Do you give too much at work and feel drained? Learn how to stop people pleasing, reclaim your energy, and shift from pleaser to empowered helper
In this article ...
In this article ...
Firstly let’s talk about the difference between being that sensitive helper and the pleaser.
If you’re a pleaser, you help because you feel guilty or obliged. Your plans are dropped to assist someone else (and no, this isn’t about emergencies). You’re following someone else’s agenda, feel pressured to say yes and often end up drained or resentful, both clear signs of energy leaks.
When you’re helping, it’s different. Helping comes from genuine concern for someone’s wellbeing. You decide you have the time and resources to offer your support. You feel able to say no, organise help around your plans and it feels good to give.
But how do you make that shift from pleaser to empowered helper? And how does this behaviour impact your energy in the workplace?
Let’s now talk about how to protect your energy as well as 3 practical tools to stop people pleasing at work.
I know you’ve been waiting for this… so let’s dive in! 👇
The Chakras That Show People Pleasing at Work
Pleaser tendencies often show up as imbalances in your energy system, particularly in these chakras:
1 – Solar Plexus Chakra (Personal Power)
Located in your upper abdomen, this chakra governs your sense of self worth and confidence. When it’s out of balance, you may feel powerless to say no or compelled to earn others approval.
- Try this affirmation: “I trust my decisions, and it’s safe to set boundaries.” Place your hand over your solar plexus as you repeat it.
2 – Heart Chakra (Balance in Giving and Receiving)
An overactive heart chakra leads to giving too much of yourself, leaving you feeling resentful and burned out.
- Visualise a green light surrounding your heart. As you exhale, imagine sending love to yourself first, then extending it to others. This reinforces the balance between giving and receiving.
3 – Throat Chakra (Self Expression)
Difficulty expressing your needs or saying no stems from an underactive throat chakra. You may feel unheard or unable to advocate for yourself.
- Practice speaking affirmations like: “My voice matters, and I am heard.” You can use the sway test as a way to check in with your body, rather than deciding from pressure or habit.
(Pssssst…. You can 📌 pin this article for reference to your “Stop People Pleasing at Work” board for easy reference!)
Are You a Pleaser?
From a young age, many pleasers develop these habits because of their sensitive nature. They modify their behavior to avoid conflict, gain approval or protect others.
Others are born with personality traits that make them more susceptible to being a pleaser. They are extremely sensitive to other people’s feelings. From a very young age they modify their behaviour in response to someones feelings.
Problems occur because these children have not had their own feelings and needs met so they learn that their feelings don’t matter. So being a pleaser becomes an attempt to be seen and valued.
These children are often loyal and conscientious with a desire to be helpful. As adults these traits set them up to being a pleaser in the workplace.
As adults, these tendencies often spill into the workplace, where pleasers overcommit, take on others responsibilities and eventually feel undervalued or burned out.
They start by being conscientious in their work, following instructions, being helpful, doing more and more thinking they’re being accepted into the team. They sacrifice they own needs and preferences until they feel resentful and unappreciated.
Burnout is a classic result of being either a pleaser or a helper.
If you have children who are sensitive take the time to really listen to their troubles. Help them balance their giving nature with receiving.
Caretaker Energy
Your Caretaker energy type is deeply connected to the heart chakra, the centre of love, compassion, connection and empathy. Your grounding point is the heart chakra. Whether life is flowing well or there’s a bit of a hiccup tune into the balance of your heart chakra first before going on to balance all chakras. A balanced heart chakra ensures you can give and receive love freely, without feeling drained, overwhelmed or absorbing other people’s energy at work
Sound familiar? Here are some practical tools you can implement to start shifting this pattern so you protect your energy at work:
Stop Workplace Energy Leaks: 3 Tools
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Ground Yourself Before Making Decisions
When asked to take on something extra, pause and check in with your energy. Take three deep breaths and ask yourself:
- “Does this align with my energy and capacity right now?”
- “Will saying yes leave me feeling drained or fulfilled?”
If you’re unsure, use your sway test or finger testing to confirm.
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Set a Simple Boundary Script
If you struggle to say no, prepare a few boundary scripts you can use in the moment:
- “Thank you for asking, but I can’t take that on right now.”
- “Let me check my schedule and get back to you.”
Practicing these in advance builds confidence and makes them easier to use when needed.
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Reclaim Your Energy After Over Committing
Already said yes but regret it? Visualise cutting the energetic cord between you and the commitment. Imagine releasing guilt and reclaiming your time and energy.
You can also use this simple affirmation: “I release what no longer serves me and call my energy back to myself.”
Transform Your Sensitivity Into Strength
Being sensitive to others feelings is your superpower. But to use it effectively, you need to learn to separate your energy from the people around you.
By setting boundaries and reconnecting with your own needs, you can transform your sensitivity into a strength. And remember your strength is in your heart chakra.
When you master this shift, you’ll find:
- Less resentment and more energy for what truly matters.
- A stronger connection to your inner self and values.
- Greater satisfaction in helping others without losing yourself.
Imagine how your work and relationships would flourish if you focused your sensitivity on creating balance instead of burnout.
Ready to understand your patterns more deeply?
People pleasing isn’t a flaw — it’s a pattern that developed for a reason.
If this article helped things click into place and you’re starting to see where you’ve been giving yourself away, clarity is the most supportive next step.
The Clarity Map gently walks you through the patterns that keep you stuck — so you can understand what’s happening without judgement or pressure to change everything at once.
👉 Get The Clarity Map – 7 Steps to Calm Your Mind & Get Unstuck