Out of Bips
It’s Sunday evening, and my husband and I are out of bips. Negative bips even. We are tired, faded, and in desperate need for the end of the day to come. I look at the clock; it is 3pm.
Does this scene sound familiar?
Bips is an official term that my husband and I—really, more my husband—have coined as a system of measurement for our energy.
It should be noted that before my husband and I had children, there was no need for a jointly agreed upon system to communicate how much energy we had. We had all the time that we needed and rarely faced energy shortages. Now, with three children, our time is limited, making it harder to recharge when we really need to. So, after experiencing energy crisis after energy crisis that led to squabble after squabble, it became absolutely crucial for us to not only establish a system but use it.
Here’s how it works.
Each day, you are issued a certain amount of bips. Let’s call it 100 bips/day to keep it easy. The idea is to bring awareness to your energy. Just like gas or any other energy source, the more you use, the less you have and just like a car, how quickly you burn through your tank is dependent on the driver and the type of driving involved. When using the Bip System, for instance, birthday parties, sporting events, kid meltdowns, and teenager negotiations will burn through your bips much faster than a relaxing day at the beach.
Occasionally, you might hit the mark just right and sail to the end of the day with bips to spare. Those days are amazing because they allow you to fully enjoy your time when you finally get to it. However, more often than not, most of us end the day feeling as though we are running on fumes, which leaves us vulnerable to miscommunications, misunderstandings, the blame game, and even the occasional blow-up.
Here is a great way to use the Bip System.
You wake up and you have your full bips. Take a moment to think about your day. Busy day with bip burning meetings, activities, and traffic? Let your partner, roommate, friend, or husband know immediately that it’s a full day for you.
Mid-day, check in with yourself. How many bips do you have left? If you are already running low, is there anything you can do to recharge? Can you take a 10-minute walk outside? Or turn off the dinging on your phone and email for five minutes and sit quietly? How about some deep breathing? Do you need something to eat or drink? If you can’t recharge, reach out to your teammates and let them know. Sometimes the simple act of phoning a friend can offer an unexpected recharge. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help so you don’t reach critical mass.
End of the day. How do you feel? How many bips do you have left? Negative bips? Send out an APB. 911 someone immediately. Get some support and don’t feel bad about it. Can someone pick your kid up for you? Can you buy prepared foods for dinner? Can you up-level your self-care tonight? If your partner is also at negative bips, work strategically to get through the last part of the day together.
If you find yourself at the end of the day and you’ve got bips to spare, well done. You could use your leftover bips to get something done to lighten your load for tomorrow or just enjoy the energy that you have. However, if you notice that your teammate is running low on bips, step right in and offer to handle bath and bedtime or clean up the kitchen. After all, you know exactly what it feels like to be running on empty at the end of the day.
It couldn’t be easier to use.
The Bip System is a fast and easy way to deepen your understanding of your energy and effectively communicate it. Using the system will maintain the peace, foster teamwork, and strengthen your bond through a shared language. Most importantly, it will enhance your ability to meet your needs and empower you to take control of your health and well-being.
The best part about the Bip System is that it demands no additional energy, time, or money to implement, yet it delivers significant returns. All that's needed is a bit of awareness!
Hi, I’m Sara Rose.
Explore my blog to uncover the extraordinary transformations hidden in everyday moments.
