How can you effectively manage your energy when balancing multiple projects?

As oversimplified as this sounds, get comfortable with the power of 'No.' Knowing your limits and exercising agency over your life requires saying 'No." Your stakeholders for existing projects will appreciate you focusing on commitments you have made and people asking for your involvement in new projects or broader/deeper involvement in existing ones will appreciate you not overpromising and either getting burned out or underdelivering. I know this sounds trite, but it's truly hard to say No. We are all pleasers at our core and want to be included. However, sometimes, the best way to please is to say 'No,' or 'Not now,' or... 'No thank you.'

Balancing multiple projects can be a juggling act, but managing your energy effectively can make all the difference! 1. **Prioritize Tasks:** Not all tasks are created equal. Identify the most important tasks and tackle those when your energy is at its peak. 2. **Time Blocking:** Dedicate specific time slots for each project. This helps to focus your energy and prevents the mental strain of constant switching. 3. **Stay Healthy:** Good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are crucial for maintaining energy levels. 4. **Mindfulness:** Practice mindfulness to stay present and avoid feeling overwhelmed. This can help maintain your energy throughout the day. Remember, it's about working smarter, not harder!

Before taking on a new project or even dreaming of multi-tasking, first, you need to have your mind in order, that is, personal life in place, decent sleeping and free-time levels, not involved in any shape or form in the daily workplace hustle and bustle and once these are in place, then you need to have the proper motivation levels = The right mindset. Following that, one needs to spend time visualising the whole project from a macro point of view. This will allow the mind to map the journey and slot in future short breaks to manage the energy levels.

Balance and moderation. Focus on priorities: not only chronological deadlines but true business impact of each step, action to each project. Meanwhile, include your own priorities and abilities in the equation. While focus is important, beware of your limits and avoid draining all your energy on one task. Ask and trust yourself - don’t just succumb to pressure. Keep in mind that no one cares about you as you do.

Planning and Prioritization Setting Clear Goals Prioritizing Tasks Based on Energy Levels The Art of Saying 'No' Organizational Strategies Time Blocking and Batching Tasks Leveraging Tools for Efficiency Delegation and Collaboration Maintaining High Energy Levels The Role of Diet and Exercise Mindfulness and Stress Management Techniques The Power of Regular Breaks Monitoring and Adapting Keeping Track of Energy Levels Adjusting Workflows as Needed Learning from Each Project Cycle Technology and Energy Management Apps and Software to Aid Productivity Minimizing Digital Distractions Psychological Aspects of Energy Management Understanding Procrastination and Motivation The Impact of Mindset on Energy Levels

Two areas I have found contribute to regulating and replenishing energy cycles are scheduled movement breaks and napping. Partaking in activities such as Yoga, Pilates, Walking and Stretching all help with de-stressing and gaining physical alignment so that concentration on cognitive tasks can be more focused. I have found that allowing for a regular nap regime will give the mind and body time to process inputs. Also, when awakened then a "fresh" set of eyes are ready to engage with the next projects tasks.

Leveraging neuroscience, I plan my day around my natural energy cycles. By charting an Energy Map, I pinpoint when I'm at my cognitive best—usually in the morning. That's when I tackle the heavy-lifting tasks that require deep focus and creativity. Come afternoon, when my social and collaborative energies peak, I'm all for meetings and teamwork. And I can't stress the power of strategic breaks—short walks, naps, or meditation sessions aren't just pauses; they recharge, giving my brain the downtime needed to consolidate learning and bounce back stronger. It's about working with your brain's rhythms, not against them.

Balance is critical in energy management—consider it as maintaining a diversified portfolio. From a neuroscience lens, I use the Energy Wheel to ensure I'm investing equally across all four dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It's like a visual check-in to see if I'm overloading on cognitive tasks and neglecting the physical side, which could mean I need to carve out more time for exercise or outdoor activities. Or, if I'm shortchanging my emotional well-being, I'll reach out for more human connection, perhaps scheduling regular catch-ups with friends. It's this equilibrium that keeps all systems functioning optimally.

I have experienced in my study of Daoist spiritual practices that I have more energy when I calm my thoughts and emotions. I spend a lot of time in my head solving, planning and creating. It's exhausting and can be hard to switch off. Mental activity takes a lot of energy. Then I started learning to observe my thoughts and label each thought stream as either useful or not useful. If useful, I allow it to continue a while. If not, just the awareness that it’s not helps me move onto something else. Once I started directly experiencing a different mental state, I was delighted to see how much more energy I had. On days when I both avoid strong emotions and make my thoughts more orderly, I can juggle more with less fatigue.

Neuroscientifically speaking, renewing your energy is akin to recharging your brain's batteries. Using an Energy Inventory to discern what activities and interactions are fueling you and which are depleting your reserves is essential. By mapping out these energy sources and sinks, you can deliberately engage more with the energizers—like taking up a new educational pursuit if learning revs you up. Conversely, if specific tasks or relationships are consistently draining, finding strategies to mitigate their impact is crucial, like seeking support to handle a challenging client. Remember, your energy fluctuates and can be cultivated with intentional actions, fostering productivity and overall happiness and satisfaction.

Neuroscience tells us that even the subtleties of our surroundings can impact our energy. The quality of light, ambient noise, and workspace layout can sap or boost our vitality. Pay attention to the role of technology; screen time, especially before bed, can disrupt sleep patterns. And never underestimate the power of positive social interactions—they're like energy superchargers! In my experience, tweaking these environmental and social factors can substantially improve a well-balanced energy state.

I use these two techniques: 1) Colour code my meetings/ work schedule: energy gain to energy drain. Prepare activities to balance the mix. 2) think what are the activities I need to accomplish, and then where and how I best achieve them.

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us, often holding emotions we might not consciously recognize. Developing body awareness has been pivotal in my own journey of energy management. For instance, physical discomfort can often reflect unresolved emotional states. I've found body scan meditations particularly helpful. This practice involves a mental walkthrough of your body, identifying areas of tension or discomfort, which can reveal a lot about our emotional state. Additionally, activities like yoga not only enhance physical health but also increase our bodily awareness, bridging the gap between physical sensations and emotions.

A highly underrated aspect of being a management consultant is choosing your battles right. In case you are picking multiple projects (which often is the norm in consulting) pick them wisely so that you can either complement or supplement your skills and efforts. For some people complementing may while for some supplementing does For e.g Complementing Projects: If one of my projects is an implementation piece which needs me to engage and coordinate with multiple stakeholders I would want my other project to be one where I can do focussed work by myself, e.g. a due diligence project. Supplementing Projects: Some people find it easier to manage if they can leverage a similar/analogous set of skills for the 2 different projects.

For me a simple act has been to block out the calendars for the appropriate projects Over the years I’ve spent time balancing (1) client projects (2) internal development efforts (3) passion projects and (4) my own well-being and prospects Blocking time for each has proved useful and starting the day with a run and a mid-day walk helps to focus the mind