Examining Your Energy

By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Energy Management Trumps Time Management

Many people equate productivity with making progress on a task list. When you're going through a trying time, everything can feel harder. Whether you are navigating family drama, work burnout, or a post-layoff job search, there will be times when you can't just "buckle down" and get things done--no matter how efficient your to-do list is. Managing your energy levels, not just your ever-growing task list is the key to making progress. 

Reflect on Factors Influenging Your Energy Levels

As you think about how to spend your time, learn about yourself and when you will be the most productive and happiest with each activity. I interact with LinkedIn posts during my first cup of coffee, enjoy afternoon walks, and do yoga at night before bed. There are no absolute right or wrong times for many things, just ones that are a better fit for you. 

Your Most and Least Productive Times of Day

Take time to reflect on your most and least productive times. Use these questions as a starting point: 
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• Are you a morning person, a night person, or somewhere in between?
• What time of day do you seem to get the most done?
• Do you think about something for a while before doing it, or do you jump right in?
• What tasks take you very little time? What tasks seem to take a long time?
• Do you prefer to work on the same task for while? Or do you prefer switching between tasks regularly? 
• How much structured time do you need? How much unstructured time do you need?

​Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what is true for you.

Factors Influencing Your Energy Levels

In addition, reflect on the following factors and their impact on your energy levels:

• ​How do you feel when you have too much or too little social contact?
• How do you feel when you have too much or too little time at home? 
• How do you feel when you have too many or too few new experiences?
• How do you feel when you have too much or too little routine?

​Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what is true for you.​

Patterns for Energy Builders and Energy Depleters

Based on your responses to those questions, you may have identified factors that energize you and those that deplete you. 

• For me, I am energized by having enough alone time, having time to think about a task before doing it, and having a balance of unstructured and structured time. 
• I also know that I am depleted when I have too much structured time, too little time at home, and too many new experiences all at once. 

Knowing these things about myself helps me know how to organize my time to maximize my energy.  Letting family and friends know what I need also helps them understand and support me as I work towards my goals. 

Self Care Builds Energy

After you identify your energy depleters, here are a few steps you can take to build your energy:

• Basic self-care: eating, drinking water, showering, walking outside, breathing deeply, and stretching can help make you feel better almost immediately. 
• Accomplishing something: sending an email, making a phone call, paying a bill, or wiping down your kitchen counters will help you feel like you made even the most minor contribution to the world today. There is something inherently satisfying about crossing one task off of your list.
• Changing it up: taking breaks, going to a different grocery store, walking in a new place, driving a different route as you run errands, working from your kitchen table, or doing whatever you can to add newness to your daily routine.
• Recovering: sleeping, walking in nature, watching a movie you’ve seen before, reflecting on your day, playing games, journaling, and meditating are all great ways to heal.

Leverage Your Energy To Achieve More

When I identify my energy patterns and take steps to recover when needed, I have more capacity. I can accomplish more in less time when my energy is in a good place. Then, I can leverage my to-do lists and make real progress towards my goals.

Learn More

• The Layoff Lady: The Secret To Time Management
• ​​Podcast Appearance: Unfiltered Unspoken Connecting Through Life Experiences: Finding Hope After Layoffs, Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady
• The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
• The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​