Whenever I volunteer to work on the event Crew for Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within seminar, people ask me how I sustain my energy throughout the event.
In case you’ve never been to a Unleash the Power Within, allow me to paint a picture of what goes on. The event itself is 50 hours of immersion over 4 days. The Crew arrives a day early and I typically stay an extra day at the end.
The days are long and intense. We spend a lot of time on our feet. We do tasks that are physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. And the event itself requires a high energy output. Dancing on the stage to rev up the crowd is a cardio session. We are jumping, walking, high-fiving participants, talking to a lot of people.
Hours are typically 6 am to past midnight. And on the last day, we break down everything and help with the load-out.
By Saturday afternoon of the event — which is only Day 3 — many Crew start to wither.
I am typically hitting my stride at that point, full of energy and jumping and bouncing to the music. Many fellow Crew members have asked me my secret. They are surprised that I don’t drink coffee or caffeine.
They want to know where I get my energy from and how I am able to sustain it throughout the event.
A big part of this is how I train during my “regular” life, which isn’t that different from UPW. My daily rituals help me maximize my energy and help me sustain peak performance levels.
At the event itself, I focus on maintaining those rituals and adding some others. Here are some of the things I do to sustain my energy throughout the event:
Event Rituals
Fitness.
For me, every day starts with fitness and meditation. Even – especially – at the event. It may seem redundant to hit the gym when I know I’ll be getting plenty of exercise during the day. But sometimes my Fitness First ritual is less about fitness and more about creating the energy I will need for the day. I have woken up at 4:30 in the morning to fit in a workout before an early on-site time. Although sleep is certainly important, studies show that exercise can compensate for some lack of sleep.
Meditation.
Meditation comes at the end of my workout. Maintaining my sitting practice is crucial to keep me grounded amidst the chaos and cacophony of a big event.
Nourish and Hydrate.
I make sure to eat and hydrate throughout the day. I find it helpful to eat at least one real, hot meal each day. I bring juices with me or buy them at a market local to the event venue the day before. I also do my best to eat clean and limit snacks. The more I can eat real meals, the more energy I have.
Take Care of Bodily Functions.
I go to the bathroom when I need to. This sounds so elementary, but how often do you hold it in because you’re in the middle of something or feel you can’t break away from service.
Whatever you’re holding inside you becomes an energetic block between you and others.
Silence and Stillness.
I make sure to grab a little bit of time every day to sit in silence during the day. Yes, it’s hard to find silence in a venue with 15,000 people, but it’s possible. Sometimes I find it in a bathroom stall – whatever works.
Fresh Air.
I step outside the venue at least once during the day to get some fresh air.
Rest.
I give myself permission to pause when I need to rest. During the event, I don’t go out to party at night. When we wrap up for the day I go back to the hotel to sleep.
Emotional Clearing.
Just because I’m there to serve doesn’t mean I don’t have emotional breakthroughs. When something comes up for me, I process the emotions. And when I feel like I need some support, I approach a trainer, senior leader, or member of the crew to ask for it.
The things I do during the event are crucial for maintaining peak health and wellness. But they’d mean nothing without the proper training. These rituals are all part of my daily practice in my “real life” as well.
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