Energizing your Life: Mastering the art of energy management!
Strategies for managing your energy and mastering the art of energy management
If you are living in today’s age of content platforms sharing actionable insights, it is rare that you would have not come across ‘How to manage your money to beat inflation’ . It is also quite rare that you would not have come across insights on how to manage your time and stay productive, from inputs on time management apps to infamous courses on time management. In this edition of the newsletter, we’ll explore strategies to something more important than money and time, your energy. Time is a finite resource, but energy is a different story. Let’s dive straight in!
Unlike time and money the nature of energy is not measurable, how much you have or how much you’ve spent is hard to measure, we don’t have a watch or counting of notes equivalent to measure our energy levels. However, we can get a hold on few key ideas around energy which could help us manage it better.
Energy Givers: These are activities that have the incredible ability to enrich your energy levels while you engage in them. Unlike many other activities, they don't require external rewards to feel fulfilling. From indulging in specialised hobbies like singing or painting to simple pleasures like taking a leisurely stroll in a park or cycling by the beach, energy-giving activities come in various forms. What makes them truly remarkable is that they are unique to each individual, influenced by our upbringing, personal experiences, and an array of other factors.
Let me share a personal example. Music and Yoga are my personal energy givers. These activities have the remarkable power to propel me forward even when I'm feeling extremely down. To kickstart my day, I religiously follow a 3-part Yoga routine. Although I don't receive any direct rewards from it, the sheer act of practicing Yoga invigorates me. It acts as a catalyst, enhancing my energy levels without causing burnout.
Discovering your own energy givers is a profound journey of self-discovery. By exploring various activities and paying attention to how they make you feel, you can uncover the sources of energy that truly resonate with you. Remember, what energizes one person might not have the same effect on another. Embrace the individualistic nature of your energy givers and celebrate the unique ways they enhance your vitality.
As you embark on this path, keep in mind that managing your energy goes beyond merely avoiding burnout. It's about actively cultivating habits and engaging in activities that replenish and uplift you. By prioritising your energy and incorporating energy-giving practices into your daily routine, you'll unlock a limitless wellspring of vitality that will empower you to thrive in all areas of your life.
Energy Drainers: These are the activities that have the unfortunate ability to deplete our energy levels. It's crucial to recognise and minimize these activities as much as possible, as they can hinder our engagement in other pursuits and have a spillover effect on various aspects of our lives. Energy drainers can take different forms, such as a specific type of music that doesn't resonate with you, a particular genre of entertainment that doesn't suit your preferences, or an activity that leaves you feeling completely exhausted due to a lack of interest. Similar to energy givers, these drainers are highly individualistic, requiring us to introspect and identify what drains our energy.
However, there may be instances where it's not feasible to completely avoid certain energy-draining activities. They might be an integral part of our everyday routine or necessary for our success. In such scenarios, it's essential to strategize and schedule these activities during times of the day when your energy levels are naturally high. By doing so, you can create a better balance and mitigate the impact of these drainers on your overall energy.
Recognizing and managing energy drainers is a vital aspect of optimizing your energy levels. By being aware of the activities that drain you and taking proactive steps to minimize their impact, you can preserve your precious energy for what truly matters. Remember, your energy is a valuable resource, and allocating it wisely is key to maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle.
As you embark on your journey of managing energy, it's important to cultivate self-awareness and regularly assess the activities that drain you. Be mindful of the impact they have on your well-being and make conscious choices to reduce their presence in your life. By creating boundaries and prioritizing activities that uplift and rejuvenate you, you can create an environment that fosters sustained energy and allows you to thrive.
Energy Cycles: Based on your unique body type and genetics, the way your energy varies could be different. You might be very energetic as soon as you wake up or you might be more energetic towards the end of the day. Also, your energy levels could vary across the month and the seasons. