Issue No.17 On Energy Management

In our fast-paced world, managing our schedule has become a crucial skill. However, an equally essential aspect that often goes unnoticed is managing our energy. Time management alone is insufficient if we neglect to consider the quality of energy we bring to our tasks. By prioritizing activities that replenish our energy reserves, we can enhance productivity, foster wellbeing, and achieve sustainable success. So with this edition of the newsletter, we will explore the concept of energy management and offer practical strategies for incorporating energy-boosting activities into our lives.

? Understanding Energy Management:

Energy management involves recognizing the activities that deplete and those that replenish our energy levels. Unlike time, which is finite, energy can be nurtured and renewed. While certain tasks may be time-consuming, they do not necessarily contribute to our energy reserves. Conversely, activities that align with our passions, values, and personal growth have the power to uplift and revitalize us, even if they consume time. By embracing energy management, we can enhance our overall wellbeing and maintain consistent productivity.

??Prioritizing Energy-Boosting Activities

To effectively manage our energy, we need to identify the activities that rejuvenate us personally. Here are some strategies to prioritize energy-boosting activities:

1. Reflect on Personal Values: Recognize the core values that bring meaning to your life. Engage in activities that align with these values, as they often invigorate and inspire us.
2. Pursue Passions: Make time for hobbies and interests that excite you. Engaging in activities you are passionate about provides a sense of fulfilment and fuels your energy levels.
3. Cultivate Relationships: Surround yourself with positive, supportive individuals who uplift and energize you. Foster meaningful connections and engage in activities that promote social well-being.
4. Physical Wellness: Prioritize regular exercise, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep. Physical well-being is intrinsically linked to mental and emotional energy, contributing to increased productivity and focus.
5. Continuous Learning: Dedicate time to learning new skills or exploring subjects of personal interest. Intellectual stimulation and personal growth infuse us with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
6. Mindfulness and Relaxation: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, into your daily routine. These techniques reduce stress, enhance focus, and recharge your mental and emotional energy.
7. Unplug and Recharge: Disconnect from technology and engage in activities that promote relaxation and reflection, such as spending time in nature, reading, or engaging in creative pursuits.

Efficient energy management is crucial for sustainable productivity and well-being. Understanding our personal values, pursuing passions, nurturing relationships, prioritizing physical wellness, embracing continuous learning, practising mindfulness, and carving out time for relaxation are essential steps towards effective energy management. By incorporating these strategies into our lives, we can unlock our full potential, achieve balance, and experience long-term success and fulfilment.

???Tools & practices

• ?A Visual Summary of The Power of Full Engagement (in words and sketches).
• The TEA framework: the Asian way of managing your time, energy, and attention.
• In chemistry, activation energy is the energy that must be provided to result in a chemical reaction. The more energy is needed, the harder it is to start the chemical reaction. In work and life as well, we sometimes need to get over the initial hump of getting started.
• Energy Management Table and how it can support you to begin to clarify those things in your life that energize you and those that de-energize or debilitate you.

???Book of the week

We live in digital time. Our pace is rushed, rapid-fire, and relentless. Facing crushing workloads, we try to cram as much as possible into every day. We're wired up, but we're melting down. Time management is no longer a viable solution. As bestselling authors, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in this groundbreaking book, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance.

??Surprise of the week.

??Newsroom

• A Leader’s Guide to Energy Management?- James Stanier, Director of Engineering at Shopify shares his secrets on energy management. He talks about setting yourself up for success by planning for the unexpected, goal- and achievement tracking and keeping your calendar under control.?
• Ask a Neuroscientist: Does the brain have an energy budget?
• You only have 4-6 hours of true cognitive energy each day. So how do you make your whole work day productive?
• Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time - the science of stamina has advanced to the point where individuals, teams, and whole organizations can, with some straightforward interventions, significantly increase their capacity to get things done.
• How to Manage Your Energy Levels at Work.

???Video Of The Week

Ever wish you had more energy? Or wonder why you’re so tired? Energx Founder Sean Hall introduces us to seven ‘energy crisis indicators’ that are likely to be depleting you, and millions like you, today. Cumulatively, these surprisingly everyday indicators have resulted in a human ‘energy crisis’ of epidemic proportions. Our health, happiness, and the economy are suffering, and it's impacting our ability to drive social change. After researching the root cause, Sean created the skill of ‘energy intelligence’ or ‘ExIQ’. In this talk, he shows how this can help us, practically and immediately, find more energy for what matters.

??Podcast of the week

In this episode of Mind, Body, Life, Emily Brinnand offers us guidance on how we could be managing our energy better. As a Mind and Movement Coach, she supports people to really honour their energy, and tune into what their body wants and needs so they can feel more energised and rested too!

Managing our energy is no easy task in today's fast-paced world. There are many elements to it. The tips, thoughts and tools she shares here will help get you started.

??Comic of the week

* Food for thought ??

?? How well am I currently managing my energy levels on a daily basis? What are some signs or indicators that suggest I need to make changes?

?? What are the primary sources of energy in my life? How often do I engage in activities that replenish and uplift me?

?? What are the main energy drainers in my life? How frequently do I encounter them, and what impact do they have on my overall well-being?

?? How well do I prioritize self-care in my life? What self-care activities bring me joy and rejuvenation? How often do I engage in them, and how can I make them a consistent part of my routine?

?? Do I set realistic goals for myself, both personally and professionally? Are there any unrealistic expectations that drain my energy? How can I establish healthy boundaries and create a balanced approach to achieving my goals?

?? What is my current energy management plan, if any? How effective is it, and what adjustments can I make to enhance its impact? How can I hold myself accountable for managing my energy levels better?

??Let’s work together!?

When you are ready, these are 3 ways I can support you:

• Join the you.thenticity community?- dedicated to people who are interested in Training, Wellbeing, Coaching, or simply interested in discovering themselves more and grow.
• Book a free 1:1 discussion with me.
• Let me take care of your Training, Wellbeing or Coaching project.

See you again next Wednesday, with another round of resources on Training, Coaching & Wellbeing.

If you’re hungry for even more content, you can follow me on?Facebook?&?Instagram.