Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

Are you at the brink of burn-out? 

Are you overwhelmed and stressed most of the time, trying desperately to juggle all the balls you keep throwing in the air? (Or rather, the balls that others seem to be throwing at you to see how well you can juggle them all.)

Do you squeeze in one more meeting, make one more commitment at home, and compensate by neglecting your own self-care just one more time?

Do you feel tired and exhausted, frantic, and are you always rushing?

If this state has come to feel normal for you, it's time to pause and think about the long-term implications of running on empty over an extended period of time. Health conditions, anxiety and depression disorders, and just plain physical and emotional burnout can all be results of prolonged inattention to your own energy needs. We spend so much time trying to fit everything in and attempting to manage our time, when in fact, we need to be turning our attention to managing our energy levels.

Energy is real. It is an intangible life force that flows within us. It encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual domains of our being and serves as fuel for us. All four domains require regular refueling and recharging, so that we can operate at full capacity and perform at our best. When we neglect renewing an energy center and run it on empty, we are operating on fumes. Fumes produce exhaust and at some point-- we collapse.

On a daily basis I talk to high-achieving leaders who are in this state of utter depletion. 

All the systems we put in place are to support our ability to burn the candle at both ends. We then applaud ourselves for our time management ability to "do it all." 

I hear story after story of the price paid for that "I can do-it all" validation. I have several stories of my own in this arena. The most notable one happened about 7 or 8 years ago, and was yet another wake-up call for me to remember the importance of managing energy instead of time. I'll share this story with you, as I hear similar stories with different flavors from so many leaders struggling with energy management.

It was on a Sunday morning, when out of the blue, I felt my heart pounding out of my chest. It was racing so fast I could actually hear and feel it take over my entire body. I knew something was wrong when it wouldn't subside and we immediately raced to the emergency room. 

As they took my vitals, it was even more clear that something wasn't right when they rushed me ahead of everyone else and called the ER doctor over the intercom in code language to attend to me immediately. My heart rate was over 240 beats a minute and had been for 20 minutes. From the look on everyone's face in the ER, I honestly felt that I was not going to come out of this room, and that something really serious was happening. The doctor gave me an emergency injection and fortunately, my heart rate began to drop. After several hours of close supervision, I was released and ordered to see a cardiologist for tests the next day.

After a nail-biting battery of tests, I was told that I had a heart rhythm irregularity that was triggered by too much stress. Even though I didn't feel stressed that day, the cardiologist reminded me of the following important truth:

"Stress is cumulative. And stress can be emotional, mental, or physical. Not enough sleep, too much caffeine, not exercising, eating the wrong foods, and not taking care of yourself all are forms of physical stress. Your body needs energy in order to function properly, so managing your energy is vital to everything--but definitely vital to your heart."

This scare was my cue to do some pretty deep soul-searching about what was most important and how to make my own energy management a priority. When you are sitting in an emergency room believing that there is a possibility you may not leave that room alive, it helps you put things into perspective going forward.

Even though something similar had happened to me a few years prior, I had fallen off the self-care wagon. This time it was clear to me. My health and well-being were no-one's responsibility but my own. And if I did not manage my energy, nothing else I did was that important, or frankly as good as it could be if I was operating at full capacity.

What did I do differently?

I learned to read my body's signals real time and set up regular weekly rituals for prevention and self-care. 

For me, mindless browsing in a shopping mall a couple hours a week is an energy renewal activity It allows me not to have to think or engage, and it engages me visually rather than mentally--which helps me clear my mind. 

Another one is taking a walk in nature once a week, either around trees or water. 

Writing in a daily journal right before bed-time is also an activity that renews me mentally and spiritually, so even if it is only a few paragraphs, I do that every night now. It helps me collect my thoughts and channel my creative self.

I also set aside time for my regular exercise routine. Sporadic would no longer cut it. Consistent days and times are a commitment, not a luxury.

I cut out caffeine and make sure I get 8 hours of sleep most nights. 

Making regular time for these self-care rituals is now non-negotiable for me. I don't see them as luxuries or "nice-to haves". They are essential for me to renew my energy and perform at my best. And if I have to make trade-offs, it will not be at the expense of my self-care and health. No job, no title, and no amount of money can buy you out of an emergency room crisis.

I want to prompt you in this post to think about what rituals YOU need to set in place as priorities and commit to, to allow for your own regular energy renewal.

What daily rituals will help you manage your energy more effectively?

What do you need to say "no" to in order to make sure you keep your commitment to your self-care ritual?

What must you forfeit?

What standards of perfection do you need to rewrite for yourself?

What are the consequences if you don't manage your energy?

Don't wait until you experience a wake-up call to take action to commit to your own self-care. No-one else will do it for you.

Start now.

I'd love to hear about your energy management strategies. Drop me a note and share them!

Peace & light to you,

Janet

Your thoughts, words, and actions create your reputation as a leader, and the story of what it is like to be in your presence. My work with leaders focuses primarily on creating your most powerful presence. I help you define and access the thoughts, words, and actions that are in alignment with your most powerful self— and maximize the impact you have in the world. Check out my books, blog posts, articles in Forbes or Thrive Global, or my regular videos that all serve you on your quest to embody your most powerful presence.

www.janetioli.com