Energy Vampires: How to Spot Them and Stake Your Claim

Have you ever left a conversation feeling completely drained, frustrated, or even a little resentful—without really knowing why? Chances are, you just spent time with an energy vampire.

Energy vampires aren’t the stuff of horror movies; they’re the real-life people who feed off your time, attention, and emotions. They show up as toxic coworkers, needy friends, or one-uppers who always turn the spotlight back on themselves. And while they might not realize the damage they cause, their impact is the same: they leave you emotionally exhausted and robbed of the energy you need for what truly matters.

In this episode of the Beyond Burnout podcast, I’ll show you exactly how to recognize and deal with these energy drains so you can stop burnout before it starts. You’ll learn:

✅ The Seven Deadly Traits of Energy Vampires – how to recognize toxic people before they deplete you
✅ Why overachievers and creatives are prime targets for energy vampires
✅ Five proven strategies to set boundaries and protect your energy without guilt

These practical tips—including the Grey Rock Method, boundary-setting, and centering practices—will help you safeguard your energy and reclaim your focus. Because here’s the truth: protecting your energy isn’t selfish, it’s essential.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• How to spot an energy vampire in your workplace, family, or friend group

• The real reason they target empathetic, high-achieving people

• Simple boundary-setting techniques that actually work

• How to stop toxic people from making burnout worse

🎧 Listen now to learn how to protect yourself from energy vampires and redirect your focus toward the projects, people, and passions that deserve it.

👉 Don’t forget—you can dive deeper into this topic and so much more in my new book, Beyond Burnout: The Over-Achiever’s Guide to Beating Burnout for Good. Pre-order your copy today and help me reach my dream of getting it on bookstore shelves.