May 19, 2021

Managing Your Energy

Life@Work, Work Life

This past year has been challenging and we’ve all certainly had moments where we feel like we just don’t have enough energy. How can you tell? Look at your mood and how you’re feeling – that’s your body’s built-in indicator of your energy level. Ultimately, we’re each responsible for managing our energy. We decide how to show up to a meeting. How to respond to an email. And what tone to use during conversations.

To be accountable for your energy, it’s helpful to understand its four sources:

• Body (physical energy)
• Emotions (quality of energy)
• Mind (focus of energy)
• Human spirit (energy of meaning and purpose)

Not enough hours in the day

There are only so many hours in the day, but we each control how we feel during those hours. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of managing your time, but what’s more important is managing your energy. Below is a two-minute video that explains this concept.

Tips to get you started

Here are four simple tips – things you can start doing today – to better manage your energy.

Share appreciation

When you share appreciation with someone, you not only brighten their day, you’ll boost your energy as well. The act of showing gratitude can have a ripple effect of positivity.

Take a break

Build a 20-minute break into your day, when possible. A change of scenery and a few minutes spent outside going for a walk can change your entire mood.

Stop multi-tasking

We often think multi-tasking makes us more efficient, but it usually just drains our energy faster. Be here now. Minimize distractions and feel the difference.

Create boundaries

Whether it’s how much time you’re working or figuring out what to prioritize, it’s helpful to have boundaries. Make a list of what’s most important and try to focus on those things.

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Sources: The Harvard Business Review, October 2007; Positiveroutines.com, October 9, 2018.