Productivity used to just focus on time management. The thinking was that by managing how you use your time in the most effective manner; you get more of your most important work done. That has been proven to be true but you can take your productivity further. In recent times, it has become clear that you also must manage your energy to increase productivity. Many people argue over which is more important; time management or energy management. My view is that they are both essential components of effective resource management. However, in this article I want to focus on how to manage your energy levels to increase productivity.
More and more, people are realising the importance of managing your energy to increase productivity. Managing your energy levels is very much like managing your bank account; you are either making deposits or withdrawals. During the day, you are constantly making choices about what to do, who to spend time with and what the best use of your resources is in any given moment. As a consequence of your choices, your energy levels either go up or down.
If you find that certain people, tasks or times of the day are taking a toll on your energy, it’s time to assess what those problems are and do something about them. If you want to manage your energy to increase productivity, you need to understand the impact that your choices are having on your energy levels and; how alternative choices may bring better results.
Not all energy lows are caused by the choices you make. Your energy levels naturally ebb and flow. This is because your body and mind understand that they need regular recovery and they self-regulate energy levels to allow for this recovery to take place. In fact, if you find yourself constantly lacking energy; it is likely that you have made some choices which are impeding your body and mind’s natural attempts to recover.
You can actually help out with the recovery efforts by using the periods of low energy to either take a break or, perform a non-important task which requires little energy. This way you will be offering little resistance to your body and minds’ attempts to recover and; the recovery will happen much quicker.
You can learn some simple strategies for boosting your energy levels with my FREE Report - Top 10 Energy Hacks.
Manage your energy to increase productivity
There are an endless number of strategies which may be used to manage your energy to increase productivity. However, the strategies below will give you a good start on your path to excellent energy management:
1. Know your energy flows
Energy levels are different from person to person. Some people are morning people who have the most energy in the early part of the day while others are night owls who have their highest energy levels later in the day. Just by knowing which you are and; scheduling your most important tasks for the periods of high energy; you will quickly increase your productivity.
You can take it much further though. By making a note of your energy levels, every fifteen minutes throughout the workday; you can begin to see how your energy ebbs and flows throughout the day. You can then be more accurate with scheduling important tasks for periods of high energy and your non-important tasks for your periods of low energy.
Key point
Awareness is the first step in managing your energy effectively. You need to understand when you have most energy and, what you are currently using that energy for. You will often find that you are using your periods of highest energy for relatively unimportant tasks. When you change and, dedicate this high-energy time to important tasks, you will improve both the quantity and quality of the work you complete.
Related
Read 5 Questions to help you manage your energy levels to get more focused on understanding your high energy periods and how you are currently using them.
2. Declutter and dump
In my many years of coaching, I have regularly encountered clients who have been spending a great deal of time on activities and people that add no real value to their life. If your life is packed full of activities, possessions and people; you are most likely focusing on quantity over quality in your life. In general, quantity uses up your energy while quality adds energy to your life.
At least every 3 months, it is critical that you go through everything in your life and determine which activities, possessions and people, no longer add value to your life. Then, discard them or, if there is a very genuine reason why you cannot do that; at the very least, reduce their presence in your life. These may include:
Key point
Simplifying your life like this will allow you to spend more time and energy on the things and people which add value to your life while eliminating many of the things which only rob you of your energy.
Related
If you don't know how to declutter and simplify, check out Scaling Back.
3. Delegate, automate or outsource
Just because something has to be done; it doesn’t mean that you have to be the one to do it. You have a number of options which can save your time and energy by taking the task off of your hands:
Key point
Regularly review your tasks to see what you can eliminate altogether or, get off your hands and onto somebody else’s task list.
Related
This all forms part of an effective organisational system. Read - Why you need an effective organisational system to learn more.
4. Eliminate distractions
Distractions are like the tasks you need to dump or declutter except that they are not even tasks. They are just things which interfere with your work, sap your energy and cause you delays. Distractions may include:
It is essential that you identify and eliminate distractions as quickly as possible to allow you to complete your work using the minimum time and energy.
Key point
Even the most productive people allow themselves to get distracted from time to time. It is not that you can never check your phone or email etc. The important thing is that you don’t allow yourself to be distracted during high-energy, intense-focus period. After each period of focus, you can even allow yourself 5 minutes to indulge in your distractions e.g. work hard for 30 minutes, enjoy your distractions for 5 minutes then, back to work
Just make sure that the period of distraction does not exceed the 5 minutes allowed.
You can learn some simple strategies for boosting your energy levels with my FREE Report - Top 10 Energy Hacks.
Related
For more on dealing with distractions, read – How to develop focus by eliminating distractions.
5. Take regular breaks
You need to provide sufficient opportunities throughout the day for your energy levels to recover. This is done by taking regular breaks from your most difficult and important tasks. There are 2 types of breaks which you can take:
Either of these types of breaks will help.
It is important that you stop work completely at least a few times during the day. I would recommend a lunch break of at least 30 minutes plus two breaks of approx. 15 minutes. Then, every hour, stop for 5 minutes. That may sound like a lot of time where you are not working but you will recover sufficient energy to enable you to work harder when you return to your work.
In addition to these breaks, ensure that you use your low energy periods for easier work and you will get an active rest whereby you get some work done while you recover.
Key point
If you try to work intensively, all day, every day, you are soon going to burn yourself out. You will become stressed and your productivity will drop. By taking regular breaks, you allow your body and mind to recharge which allows you to work harder again. When you are familiar with your energy flows, it is easier to know when you need to take a rest.
Related
If you would like to learn to manage your energy levels to increase productivity; Limitless Energy will help you do so.
Conclusion
You can manage your energy to increase productivity and; it is not a very difficult thing to do. It just takes a little commitment and application and you will soon see improvements in your performance due to increased energy levels. Energy is not in infinite supply but you can increase your energy levels and, manage your existing energy levels better. The strategies outlined above will help you to do so. Implement them and watch your productivity soar.