week. These are going to be the things that help you recharge your energy.
ENNEAGRAM 7
A common energy struggle for 7s is sustainable energy. You naturally have a lot of energy but it’s not easy to sustain it. And when around others or in social situations, it’s easy to expend all the energy you have without leaving some for other things.
Some strategies to try:
Redefine what “boredom” means to YOU. It’s easy for you to avoid anything that seems “boring” (like rest + self-care) but oftentimes, you’re going with someone else's definition. A bubble bath, meditation, date night at home, reading a book, etc are things that don’t need to be boring.
Stop multitasking. For real. I know you have so much energy + want to get all the things done as fast as possible but this drains your energy so quickly. Try focusing on one thing at a time to maximize your brainpower.
Like 6s, cut back on the stimulants like caffeine. Caffeine can be a great booster when we need it but you have natural energy, so adding more stimulants to your day can make it more difficult for you to focus. Try swapping some of your caffeinated beverages with some herbal tea to help calm the mind + body.
BONUS: Practice Purposeful Procrastination. I know you want to do all the things (you’re multi-passionate after all) but this can drain your energy really fast. Instead, know that you *can* do everything you want to do but not all at once. Instead, purposefully procrastinate things that are not a priority now but could be in the future.
ENNEAGRAM 8
A common energy struggle for 8s is the constant focus of protecting themselves or others. I know control + security are very important to you but spending most of your energy protecting yourself from being controlled by others tiring.
Some strategies to try:
Create a safe space for you to retreat + recharge. A place where you can fully let your guard down.
Bring more intention to your schedule. You naturally have lots of energy, so the good news is that you get to choose where to spend it. On things that matter to you, or that don’t matter. Spending it on things that matter will only keep up your momentum.
Create a vision for your life + your business. Connect your energy to it + know that the more focused energy you put into certain tasks or projects means you get closer to that grand vision.
ENNEAGRAM 9
A common energy struggle for 9s is procrastination + giving away their power to keep the peace.
Some strategies to try:
Overcome procrastination. You may find yourself perceiving a lack of energy for getting the right things done, but in reality, you have the energy you need. Just get started + know that you do have the energy. Just knowing naturally increases your physical + emotional energy.
Instead of going with the flow all the time, which can drain your energy, shift into more intentionality with your schedule. Be clear in what you want + don’t want, this way, you can spend your energy where you want instead of where other people want your energy to be.
Schedule non-negotiable time to be home, in peace + comfort. I know that’s important to you + the only way to make sure you have that every so often is to schedule it + actually follow-through with it. This will help you recharge.
Increasing your energy can seem like a huge, daunting project but it doesn’t have to be. This is not a race. Stay at your own pace. Think about one thing you can start doing, even if it’s “small”, to help increase your energy. Do that for a while + once it becomes a habit, then try one more thing. And just keep going.
I would love nothing more than to chat with you about this over on Instagram. Feel free to send me a DM at @heytaylorthompson + tell me your biggest takeaway from this!
P.S. Remember that the Enneagram is just a tool to guide you on your journey. It's not the end all be all, it's not meant to be negative, or to put you in a box. As always, take what you want + leave the rest 😘
