Comments on: Personal Energy and Frugality

By: Charles Cohn

Charles Cohn — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:21:16 +0000

One possible cause of low energy is an iodine deficiency. Since there is not much iodine in the American diet, people have been depending on iodized salt. So if you give up salt, like I did for my blood pressure, you are bound to be iodine-deficient and you could probably stand to take an iodine suppplement. Take a look at .

Life Extension magazine said you should take your temperature as soon as you awaken in the morning. If your temp is less than 97.1 you need iodine. Mine was 96.1, so I went right ahead and ordered up their iodine supplement.

By: Mneiae

Mneiae — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:28:26 +0000

Wonderful post! I’m so glad that you put up your time machine because otherwise I would have missed this one!

By: rob

rob — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:39:31 +0000

I’m interested as to why people think it’s so hard to cook dinner. ‘Bust my tail and make a delicious supper’. We cook just about every night and don’t consider it draining at all. Just chop some stuff up and stick it on the cooker. Not really very challenging, is it?

By: Lise

Lise — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:12:21 +0000

This post really resonated with me, Trent. My low level of personal energy is what keeps me from accomplishing all that I want to accomplishment. On weekends it seems like all I can manage to do to get out of bed. I don’t know what to chalk it up to – my thyroid is normal, but I do suffer from depression, and, as someone above pointed out, I do have a little bit of the “introvert who tends to be ‘out’ too much” going for me.

I’ve requested the book you mentioned from the library (thank goodness that’s easy!). I also just need to be patient with myself, some days.

By: Georgia

Georgia — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:07:36 +0000

At 71, my energy is great. It’s just the mind set I need to change. I have always taken the easy way out & so I do the least strenuous things and forget a lot that needs doing around home.

I have hypo also – have for about 30-35 years, at least. But it doesn’t seem to be my slower-downer. That could be a good excuse if I wanted to use it.

My best bet has always been to set up a schedule and go by that 95% of the time. However, since I’ve retired, that doesn’t get done either. So, wish me luck. I am going to try again.

As one gentleman said once, we talk ourselves into most of our problems in life. He said we are 90+% subconscious and it is deaf, dumb, and blind and it believes everything we tell it, even if we don’t really believe it. I have told myself and everyone else for over 50 years that I am lazy. Better change that to “I’m energetic with things I like to do, so find a reason to like most things I need to do.”

By: Brenna Kater, the Ocean Skater

Brenna Kater, the Ocean Skater — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:53:14 +0000

It’s the sleep thing that always gets me. By the time my child sleeps through the night, I’ll be having another :)

By: Sense

Sense — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:45:24 +0000

oh man, i was diagnosed w/ hypo earlier this year, but they said i was borderline so my doc told me to get tested in 3 months to confirm. I just got tested and AGAIN they aren’t going to treat it! I am SO tired ALL the time. When I can get myself to work out i have to lay in bed for 2 days after to recover! How is this normal?? Why wouldn’t they treat it? I’ll never understand.

I’ll look into reading the book you suggested, Trent–thanks for the advice.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:12:57 +0000

I really appreciate this post. My thyroid starting to wig out on me about a year and a half ago and I’ve been on meds for 9 months. It really helps to hear people who have been dealing with hypothyroid longer than I have admit that sometimes it’s not all sunshine and roses but that you can push through the exhaustion. Thanks again.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 20:20:18 +0000

I agree with these points and in a slightly different vein (I just made similar comments on GRS) I also think living a low-energy life can lend itself to frugality…as an example, I’d really love a latte right now, but since I don’t have a car, or the energy right now to pull it together to go to the bus stop and make it down to the coffee shop, I’ve opted to stay home and clean my house. It needs it bad enough that I’m finding the energy for that. Plus I just saved myself $4 and the hassle of getting to said coffee shop. On the other hand as mentioned above, when it is time to do errands, I enjoy the walk to the bus stop or bike ride to get the errand done.

By: Kristen a.k.a. The Frugal Girl

Kristen a.k.a. The Frugal Girl — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:14:50 +0000

I’m sort of a naturally high-energy person…then again, I’m not sure exactly how much of it is natural and how much is lifestyle related. I stay active, and I’ve always gotten a good night’s sleep, and my family raised us to be hard-working people.

