Skip to main content

Headed for an energy crisis?

 

It's just another day in 2007.  Stopped to take a few minutes to read a short article.  It's my daily "leadership" lesson time.  Only this time it really shook me up.  Really challenged my thoughts on a concept I thought I had a handle on.  Time management.  Tony Schwartz & Catherine McCarthy had really made an impact on me!

Manage your energy NOT your time!  What?  Think about it...time is a finite resource.  Energy is renewable.  Want to see where you are with your energy?  Here's their quiz!



Mark the statements that are true for you:

Your Body

  • I don't regularly get at least 7-10 hours of sleep and often wake up feeling tired
  • I frequently skip breakfast or settle for something that isn't nutritious
  • I don't work out enough; a minimum of cardio 3 times per week & strength training 1 time per week
  • I don't take regular breaks during the day to truly renew & recharge OR I often eat lunch at my desk

Your Emotions

  • I frequently find myself feeling irritable, impatient or anxious at work, especially when work is demanding
  • I don't have enough time with my family/loved ones & when I'm with them I'm not always really with them
  • I have too little time for the activities that I most enjoy
  • I don't stop frequently enough to express my appreciation to others or to savor my accomplishments and blessings

Your Mind

  • I have difficulty focusing on one thing at a time & am easily distracted during the day, especially by email
  • I spend much of my day reacting to immediate crisis & demands rather than focusing on activities with long-term value and high leverage
  • I don't take enough time for reflection, strategizing & creative thinking
  • I work in the evenings or on weekends & almost never take an email free vacation

Your Spirit

  • I don't spend enough time at work doing what I do best & enjoy most
  • There are significant gaps between what I say is most important to me in life & how I actually allocate my time
  • My decisions at work are more often influenced by external demands than by strong, clear sense of my own purpose
  • I don't invest enough time & energy in making a positive difference to others or to the world


How is your overall energy?

Total number of statements checked _________

What does my score mean?

0-3 - Excellent energy management skills

4-6 - Reasonable energy management skills

7-10 - Significant energy management deficits

11-16 - A full-fledged energy management crisis!

What do you need to work on?

Number of checks in each category

  • Body ____
  • Mind ____
  • Emotions ____
  • Spirit ____

What do the category scores mean?

0 - Excellent energy management skills

1 - Strong energy management skills

2 - Significant deficits

3 - Poor energy management skills

4 - A full-fledged energy crisis!

2 Facts

  1. Father Time will stay undefeated
  2. Rule #1 doesn't keep you from energy renewal


If you'd like to learn more about this approach visit The Energy Project that Tony Schwartz started!

Add Comment

Comments (0)

Post

About the Extension Foundation

This website is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension (funding opportunity no. USDA-NIFA-OP-010186), grant no. 2023-41595-41325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Extension Foundation. For more information, please visit extension.org. You can view the terms of use at extension.org/about/terms.

×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×