webadminMost people have experienced the occasional hour – or day – when their thoughts are tangled, and their ideas are cloudy. They can’t seem to get anything done, no matter how much they try. Like a phone running low on battery, they feel sluggish, like they can power down at any moment. At night, when they look back on the day, they just experienced, they can’t help but think: “What a waste!”
Considering how demoralizing such days can be, one can read the book “Are You Fully Charged: The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life” to get a fresh insight on how to handle their days positively. “Are You Fully Charged” is a famous book by the bestselling author Tom Rath. Diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder as a child, Rath quickly learned how to live life one day at a time. Rather than conceptualizing life as a series of long-term goals – become wealthy, have a family, and achieve perfect health – Rath suggested in his book that the key to happiness was to focus on each day.
Differing between “low charge” and “positive charge” day
Rath found that the three things that distinguish a “low charge” day from a “positive charge” day are:
- Meaning: The person does something that benefits someone else
- Interactions: The person creates more positive moments than negative moments
- Energy: The person makes choices that improve their mental or physical health
To achieve meaning, positive interactions and energy, individuals do not need to attend a weekend retreat in the mountains or a series of intense self-help seminars. They simply need to take time out of their day to achieve each goal. People can achieve meaning by doing a favor for a loved one, such as cleaning the house or surprising the cherished individual with a homemade dinner. People can foster positive interactions by calling their family members to let them know that they’re thinking of them. And individuals can increase their energy by getting enough sleep, practicing meditation, exercising, and eating nutritious food.
By making sure that one achieves all the three components every day, people can minimize the days when they go to bed unsatisfied.
Backed by research
The methods outlined in “Are You Fully Charged” were inspired by research that indicated that daily wellbeing is distinct from people’s overall perception of their lives. For instance, many people suspect that wealth is the key to happiness – however, wealth does nothing to improve daily happiness. Although it seems natural to assume that wealthier countries are happier than poorer countries, research has indicated that the happiest country in the world in 2019 was Finland, a country that ranked 27 in terms of wealth.
Thanks to the almost ubiquitous use of smartphones, collecting information about daily living has never been easier. More and more research indicates that daily happiness is distinct from the more traditional markers of success.
Find your own daily happiness
Compared to other books that focus on happiness, “Are You Fully Charged?” is less intimidating, given that its message focuses on one day at a time. Readers do not need to radically alter their lives, or work on a single problem for weeks, months, or even years. They only need to do small, positive things on a daily basis. However, like many self-help books, many of the techniques outlined in “Are You Fully Charged?” seem to be easier said than done. After all, how can a person fight cloudy thoughts if that cloudiness is due to a drug addiction or a mental health disorder? Although a single book is not enough to treat a serious illness, it can be a valuable tool when combined with therapy or medication.
If you or a loved one is experiencing stress and battling mental health disorders and is looking for a licensed mental health treatment center, get in touch with Mind Health Network. Call our 24/7 helpline 866 548-0190 and speak to a member from our admissions team. With the help of just a few questions, they can assess your condition and assist your admission to one of our state-of-the-art partner mental health treatment centers. You can also chat online to a representative for more information on mental health services offered at our network facilities.
