The Energy Bank: A Practical Tool

Exhaustion, whether professional or related to our role as caregivers, can be prevented with various supports, whether it be help from our loved ones or a professional who can help us recognize the warning signs. Among the concepts and tools we offer at the Group of Southwest Caregivers (GASO), we often use the "energy bank" concept (2022, Brissette and Arcand). It is a visual concept that adapts well to the different areas of our lives and can help prevent burnout.

To start, one can compare it to a bank account where we deposit the money we receive and from which we withdraw funds to make payments. If we have no more money in our bank account because we withdraw more money than we deposit, we will eventually go bankrupt.

The principle is the same with energy, except that we never know how much energy we'll start a new day with. We make energy withdrawals to accomplish daily tasks, whose energy cost varies according to their level of demand. Meanwhile, we can also make deposits, which means recharging our energy by engaging in activities we enjoy that make us feel good (for example: walking, meditating, reading a book, playing sports...) or by surrounding ourselves with appreciative people in our different roles (caregiver, worker, parent, etc.).

In our day, we will have tasks linked to various areas of our lives, including caregiving and work. It is important to always maintain a balance between our energy deposits and withdrawals. Therefore, we need to analyze our different tasks for the day and ask ourselves: "Will we have enough energy to accomplish them?" If not, is it possible to make deposits in my day that will allow me to maintain the balance? Do I perhaps need to postpone certain tasks that will cost me energy?

Here is an example of what could be a typical day for a working caregiver: Réal works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a bank and also takes care of his elderly father who lives downstairs to help with daily needs. Réal wakes up one morning after a very short night, having recovered about 70% of his total energy. He knows he has an important meeting with a client from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., but he also remembers he needs to take his father to the hospital around 1 p.m., which will likely require him to stay for many hours due to the long waits.

If Réal wants to balance his energy between the work meeting and the hospital appointment with his father, he might ask himself if he can make deposits in his day to take care of himself. For example; 

Réal remembers that a good friend is in town and he could call her to have lunch together. He knows that talking to someone he trusts after a big meeting would allow him to relieve some pressure and feel more present and energized for the hospital appointment with his father afterward. 

If in the same situation, Réal couldn't find a realistic deposit to avoid an energy bankruptcy, he might consider rescheduling one of his tasks for another time to maintain a balance and get through his day with a positive energy level.

It is not always easy to make compromises in our tasks by changing them from one day to another or by setting aside moments for ourselves (deposits) in a day. That's why we always recommend starting by analyzing a typical day in your life and seeing how you feel at the beginning and end of such a day. This can help you identify some tasks that could be postponed to another time or day, or to include some deposits in this day to keep your head above water and prevent long-term burnout.

If you start to pay attention to it, it will also become easier to apply this in your daily life and in your various life spheres, which can help you learn to take care of yourself and listen to your needs.

Please note that this is an exercise that may require guidance. Our psychosocial counselors are available to guide you in this reflection and help you appropriate this tool. Contact us at 514-563-3061 for an appointment.

Reference

"Caregiver Survival Guide", 2022, L. Brissette, M. Arcand, Les Éditions de l'Homme