Turning energy-drainers into something better

Today, my workday mindset challenge is to turn tasks and activities which usually drain my energy into something better. Ideally, I'll even end up liking these things.

Why do this? Motivation, mainly. If small energy drainers can be turned into something more pleasurable or inspiring, less of my day is about drudgery and more of it is about moving from one thing to another without forcing myself so much.

Here are my biggest daily energy drainers. I'm including work and life drainers, because let's be honest, they tend to go together...:

1. Biking to drop off/collect my daughters from school
2. Checking and replying to emails
3. Life admin of any kind (banking tasks, school admin, scheduling appointments)
4. Household chores

I've already tackled one of these today: household chores. Okay, so I only focussed on the one chore, but getting our little guinea pigs ready for their day this morning was much less draining than normal. Instead of thinking of it as a 'procedure', I decided to embrace the tactility of the job:

• When I opened their outdoor hutch, I gave both piggies their favourite greeting, a nose tickle, which made me smile. They wheeked (yes, that's correctly GP terminology) cheerily at me as a reward.
• As I topped up their hay, I breathed in its scent and it took me right back to summer mornings growing up in the countryside. Instant happy!
• Augmenting their nuggets meant plunging my hand into the container and making fun rustling sounds. Kinda turned into a GP myself for a moment there...
• I hand-fed them their veggies, instead of just depositing them in their bowl, which gave me a hit of connection, and I think they enjoyed it too.
• Instead of going straight back inside to my computer, I took a moment to stay and watch them eat and popcorn (a sort of delighted leaping that GPs do) about. The fresh air woke me up, the break in rain showers meant rays of sun on my face, and the piggies were fascinating, funny and sweet, making amusing sounds and enjoying their daytime freedom from the hutch.

Although this was kinda cheating - I don't absolutely hate looking after our family pets. But, this chore is one of those tasks where 'if I don't do it nobody will', and that's the draining part. But today, this chore helped me get ready to sit and focus on my work. I've had a very productive morning as a result.

Now for turning that school run bike ride into something better...

I'd love to know what your regular energy drainers are, and if you have ways to turn them into something that enhances your day, rather than detracting from it. Please share your experiences, and let me know how you are changing them into a workday benefit.