Signs Your Energy Needs a Reset (And What to Do About It)
I know. For some people, talking about energy feels a little too "woo woo" — like crystals and incense and things that are hard to explain at a dinner table. And I get it. But here's what I'd like you to consider: we don't question energy when we call it by other names. Burnout. Exhaustion. Running on empty. Feeling off. Getting sick for the third time this year.
We are, at our core, made of energy. We replenish it every night when we sleep. We restore it with a nourishing meal, a walk in fresh air, or a mindful movement practice like yoga or tai chi. When that energy flows, we feel alive, clear, and capable. When it stagnates — that's when things start to feel heavy.
So how do you know when your energy needs a reset?
The Signs Are Quieter Than You Think
In my work as a life coach and Reiki master, I've learned to notice the small things. On a video call, I can tell a lot before a client has even said a word. The fidgeting — with hair, a pen, shifting from side to side. The slight tension held in the jaw or the shoulders. The pause before they speak, as if they're weighing whether to say what they're really thinking.
There's often a hesitation. Clients usually know something is off — they feel it — but admitting it is another matter. And admitting it might be energetic? Even harder.
That's when I ask two questions that tend to cut right through it:
"How would you rather feel?"
"How would your day look if you lived it with a little more ease?"
Something in those questions bypasses the resistance. Because the body knows the answer before the mind does.
Other signs to watch for in yourself:
- You're tired even after a full night's sleep
- Small things feel disproportionately irritating
- You've been getting sick more than usual
- You feel disconnected from the things that used to bring you joy
- You're going through the motions but not really present
In Reiki, we work with the understanding that unresolved stress, unexpressed emotion, and long-held tension can create blockages in the body's energy system. In coaching, we might call it a pattern. In medicine, we might call it chronic stress. Different languages, same experience.
What a Shift Actually Looks Like
I'll never forget a particular moment with a client. She arrived to our session with a stern face — composed, guarded, holding everything in place. We worked together, and somewhere in the middle of the session, something gave way.
Her face softened. Her eyes filled with tears. She choked on her words for a moment, then put her face in her hands — just for a few seconds — as if she needed that small private space to process. Then she stood up, walked away from the screen, and came back a minute later having washed her face with cold water. She sat down with a calm, quiet smile.
That's what a reset looks like. Not dramatic. Not magical. Just the body releasing what it had been carrying, and the person on the other side of it feeling lighter.
I see it in the smallest details: the colour returning to someone's face, the pace of their voice slowing down, the breath becoming fuller and less guarded.
Three Things You Can Do Today
You don't need to book a session to start shifting your energy. Here are three simple things that actually work:
1. The grounding glass of water Set a reminder on your phone to drink a glass of water — and as you drink it, imagine it moving through you and gently clearing out whatever has been sitting heavy. It sounds simple because it is. Simplicity is underrated.
2. 4-7-8 breathing in the shower This is my personal favourite, and it's the definition of habit stacking. You're going to shower anyway — so while you're in there, try a round or two of 4-7-8 breathing: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale slowly for 8. Combine the inevitable with the intentional.
3. Words in the places you'll actually see them Put a post-it note — just one, to start — somewhere you can't miss it. Your bathroom mirror, the kettle, your laptop screen. Write on it how you want to feel, or where you want to be heading. Not a to-do list. Just a reminder of the direction you're moving in.
Small things, done consistently, shift energy more reliably than any single grand gesture.
When to Ask for Support
Sometimes a glass of water and a breathing exercise are enough to take the edge off. And sometimes what you're carrying is bigger than that — patterns that have been there for years, stress that has settled deep into the body, a sense that no matter what you do, you can't seem to get back to yourself.
That's when working with someone can make all the difference.
If any of this resonates and you're curious about what Reiki or coaching might look like for you, I offer a free 30-minute consultation — no pressure, just a conversation. You can book directly here.
Celine Petrillo is a spiritual life coach and Reiki Master based in Switzerland, working with clients around the world who are ready to move from stuck to at home in themselves. With a background in psychology, NLP, and energy healing, she brings both structure and intuition to every session — helping people find clarity, release what's holding them back, and live with a little more ease.