Managing Energy instead of Time
Why does searching for socks in the morning always screw up my day?
Two days ago, I woke up at 4:00 AM – a little too early, I could say. I then flew to a workshop that lasted until nearly 11:00 PM (all-inclusive). The whole day was full of meetings and discussions, but incredibly productive! I maintained my energy throughout the day, despite the minimal sleep, and was remarkably active.
In contrast, two days earlier, I woke up at 8:00 AM and began working from my home office. However, I felt sluggish and unfocused, like I hit a wall. In short, my energy levels were practically null.
This experience resonates with Adam Grant's podcast, "Redefining Hustle Culture," where Robin Arzón repeatedly emphasizes the concept of "energy as currency." Her point is that we need to manage our energy just like we manage our money. We must conserve it and spend it on what really matters.
After quick research, I found this long HBR Article: “Manage your Energy, not your time”. This article breaks down your energy into four buckets: body, emotions, mind, and spirit. Imagine them like happiness buckets you gotta keep topped up all the time!
This article is all about creating rituals to fill those buckets. It emphasizes the importance of getting enough sleep (think 7 hours, not that midnight Netflix session you watched yesterday), healthy eating (döner for lunch? think twice), and getting your body moving (anything to avoid becoming a couch potato). It's a great article to read next time you have I-want-to-read-something moment.
Podcasts and posts aside, Here's my personal cheat sheet for daily energy top up:
sleep well (like minimum 7 hours)
Eat healthy and don’t eat so much.
Do Sports (did I say you have to be healthy?)
Prep your stuff the night before (future you will thank you... probably).
Don't fight over milk in the morning (or better avoid speaking for the first hour or so if you can)
Have a hobby or two or at least do something fun every week (judging people around you is not a hobby, trust me.)
Plan your days (but leave some room for last minute surprises)
Master the art of "no" (you will sruvive really).
Take some break while working. These 5 minutes will not change the world.
At work, while managing your energy will certainly help you get through the day and be more productive, don't become an energy miser. Don't always prioritize activities that simply make you happy and comfortable at the expense of tackling important and challenging topics. This applies not only to your daily work but also to discussions about important issues, including political ones. Maintaining a positive and energetic attitude is great, but it shouldn't prevent you from engaging with the realities of the world around you.
