Are You Using an Energy Crutch?

June 30, 2025

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How we unconsciously override our energy - and what it might be costing us.

We’ve all done it.

Grabbed another coffee. Rallied through a meeting. Pushed through a “just get it done” task. Even when something inside was saying: Not now.

We don’t talk about it often, but these moments are everywhere - especially among high-performing, committed professionals. They’re usually framed as focus, grit, or resilience.

But sometimes, they’re actually a signal: We’re compensating for a misalignment of energy - without noticing.

What’s an “Energy Crutch”?

Think of it as a quick fix - something we rely on to keep going when our energy, clarity, or presence is dipping. Not inherently bad. Not a weakness. Just... automatic.

Here are a few we see a lot:

▪ Caffeine or snacks to simulate alertness

▪ Task stacking - doing more instead of resetting

▪ Adrenaline spikes from urgency or pressure

▪ Busywork or over-functioning to regain control

▪ Distraction as a shield from misalignment

None of these are “bad.” But over time, they pull us away from something vital: awareness.

The Cost of Compensating

When we normalize overriding our energy, we begin to lose touch with it. We stop asking simple, human questions like:

“What kind of energy is this task asking for?” “Where is my energy being pulled - or drained?” “What am I ignoring right now, in order to perform?”

Over time, the cost isn’t just exhaustion. It’s disconnection - from clarity, creativity, and even purpose.

A Different Kind of Awareness

In the conversations we’re having with leaders and teams lately, this question keeps surfacing:

“What if my energy is telling me something - before my performance does?”

That’s become a powerful starting point.

There’s a whole new field of work forming around the idea that performance isn’t just about time management or mindset - it’s about energy alignment. And when we start noticing our crutches, we begin to reclaim our ability to show up differently.

Not perfectly. Just more aligned.

Try This This Week:

• Take one day to observe: What’s my go-to energy crutch?

• Notice: When do I reach for it, and what’s the story underneath it?

You don’t have to change anything. Just notice. Awareness is the first shift.