At any rate, I definitely agree that a good amount of energy is super helpful when you’re trying to live a frugal life.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:53:50 +0000

Excellent and well-timed piece, Trent. I also have hypothyroidism, but I still often beat myself up for not having as much energy as I’d like. Exercise, eating right, and getting enough sleep all help me a lot. I also consciously avoid stress-inducers where I can (not always successfully, though!).

By: Tim W

Tim W — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:48:05 +0000

Great topic Trent, nicely covered.

I read somewhere the other day (I’ll have to look for it) that the number one energy booster was……

Getting up and going for a slow, natural pace, walk. It left people feeling awake and energized, it even beat out strenuous exercise. I think they are right. When I’m beat down dog tired, usually from stress and mental exhaustion vs physical work, I find myself falling asleep in a chair or on the couch, If I get up and go for a slow walk it wakes me up and energizes me like nothing else.

A great book in the same subject area: Take time for your life by Cheryl Richardson.

Tim

By: jan

jan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:38:26 +0000

Good post, Trent. Lots of good ideas. Do you have a solution for the low energy that comes from the body just plain getting old! LOL I find letting go of the resentment that I can no longer “do it all” helps. After 65 I still have the thinking of a 35 year old and the body is not keeping pace. Each day is a gift and I am lezrning to enjoy that concept.

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:08:12 +0000

Low energy is something i really struggle with as well. There is so much i want to do and achieve, but it is really difficult to make the best of the energy i do have. Unfortunately it is a medical problem that responsible and worse, easily treatable turned into waiting for a miracle about a decade before i finally had a full diagnosis. Health and early recognition of problems is so important. Even doctors give up if they can’t explain problems easily, but it’s worth prevailing. The hard to detect stuff is often the one that makes the most trouble later.
That said, I’d be really curious to hear how you make the most of limited energy.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:50:28 +0000

The biggest energy robber of my entire life up until about 8 months ago was disagreeing with and fighting with other people – especially my husband. Refusing to fight or be drawn in to fights changed my life – and eliminated the reasons for the fighting too! They just disappeared! You, Trent, don’t seem like the fly-oof-the-handle type but for those who might be – look into ways to avoid fights and handle anger and get MUCH more energy!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:06:28 +0000

I’m a low energy person as well and was often frustrated at how much other people can achieve without waring themselves out. Anyway, what I found most helpful for myself is 9 hours of sleep, diet change and herbs, among which the most helpful have been Ashwagandha (Indian ‘ginseng’), Eleuthero (Siberian ‘ginseng’) and Nettle seeds. All these have helped tremendously. So if you find that lifestyle changes aren’t enough for you, you might want to look into these and other helpful herbs. They might just help.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:30:19 +0000

Thanks for posting this. I’ve got hypothyroidism as well, and I’m an introvert. I so agree with many of your points, especially negative energy zappers. This is a biggy for me. Life is too short for negativism. I have much more energy if I fill my life with sweetness.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:01:22 +0000

I’m with you on feeling less energetic from the hypothyroid issue. If my meds are right, I feel great and full of energy – I’m able to make meals at home, keep the house clean and do things efficiently. When things start to get off… well, all bets are off too. I do what I can to keep my medication dosage appropriate and it definitely helps… especially because I love to keep my home in order and spend less money when possible, and doing that gives me an extra boost!

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:44:59 +0000

Great post and comments.

I think it’s also important to think about frugal things that are also low energy, for either people who are naturally low energy or for people with normal energy levels who are having a very busy week. Some ideas…
– Go to bed an hour early and read, write, or draw.
– Have one day a week to sleep in and have drink herbal tea or flavored coffee in bed.
– Get books from the library or go the the library on a rainy day and read magazines and international news papers.
– Watch old-time movies in TV- you’re paying for cable anyways!
- Soak in the bathtub and give yourself a mini-pedicure.
- At your next social event or potluck, also have a book or clothing swap with your friends.

By: Shevy

Shevy — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:35:35 +0000

Interesting that you feel like a low energy person. That’s certainly not the impression I think most people have of you (what with formerly working full-time, being involved with your family and writing this blog).

I’ve felt for years that I have enough energy for about half of my life. When I put my energy into one aspect something else inevitably suffers.

Most of your suggestions for raising your energy were pretty good but, much as I like a nice glass of wine with dinner, it’s not a good way to get uninterrupted sleep. It puts you to sleep okay, but interferes with normal sleep, often resulting in night waking and trouble getting back to sleep.