Why your energy feels all over the place
by Rebecca Hall
Have you ever noticed how some days you’re firing on all cylinders, and others you’re dragging yourself through treacle?
What if that’s not a flaw, but a clue? Our energy isn’t meant to be consistent, it’s meant to cycle. We’ve been taught to ignore these natural rhythms, pushing through exhaustion and celebrating “consistency” above all else.
So what happens when you stop fighting it and start working with it?
Why I thought I was broken (and what I learned instead)
For many years, I believed I could organise my weeks assuming I’d have the same energy every single day. When I felt energetic, I’d fill my diary to the brim, thinking I could do it all. But when exhaustion hit, I would feel like giving up because it all felt like too much.
Does this sound familiar?
Logically, I’d known since I was a teenager that women’s hormonal cycles affect our moods and energy. But I’d spent most of my adult life feeling like there was something wrong with me because of it. It wasn’t until I started training with One of Many, a women’s leadership organisation, that I realised there was another way to look at this. It’s not just our hormones, our energy shifts daily, seasonally, and even hourly
Daily cycles: Are you a morning person or a night owl? Some of us love getting up early and doing our best work in the morning, while others are far more effective in the evening . Your energy isn’t “wrong”, it’s just different.
Seasonal cycles: Compare how you feel in the dark, cold depths of midwinter to the light, warm energy of midsummer. One isn’t “better” than the other, they’re just different. You might enjoy one more than the other. In the depths of winter you might crave rest and want to spend time on reflection, then in spring you might feel the energy to start new projects.
Life stages: Perimenopause and post menopause don’t erase these cycles, they might just stretch them out. Many women notice energy fluctuations, but over two or three months instead of weekly or monthly.
We’re not robots—so why do we act like it?
Our culture celebrates consistency. We’re told that creating repeatable habits is the ultimate goal, whether it’s healthy eating, exercise, or work tasks. But nature doesn’t work that way
I love to ride my bike. When I was employed, I’d sometimes ride into the office along a beautiful route by the river and across the meadows. Every time, I’d think, “This is amazing. I’m going to cycle three times a week and get really fit.” The reality was, it was 40 minutes each way, and unrealistic for my fitness level at the time. Some weeks, I managed it easily, others, I couldn’t, and every time I felt like I’d “failed”.
However, after years of beating myself up, I realised that we’re part of nature. Just look outside: new shoots are appearing on the trees, daffodils and tulips are in full bloom. Yet only a month or so ago, the trees were bare, with just snowdrops flowering. For plants and animals, winter is a time of hibernation, rest, and replenishment. Spring, on the other hand, is a time of growth and action. We don’t expect trees to fruit in winter, so why do we expect ourselves to perform at the same level every single day?
For me personally, taking life more slowly during winter has had a huge impact on my energy levels in spring and summer. By taking that time to rest and replenish, I have so much more energy when spring arrives.
The One of Many, Women’s PowerTypes™
The five energies we all have (and how to use them)
As a licensed One of Many coach, I use The Women’s PowerTypes™ to help clients align their tasks with their energy. These archetypes aren’t just theoretical, they’re practical tools for matching your energy to what you need to do:
Warrioress (Spring): Energetic, youthful, and action-oriented. Perfect for tackling new projects or physical tasks.
Lover (Early Summer): Creative, sensual, and connected. Ideal for brainstorming, dating your partner, or enjoying beauty.
Mother (Late Summer): Nurturing, caring, and protective. Great for supporting others
Queen (Autumn): Clear, decisive, and visionary. Use this energy for leadership, planning, or letting go of what no longer serves you.
Sorceress (Winter): Wise, intuitive, and restful. This is your energy for reflection, strategy, and recharging.
We have access to all of these PowerTypes™, and the key is matching the right energy to the task.
The real reason it’s hard to change (even when you know better)
If this all makes sense, why is it so hard to put into practice? For most women, it’s not lack of knowledge, it’s unconscious blocks like:
People-pleasing (“I should say yes to this”).
Perfectionism (“If I can’t do it perfectly, why bother?”).
Guilt (“Taking time for myself is selfish”).
Unhelpful beliefs (“Good mothers/employees/women push through” or “I’m not good enough”).
With my clients, I use techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/tapping) and Voice Dialogue to uncover and release these blocks.
Most of us already know what we need, we just don’t let ourselves act on it.
A simple way to start
Here’s how to start today:
Notice your energy: Track which tasks feel easy and which feel like a slog. Ask yourself, “Would this feel easier at a different time or day?”
Experiment with timing: Schedule creative work for your “Lover” energy, exercise for your “Warrioress” energy, and big decisions for your “Queen” energy.
Adjust your expectations: If it’s winter (literally or metaphorically), focus on rest and reflection. If it’s spring, lean into action.
I’m running a free online workshop called The Secret to Calm: Match Your Tasks to Your Energy on Thursday, 23rd April at 12:30, where I’ll be teaching the One of Many tool ‘Batching for Energy Matching’.
You’ll learn how to organise your life around your energy cycles, so you can get more done with less overwhelm.
How I can help:
I’m Rebecca, and I help women move from survival mode to calm, confidence, and fulfilment. Many of the women I work with are juggling careers, families, and caring responsibilities, often while navigating perimenopause or major life transitions. Through workshops and one-to-one coaching, I guide them to create lives that feel peaceful, purposeful, and deeply fulfilling. I also run the Midlife360 book club held on 1st Wednesday of the month at Downing Place URC.
My mission is help you thrive, not just cope, at work and at home, without guilt or overwhelm.
Join Me or Fancy giving this a go?
I’m running a short workshop The Secret to Calm: Match Your Tasks to Your Energy on Thursday, 23rd April at 12:30 to help you match your tasks to your energy, so you can actually enjoy what you’re doing. Save your spot Register here.