Low Energy Days Are to Be Expected – Here is What You Can Do
(I begin this article by reflecting on my dad and his life to inspire your best leadership – even on low energy or disappointing days/weeks.)
I am writing to you this week from England, where I am visiting my father. He turns 100 in August.
Dad has been a resident of a care home for the past two years, and I drove him there when he needed the sort of care no longer available to him at home.
He has been my voice of reason my entire life, and I have often (although not often enough, to be honest) made sound decisions by asking myself, “What would Dad do in this situation?”
God’s Waiting Room
While I drove, Dad spoke logically about his reason for going and hoped it would not resemble what he called ‘God’s waiting room.’
After we settled him into his room, one of the staff, most of whom wore RN-level accreditation beneath their name tags, popped in to greet him and introduce herself.
She then told him that when she was a young girl, he had been her doctor and had cared for her, and it was now her privilege to care for him.
I knew he was in excellent hands as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
And he has been ever since.
A Happy Place
The place simply oozes empathy and joy.
You hear laughter and feel positive energy all the time when I am there. It is palpable.
But I recognize the limits, with Dad being 99 and me being a realist. There have been moments when I have visited him when even the activity afternoons with the visiting alpacas, the classic car shows that turn up in the car park, the bingo, the quiz show, Dolly the therapy puppy, etc., can’t keep everyone. It is, after all, a care home.
When I sit with the staff when they visit Dad in his room (which they do all the time, it seems), I ask them why they work there. Their reasons are universally the same: It is about the people, like Dad. It is all about the people in their care.
Their tone and words show an overwhelming passion, confirming their dedication to creating an environment where their Duty of Care ‘lifts’ the residents. The residents can’t do it themselves—the staff have to create that energy by how they show up each day. There are those days when the residents feel low; they can’t bring the energy to the table.
I am so unbelievably grateful that Dad is where he is and that his surrounding team delivers him joy and laughter every day.
Leaders are Determined by How You Show Up
I share all of this with you for various reasons, but one of them this week is to link the energy in the care home that Dad experiences to my work with Fiore Group Training and leaders’ workplace roles.
Leadership is not strictly limited to rank and title but how we influence and impact those around us!
How we show up is everything, just like each staff member in the care home. Thus, it applies to everyone in your organizational chart, not just those at the top.
But even the most passionate leaders have days when the spark feels dim.
So here are five quick thoughts about how to navigate through those challenging moments, especially when you don’t happen to have an alpaca handy:
When You Don’t Feel Like Showing Up
1. Revisit Your “Why”
When inspiration feels out of reach, reconnect with your deeper purpose.
I got inspired after speaking with the staff members about why they applied to work in the care home in the first place.
Ask Yourself:
“Why did I start this journey in the first place?”
“Who benefits from my growth as a leader?”
Action Tip: Write down your leadership vision and keep it visible on your desk, phone background, or a sticky note. Let it remind you why this work matters.
On low-inspiration days, your “why” can be the anchor that grounds you. Fiore Group’s “why” is to “Create Incredibly Better Workplaces.” What is yours?
2. Focus on Micro-Actions, Not Big Leaps
Low-energy days aren’t the time for grand gestures. Instead, focus on small, meaningful actions.
Spend five minutes reflecting on a positive moment from the day.
Write a quick note of appreciation to a team member—it’ll boost your mood and theirs.
Small wins build momentum and restore a sense of accomplishment. If you are my regular reader, you have heard this from me many times and likely know it to be accurate. Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion was/is ‘A body in motion stays in motion.‘
3. Lean Into Routine
When inspiration falters, habits keep you moving forward. Create a simple routine that doesn’t depend on motivation:
Morning Check-In: Start your day by asking, “What’s one way I can show up better today?”
Evening Reflection: End your day by jotting down one thing you did well and one lesson learned.
Non-Negotiables: Commit to a tiny, consistent habit, like reading for 10 minutes, even on tough days.
Please do this. Routine builds resilience, especially when motivation fades.
4. Give Yourself Grace
Not every day will feel like a win—and that’s okay. Growth is not linear.
Shift Your Mindset: Instead of beating yourself up for feeling uninspired, acknowledge it as part of the process. Say, “Today wasn’t my best, but I showed up, which counts.”
Self-Compassion Practice: Take a moment to reset by engaging in something restorative, such as a short walk, a quiet moment of mindfulness, or journaling about what you’re grateful for.
I have kept a daily journal since 1999, and it has been my anchor on such days. Remember, even you need rest to refuel your energy.
5. Celebrate Showing Up
On tough days, showing up is a victory in itself.
Affirm Your Effort: Say to yourself, “I’m not at my peak today, but I’m here, and that matters.”
Action Tip: Create a “win jar“ and jot down small victories from uninspired days. Over time, this jar becomes a powerful reminder of your resilience.
Growth isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence. But it does require you to do something.
I rewrite some inspirational quotes on the inside of the front cover of my annual journal each year, which I look at often.
One is from Vironika Tugaleva:
“The most dangerous way we sabotage ourselves is by waiting for the perfect moment to begin. Nothing works perfectly the first time or the first 50 times. Everything has a learning curve. The beginning is just that – a beginning. Surrender your desire to do it flawlessly on the first try. It’s not possible. Learn to learn. Learn to fail. Learn to learn from failing. And begin today. Begin now. Stop waiting.”
Not much more to say than that, is there?
Final Thought: Even Low-Inspiration Days Are Part of the Journey
Authentic leadership isn’t about feeling inspired daily; it’s about showing up, especially when it’s hard. Those moments of perseverance are where real growth happens.
On the other side of today’s challenges is a stronger, more resilient you.
If you still need more convincing, I can send an alpaca over to do it for you.
Stay well.
