Welcome to the 26th issue of 5 Minute Friday from The Backpack CPA! Every Friday I share a short newsletter with tips & resources to help you with your professional & personal growth & development!

Let's start "GROWING" through our human journey instead of just "GOING" through it!

First a few words from an (anonymous) wise person…

“Remember: not everyone deserves your energy.” ― Unknown

Fend Off The Energy Vampires 🧛🧛‍♀️

We all have those days when we feel like our energy is being drained. Everyone has experienced mental exhaustion, and it can be a challenge to stay productive and focused. When you’re in this state of mind, it can be frustrating because you don’t know what the source of your exhaustion is or how to combat it. Well, the answer might be energy vampires! I recently watched a YouTube video by Dandapani, a former Indian Monk, who was talking about “energy vampires,” & it inspired me to dig a little more into the topic. We’ll take a look at what they are, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself from their draining effects, especially during busy times like this!

So, What Are Energy Vampires?
Energy vampires are people who make us feel exhausted or emotionally drained after interacting with them. Most of the time they usually do this without meaning any harm; they just have an effect on us that drains us of our energy reserves, however, there might be some*, that do it because they have nothing better to do. This could be your clients, employees, employer, friends, family, or even random strangers.

Some characteristics of energy vampires might be someone who talks too much or too loudly or someone who monopolizes conversations without allowing others to get a word in, i.e. they have poor listening skills. It could also be someone who is constantly negative or pessimistic about everything—and no matter what the circumstances are, they always find something wrong with the way things are going.

Note that energy vampire is not a scientific term, but rather just a metaphor.

Spotting Energy Vampires
Now that you know what energy vampires are, let’s discuss how to identify them in your life. One way is to pay attention to how you feel after spending time with certain people—do you often leave feeling drained and exhausted? If so, that could indicate that person is an energy vampire for you. If there’s more than one person in your life that makes you feel this way, then it might be time for an honest evaluation of your relationship with them.

Fending Off Energy Vampires
The next step is learning how to protect yourself from these draining effects of energy vampires in your life. Setting boundaries with these individuals can help keep their influence at bay while still maintaining a good relationship with them. You can also practice meditation or mindfulness techniques which help keep your inner peace intact while engaging with these individuals so they don’t drag down your mood and leave you feeling depleted afterward. Additionally, taking breaks throughout the day will give you a chance to recharge and refocus before getting back into the swing of things again (this works great if you work around many energy vampires). Lastly, focusing on activities and relationships that bring out the best in you can help limit the amount of time spent around draining personalities or situations. Remember only you know what is best for you, so try to find a practice that works best for you and it’s okay to say NO sometimes!

It's natural for us all to experience moments where we feel mentally exhausted due to interactions with other people—but if this feeling lingers after every interaction with one particular individual (or several), then it's possible that person(s) may be an “energy vampire" for you! The key is recognizing when this happens so that measures can be taken to limit their draining effect on your mental health and well-being. By following some simple steps such as setting boundaries between yourself and these individuals, practicing mindfulness techniques during interactions, taking regular breaks throughout the day, and focusing on activities/relationships that bring out the best in us, we can ward off any negative influences in our lives caused by these “energy vampires". Doing so will ensure our mental reserves stay strong enough so we don't become overwhelmed by stress!

P.S. I’ll be presenting A FREE WEBINAR! Would love for you to check it out!

Hosted by The Grove powered by Liscio titled “Mindfulness for The Busy Professional” on February 22, 2023, at 12 PM PST | 2 PM CST | 3 PM EST

Webinar Details & Registration Link

📗💡 Learning/Tools

The Power of Your Breath 😮‍💨

I shared this tool several newsletters ago, but I feel like it’s a relevant & timely tool that needs to be shared again (but with a little different twist)! Below is a 2-minute breathing exercise to help you calm down and manage your stress.

Quick summary on how to use breathing:

This practice is designed to help you feel relaxed and refreshed, so you can tackle any challenges that come your way.

First, sit down comfortably & place both feet flat on the ground & place your feet roughly hip-width apart. Try to sit up straight with your shoulders relaxed & close your eyes while you do this. Note: You may also lie down.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose, counting to four as you inhale.
Hold your breath for four counts.
Exhale slowly through your nose, counting to four.
Hold your breath for four counts.
Repeat this pattern for the next 2 minutes.
As you reach the end of this exercise, take one final deep breath in, hold it for four counts, and exhale slowly. Open your eyes, feeling refreshed and calm. Remember that you can practice this exercise whenever you feel overwhelmed, and it will help you manage stress and regain your sense of peace.

Note: In the beginning do it for a couple of minutes and build it up.

Helpful Tips:
As you breathe, let your mind focus on the rhythm of your breathing. Let all your worries and thoughts fade away. Imagine yourself in a peaceful place, surrounded by nature. It could be a beach, a forest, or a mountain.

Visualize the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore, the birds chirping, or the wind rustling through the leaves. Allow yourself to be fully immersed in this peaceful environment.

Take care and stay relaxed!

Leave a comment

If you want to chat about anything feel free to send me a message or even book a time to chat https://calendly.com/vbcpa/thebackpackcpa

Stay inspired & keep growing 🚀,

Vimal (or Vic)

📌Follow me on Twitter!

📌Connect with me on LinkedIN!

P.S. Know someone who would like this content? I would REALLY appreciate it if you sent them here:

Share 5 Minute Friday - by The Backpack CPA!

This blog has been verified by Rise: R7ec0ec52b60aa24da4e15f39b6afff60

5 Minute Friday - by The Backpack CPA!

Issue #26 - Energy Vampires 🧛🧛‍♀️