Energy vs. Time Management

Examine your own work-life integration. As you consider your patterns of work and life, decide which areas you need to refine to become more effective. Have you incorporated elements of self-care into your life rhythms? What do you need to start doing or stop doing to expand your influence?

Managing your energy in addition to your time is an important facet of work-life integration. Conduct a check of your physical energy, emotional energy, mental energy, and spiritual energy throughout the day. Consider how you can adjust your daily rhythms to increase your energy levels. Intentionally incorporate the well-known habits of getting enough rest, exercising, taking breaks, and eating healthy to keep your physical energy at an optimum level. Engage the practice of reframing tense work situations to gain perspective. Ask yourself, “how will I gauge the importance of a current situation one year from now (reference) .” Maintaining a healthy perspective and spending time voicing your appreciation for others helps increase your emotional energy.

The topic of mental energy is well researched, with recommendations to reduce interruptions and determine priorities for the following workday. Spiritual energy relates to spending time on tasks that fit within our “sweet spot” at work. It is energizing to complete work that engages our strengths. These suggestions fit well within the theme of self-leadership, which we examined earlier. As we devote time to developing others, we must invest time into managing our energy and growth as a leader.