Energy levels are about how active you feel. They can change depending on things like your environment, what you’re doing, your lifestyle, hormones and health conditions. Sometimes your mind might feel super busy and hard to switch off, which can affect your sleep. If you have high energy, you might feel restless or overwhelmed, and this can impact your mood and behaviour. If you have low energy, it can be hard to find motivation to do things.
Different activities need different amounts of energy, so it’s usual for your energy to change. If you find it hard to manage, you could try tools like the Self-Care Battery or Spoon Theory to help you plan your day.
How to boost and balance your energy
- Healthy habits matter – eating well and moving more can help. Check out Change for Life for fun activities and healthy recipes.
- Self-care routines – things like taking breaks, listening to music or doing something creative can recharge your energy.
- Sleep is key – good sleep helps you focus and feel better. Try keeping a sleep diary to spot patterns and improve your bedtime routine and environment.
Visit The Teen Sleep Hub for more information.
When you’re tired, it can be harder to manage your emotions or sensory needs, so finding what works for you is important.
Useful resources
Books
- Sleep Tight! Mindful Kids (Dr Sharie Coombes, 2021)
- The Teen Sleep Hub Book
- The Awesome Power of Sleep: How Sleep Super-Charges Your Teenage Brain (Nicola Morgan, 2021)
Websites
- 10 Sleep Tips for Teenagers
- Young Minds – What to do if you’re struggling to sleep.
- Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers
Videos
- Sleep and Teens.
- This video looks at the symptoms, lifestyle and treatments for people with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Good sleep hygiene is all about putting yourself in the best position to sleep well each and every night.
- BBC Bitesize – My Teenage Brain – Why am I so tired?