Join Steven & Friends TONIGHT for "Recharging Your Batteries!" with Warriors for Life (WFL)

Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
10 hours ago
4 min read

Drop in TONIGHT with Volunteer, Air Force Veteran, Peer Support Specialist, and Writer/Author Steven Bates filling in for Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs for "Burly's Warriors" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).

We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.

TONIGHT's Topic: "Recharging Your Batteries!"

Join Steven & Friends TONIGHT as we discuss the mental health importance of "Recharging Your Batteries!" We hope you'll join us!

Taking time to "recharge your batteries" is absolutely vital when dealing with mental health issues, acting as essential preventative maintenance to avoid burnout, reduce stress-induced cortisol, and prevent complete emotional shutdown. It serves as a necessary, proactive strategy to restore cognitive, emotional, and physical energy, which directly enhances focus, productivity, and resilience.

Key aspects of recharging your mental batteries include:

Preventing Burnout: Allowing your emotional battery to drain completely can cause serious, long-term damage to relationships and work, often leading to anxiety, depression, and total dysfunction.
Physical and Mental Restoration: Essential practices include getting sufficient sleep for repair, engaging in exercise, practicing mindfulness, or pursuing hobbies, which help lower stress and improve overall well-being.
Setting Boundaries: Recharging is not just resting, but actively setting boundaries, letting go of guilt for not being productive, and allowing yourself to "refill your cup".
Impact on Performance: Much like a phone, when your mental capacity is not fully charged, you cannot perform effectively in daily life.

Regular, intentional breaks—whether small daily moments or full "mental health days" — are crucial for sustaining long-term mental health.

Recharging your batteries when dealing with poor mental health requires intentional, often small, actions designed to lower stress, restore energy, and protect your emotional, physical, and social well-being. Strategies include

prioritizing sleep, reducing exposure to stressful stimuli (like social media), engaging in gentle, joyful activity, and setting strict boundaries to prevent further burnout.

Here are proven, actionable ways to recharge your mental energy:

1. Fundamental Physical Self-Care

Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep to reset your brain. Establish a calming, screen-free, one-hour bedtime routine.
Move Your Body: Physical activity, even a short 10–20 minute walk, releases endorphins and reduces anxiety. Focus on enjoyable, low-stress movement like yoga, swimming, or walking in nature.
Nutritious Fuel: Avoid excessive sugar and caffeine, which can lead to energy crashes. Prioritize nutrient-dense foods that stabilize mood.

2. Immediate "Micro-Recharge" Moments

When overwhelmed, take small, "bite-sized" breaks rather than waiting for a long vacation.

Unplug from Technology: Turn off notifications or take a 1-hour break from phones and news to reduce cognitive overload.
Practice Deep Breathing: Use techniques like box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4) to deactivate the fight-or-flight response.
Grounding Techniques: Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to connect with your surroundings: notice 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste.
The 5-Minute Rule: If a task feels too big, commit to doing it for just five minutes. Often, this is enough to start, or enough to realize you need a break.

3. Emotional and Mental Restoration

Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge your exhaustion without guilt. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend in the same situation.
Journaling/Brain Dump: Write down your worries to release them and make problems feel more manageable.
Engage in "Flow" Activities: Do something creative with no goal of perfection—knitting, coloring, gardening, or puzzles can help your brain escape anxiety.
Nature Therapy: Spend time around trees, plants, or water to calm chaotic energy.

4. Protecting Your Energy (Boundaries)

Learn to Say "No": Protect your time by declining tasks or social engagements that drain you.
Limit "Energy Vampires": Limit time with people who bring you down and prioritize connections with those who uplift you.
Create a "No List": Identify things you no longer want to do, such as checking emails after 7 PM or attending large events.

5. Seeking Support

Leverage Support Systems: Talk to trusted friends or family, or join a support group to feel less alone.
Seek Professional Help: If exhaustion persists, consult a therapist or doctor to address underlying issues like depression, anxiety, or burnout.

When you are "running on low," the goal is to stop pushing through and instead focus on what brings you comfort and calm.

Our Vision at Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is simple: "Where Hope, Support, and Healing come together!"

We encourage you to join us, Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Matters, You Matter to Us, so Talk to Us! — invite a friend!

Warriors for Life (WFL) Peer Support Network Online "Burly's Warriors" edition, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — (TONIGHT), January 24, 2026 @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87197441247

Remember: Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) meets on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — (7-days) a week. Every week stay connected on Friday Mornings with "Coffee with Kim" and Monday Mornings for "Cup O' Joe" with Derrick at 8:00 AM CT.