In the flexible workplace, it's up to you to manage your personal energy effectively and work the hours that work best for you. Of course, while virtual or home schooling, sometimes those hours may be dictated by your child's schedule, but you can still have some control over your energy levels by asking yourself a few questions.
What time of day do I have the most energy?
Start noticing when you focus the best and get the most work done. Maybe that’s when you first wake up and haven’t been distracted by the day yet, or maybe you need to meditate or go for a run to get into a creative flow. Whatever it is, start paying attention and plan your biggest projects for that time of day.
Do I usually have more or less energy than my coworkers?
This question isn’t about comparison for work performance: just self-reflection to make better use of your time. Some of us simply wake up with more energy than others, or our daily responsibilities drain us faster.
The problem comes when your coworkers drain you during your peak energy times. Just because they’re wide awake and clearing their inbox, doesn’t mean you need to respond to everything they send you in the moment. If you’re a manager, you may also be able to give these energetic workers more tasks during the day, confident they’ll be able to accomplish it by the deadline.
What activities deplete my energy?
The way we plan our activities for the day greatly influences how productive we are. You want to spend your best energy on your top priorities. Don’t use your prime hours for mindless (but necessary) tasks or the meetings that wear you out before you get started.
Start noticing which responsibilities are draining you, and schedule them for the time after you’ve accomplished your main priority for the day. Of course, sometimes you need the most energy to accomplish a task you know is also draining. In that case, you’ll be scheduling according to your priorities for the day.
What activities energize me?
Now it’s time to reflect on what gives you energy, so you can boost your productivity when you need it. We’re looking for things other than a 5th cup of coffee.
Maybe you need to spend some screen-free time during lunch to recharge and give your brain a break: you might take a quick walk around the block or read a book for 10 minutes. Sometimes a quick yoga video may reset your mind to tackle the next task. Try a few different options and see what works best for you. Then, when you’re faced with a big deadline, you know how to supplement your usual energy flow to get you through the next task.
Quick tips to better utilize your personal energy
Now that you’ve started reflecting on how your energy is being used throughout the day, try implementing a few quick changes to see results in your productivity.
“Touch it once”
When you’re going through your inbox, don’t leave things unanswered when you have the response. This just clogs your brain when you try to get back to the rest of your work. Instead, go to your inbox prepared to address every email: whether you respond directly or ask a teammate for the answer.
Eventually, you should apply this to every task on your list. When you sit down to complete a project, make sure you have everything you need to finish it, so you don’t feel it looming, unfinished, over the rest of your day.
The same goes for your personal text messages: Don’t open them until you’re ready to respond! Give your friends and family the attention they deserve.
Stop overthinking: Build a routine
Every person needs different routines to prevent them from wasting time on daily decisions. For some, this means wearing only black so they never worry about matching clothes. Some people enjoy picking out their outfit in the morning, but spend too much time deciding what’s for breakfast or lunch.
Even your morning workout could be an easier decision process: pick one app or training plan and stick to the plan.
By eliminating these decisions, you have more energy to make the choices that matter. And you’ll find you’re finally doing many of the things you’ve always wanted to do, simply because you have a plan.
Learn what’s most important to you
Finally, your personal priorities should dictate where your energy goes. When shifting to “work as a lifestyle” you get to decide what balance looks like. By using your energy effectively, you can accomplish more in 4 good hours than the 8-hour stretch from 9am-5pm. You might spend your time on a side hustle or planning a new work initiative. Or maybe you’ll finally take a pottery class or start re-reading the classics.
Find out what brings you meaning and purpose, and channel your energy in that direction to establish “work as a lifestyle.”