Are you any good at managing your time? Some of you may think, “I'm not bad at it.” But most, like me, are no good at all. So here's the question.
What if you worked on managing your energy instead of managing your time?
Time is finite. But energy can appear seemingly out of nowhere. In truth, energy has four sources: the body, our emotions, our minds, and our spirit. Tony Schwartz, founder of the Energy Project, says we can learn to harness these dimensions, creating our own energy.
Tony Schwartz, founder of The Energy Project says leaders can liberate the free flow of their own energy and achieve a contagious impact. The key is that they must role-model qualities such as openness, vulnerability, self-awareness, accountability, empathy and curiosity. Then, make a conscious shift from a performance culture to a growth culture.
Schwartz says a performance culture asks, “How much energy can we mobilize (tactical work to get things done)?” and the answer is finite. But a growth culture asks, “How much energy can we liberate together?” and the answer is infinite.
In my work and research, I think the term “generate” is more appropriate. To liberate indicates the energy is out there somewhere… contained… trapped. I think it’s not. I think the infinite opportunity is to generate it: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
How do you do that?
Reenergizing our body happens when we eat well, take breaks from work, and move (exercise). Physical energy is restored. Emotionally, the research shows that we gain energy by practicing gratitude, serving others, and making connections. Our minds can be easily drained by technology; so taking breaks from those distractions, getting outside for a change of scenery, or getting lost in a good story can increase mental energy. Lastly, when we engage in activities that give a sense of meaning and purpose, our spirit energy soars.
The Energizer Experiment:
Grab a piece of paper (or open a phone app) and write down the four sources of energy: Body. Emotion. Mind. Spirit. Then, under each source, think of four or five things that can energize you. These can be related to home or work. Look over that list. Ponder it a bit. Circle the top two or three items (whether home or work). Could these be motivators for you? For example, I am super energized by encouraging people. It's what I love to do. I can apply this at work or home, and gain a great serotonin boost in my brain when I do that.
When we lean into our energizers, we automatically begin saying “no” to other things (time-stealers) freeing us to increase our output and have more impact at both home and work.
So… instead of trying to manage your time, invest in generating and managing your energy.
Final Challenge: How might you apply these ideas in your work (professional life)? How might you apply them at home?
Reference: Schwartz and McCarthy (2007). Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage...energy-not-your-time
Additional Resources: Dr. Brian Raison (raison.1@osu.edu) serves as a Professor and Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University. He has extracted these tools over the past dozen years from his formal classes and Extension programs. Free downloads and videos (and about 25 free e-book codes) are available online: http://encouragingmentor.com
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