Surprising Lifestyle Shifts That Boost Energy

By Natalia Kholodenko

After the war forced me to leave my home in Ukraine in 2022, I discovered something far more powerful than caffeine: energy comes from creativity, purpose, and community. Over time, I realized that small but intentional lifestyle shifts could make a big difference in how energized and alive I felt each day. That kind of energy could not be brewed in a cup.

The first lifestyle shift that renewed my energy was creative expression. I began writing, speaking, and creating new projects, not only for myself but also for the millions of people who turned to me for support. As a psychologist, I now connect with more than two million women in Ukraine every day through my free online seminars. What I have learned is that when I create something, whether it is a talk, a course, or even just a message of hope, I receive more energy than I spend. Creation does not drain me. It renews me.

The second lifestyle shift was purpose. Even as a professional, I found myself struggling to practice what I had long taught others. My turning point came when I realized that people did not only need advice on trauma. They needed vision and guidance for building a future. This inspired me to launch the All-Ukrainian Psychological Marathon 2025, a nationwide initiative that brought together experts to support resilience and personal growth. Purpose is like oxygen for the soul. Once I found it again, my inner strength returned.

The third lifestyle shift was community. Isolation saps energy faster than any sleepless night. Connection restores it. My collaborations with extraordinary women like Gloria Gaynor and Kathy Sledge reminded me that even across cultures and continents, we can lift each other higher. Singing with them about hope and resilience filled me with an energy that was both personal and collective. It was not just mine, it belonged to everyone who shared that moment.

These lifestyle shifts taught me a profound lesson: energy is not consumed, it is cultivated. Coffee can keep you awake, but it cannot give you the will to rise in the morning. True vitality comes when your life is aligned with creativity, purpose, and community.

Today, when I am asked for practical advice, I tell people this: try creating something, even if it is small. Share your story, draw, cook, or write a song. Anchor your actions in a sense of purpose, however modest. And surround yourself with people who remind you of your strength.

My journey has taught me that even in the darkest times, we can find surprising new ways to recharge. The future is bigger than your trauma, and the energy we need to move forward is already within us, waiting to be awakened by what we love, why we exist, and who we share it with.

Natalia Kholodenko is a Ukrainian psychologist, motivational speaker, and former prime-time TV host whose life changed forever when war broke out in Kyiv in 2022. Today, she leads mental-health initiatives for displaced Ukrainians, including the All-Ukrainian Psychological Marathon 2025, which empowers women and mothers to rebuild their lives.

With a therapeutic style rooted in clinical rigor and creative expression, Natalia helps trauma survivors transform pain into purpose.

Connect With Natalia

www.nataliia.kholodenko.net