How Well Are You Managing Your Energy?
PAGE 3
Just for starters, consider these four strategies, one for each of the four energy dimensions:
Physical
It makes sense that the bigger the demands in our lives, the greater the need for renewal. We do just the opposite. Start taking a break at least every 90 minutes. You can get a lot of renewal by completely disengaging from work even for very short periods of time.
Emotional
Start paying attention to how you're feeling, moment to moment. How you feel profoundly influences how you perform. When you notice yourself moving into negative emotions, apply this principle: Whatever you feel compelled to do, don't. Instead, smile, take a deep breath and wait to act until you're capable of thinking clearly.
Mental
Stop trying to multitask. You can't, efficiently or effectively. Instead, work as much as possible in short, uninterrupted sprints. Focus intensely for no more than 90 minutes, and then take a break. At a minimum, do the most important thing first every day, for at least 60 minutes.
Spiritual
It's very easy, under pressure, to do whatever will solve the problem in the moment, without regard for the long-term consequences. Instead, ask yourself this simple question when you have a difficult decision to make: "What's the right thing to do here?" The more intentionally you make decisions, the better they'll be.
Take just one behavior from the Energy Audit that you're not currently doing but know you should, and start doing it at a specific time every day for a week. You'll notice a difference in your life.
Is there an area of your life you feel more challenged than others when it comes to personal energy? What are your struggles? Share your comments below.
Tony Schwartz is the author of The Way We're Working Isn't Working and president and CEO of The Energy Project. Learn more at TheEnergyProject.com.
Keep Reading:
Join Tony's Take Back Your Lunch project
Too much to do, too little time? Why how we're working isn't working
Is technology to blame? Stand up for yourself with a media filter
Physical
It makes sense that the bigger the demands in our lives, the greater the need for renewal. We do just the opposite. Start taking a break at least every 90 minutes. You can get a lot of renewal by completely disengaging from work even for very short periods of time.
Emotional
Start paying attention to how you're feeling, moment to moment. How you feel profoundly influences how you perform. When you notice yourself moving into negative emotions, apply this principle: Whatever you feel compelled to do, don't. Instead, smile, take a deep breath and wait to act until you're capable of thinking clearly.
Mental
Stop trying to multitask. You can't, efficiently or effectively. Instead, work as much as possible in short, uninterrupted sprints. Focus intensely for no more than 90 minutes, and then take a break. At a minimum, do the most important thing first every day, for at least 60 minutes.
Spiritual
It's very easy, under pressure, to do whatever will solve the problem in the moment, without regard for the long-term consequences. Instead, ask yourself this simple question when you have a difficult decision to make: "What's the right thing to do here?" The more intentionally you make decisions, the better they'll be.
Take just one behavior from the Energy Audit that you're not currently doing but know you should, and start doing it at a specific time every day for a week. You'll notice a difference in your life.
Is there an area of your life you feel more challenged than others when it comes to personal energy? What are your struggles? Share your comments below.
Tony Schwartz is the author of The Way We're Working Isn't Working and president and CEO of The Energy Project. Learn more at TheEnergyProject.com.
Keep Reading:
Join Tony's Take Back Your Lunch project
Too much to do, too little time? Why how we're working isn't working
Is technology to blame? Stand up for yourself with a media filter
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