When work piles up – what do we do? Naturally, you may feel pressured to do more, work harder and put in longer hours. The problem with working longer, however, is that time is a finite resource, and sooner rather than later, you’ll find yourself exhausted and emotionally depleted.
Your Energy, on the other hand, is a different story. Defined in physics as ‘the capacity to work’, energy comes from four main wellsprings, namely:
>The Mind
>The Body
>The Emotions
>The Spirit
In each category, energy can be increased and replenished by establishing specific rituals. Creating intentionally practised behaviours day-to-day helps you to increase stamina, maximise your productivity (the right way), and achieve overall balance. The key is to practice these rituals until they become unconscious habits you automatically fall back on…
How to Manage Your Energy
If you’re looking to increase your energy (and change your life, really) make a plan to include the following in your day-to-day life.
1. The Body
Begin by focusing on physical energy. It is hardly ground-breaking that a poor diet, lack of exercise and inadequate sleep will diminish your basic energy levels. What’s more, when your body is unable to function properly, you’ll likely be unable to manage your emotions and stay attentive. Surprisingly, people are quick to neglect their bodies in the pursuit of getting more done at work.
Come on, ladies, your body needs sleep. Make a conscious effort to set an earlier bedtime and get at least 8 hours of undisrupted sleep. Incorporate some daily movement (even if it’s just a quick walk), drink at least 2l of water, and lay off the sugar and alcohol. Bonus points for practising deep breathing. You’ll be feeling energised in no time.
2. The Emotions
When you’re able to take control of your emotions, you immediately improve the quality of your energy, regardless of your circumstances. To achieve this, you must learn to cultivate an awareness of how you are feeling, as well as what your emotional triggers are, throughout the day. While it may be easier said than done, developing your sense of self-awareness and tuning into positivity will lead to better performance and more productivity at work.
3. The Mind
Distraction can be costly. When your mind isn’t sharp, slip-ups happen. The mistake many people make is to add more to their already busy schedules. Instead, focus on taking away: minimise notifications and alerts, switch off unnecessary devices and focus on one task at a time, rather than multitasking. Studies show that switching between tasks could increase the completion time by as much as 25%, thanks to a phenomenon known as “switching time.”
4. The Spirit
Perhaps the most overlooked type of energy, people tap into their spirit when they share values and purpose with what they do. Ask yourself what really matters to you. Get clear on your priorities, set boundaries and actively live out your values in your everyday life. If something in your life is conflicting with your values, it’s a clear indicator that something needs to change.
So, how do you optimise your energy in these 4 areas of your life? We want to hear from you!
Join the Xena Community for more tips on how to optimise your energy, tap into insights from Energy experts and attend live events hosted by leading female founders.
