Work and rest are two sides of the same coin. But there is a way to skillfully weave them together. Read on to know how.
Tune in to your Energy Levels
Most of us are not in tune with our energy levels until we are exhausted. We work beyond our capacity and then crash in front of the TV or obsessively scroll our phones.
Try this instead. Check in on your energy levels throughout the day. As you keep doing this, you will build intuition into what energizes you and what depletes you.
If you want to truly master your energy, this is the most important skill. Be aware of your energy levels. No change is possible without awareness.
Identify your Rhythm
Everyone has their own unique rhythm influenced by genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors. Try to identify your unique rhythm.
Some examples:
- When do you feel most energized?
- How do your meals affect your energy levels?
- Do you feel a slump in energy after lunch?
- Do meetings energize you or deplete you?
By being in tune with your energy levels, develop an understanding of your own rhythm. You can then use that understanding to schedule your tasks.
For example, if you have a rush of morning energy, you may want to schedule your most complex tasks for that time.
Don’t be in a Rush
This tip comes for personal experience. I often have a tendency to rush to the finish line for the tasks that I’m doing. The psychological reasons for this are complex and for another post. But what I can tell you is that this results in an enormous expenditure of energy. On days that I work like this, I’m completely exhausted by 6pm.
It’s like sitting in a car during a traffic jam and willing it to move forward. We all know how exhausting that can be. Not only is it exhausting, it’s also pointless.
It’s like planting seeds and then digging them up to check on them every few hours. It’s a waste of energy and incredibly inefficient.
Plug Energy Leaks
We leak energy throughout the day. It could be via anger, jealousy, frustration etc. But even qualities thought to be positive like excitement can sap our energy. Personally, a lot of my energy gets sapped by validation seeking behavior.
As you keep plugging your energy leaks, you will be surprised by how much more energy you have.
Conclusion
Work doesn’t sap our energy. It’s our poor energy management habits. Use the ideas in this article to manage your energy better. But these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. As you tune in to your energy levels more, you will have many more insights of your own.