What things give you energy?
Creative flow.
Nothing lifts me quite like creating something out of nothing. When an old diary note turns into a new story, when ink presses cleanly onto paper in the studio and I add colour with cut paper, or when an AI-generated image suddenly matches the fictional or dream world I’d only pictured in my head — that’s a spark that carries me for hours.
Trees and landscapes.
Give me a tape measure and an ancient oak, and I’m content. Surveying trees, walking through commons and estates, piecing together the life struggled rooted to that same spot for centuries — it’s grounding and revitalising in equal measure. The natural world is the best charging station I know.
Swimming and coaching.
Yes, standing poolside can be draining, but it’s also electric. The shared buzz of a gala, the grin of a swimmer who’s just nailed a skill, the delight of a parent who reports how well the sessions are received and quiet pride of seeing a plan work in real time — these things leave me buzzing long after the session ends.
Connection and recognition.
Energy is contagious. I find it in conversations, in youth, in enthusiasts and experts alike, whether one-to-one with a swimmer, in council discussions, or at home with my wife. And when someone says “thank you” or values my input, it feeds the cycle. Small recognitions go a long way.
Memory and meaning.
I’ve kept diaries for decades. Returning to them, reframing old dreams or memories, isn’t nostalgia for me — it’s fuel. Tracing patterns across the years makes me feel whole, and it reminds me I’m still moving forward. It’s a game of reconstruction and reflection.
Enthusiasms.
Then there’s the energy that comes from a restless, curious mind. I’m never far from a book, a podcast, or a rabbit hole to dive into. Neuroscience one week, gardening the next. Cooking and nutrtion, climate science, Renaissance art, particular authors I return to again and again. And always music — from Bowie to Bach, jazz to punk, folk to electronica. These enthusiasms don’t just entertain me; they feed me.
And sometimes, energy is simpler: a few days away with my wife in Paris, Barcelona, or Northumberland. Shared adventure and indulgence have a way of refreshing the spirit like nothing else.
That’s my toolkit. Creativity, trees, swimming, connection, memory, and travel. When I feel flat, I know where to look. And perhaps reading this, you’re already thinking of your own energy sources — the places you can return to when your batteries run low.
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