Stop Managing Time and Manage Your Energy

Filed in archive Personal Development on April 24, 2007

I cannot manage time because I am given the same 24 hours, same as you and there is no 'rollover' plan for unused time.

It is the energy I put into a task within any given moment of time is what determines the outcome not managing time.

When writing my last two books I discovered that managing my energy was more important than managing time. Because when my energy is low my writing sucked it took so much longer to get a chapter written.

I schedule my most important tasks for those times when my energy is high. If I get weary I rest, which means I take a 20-30 minute nap. I wake up refreshed and often with insights into my work.

Henry Ford held all meetings from the couch in his office, why waste the energy sitting up when you could be resting during a meeting? Sounds good to me.

I am fortunate to be self-employed and be able to work according to my energy levels. What can you do working in the corporate environment?

Do something that changes your physiology - because as Anthony Robbins says, "Move your body, you change your state." Every hour, get up and walk away from the computer or whatever you are doing and take a five-minute break. Walk around, do some push-ups, listen to some music, or stretch.

How do you keep your energy levels up?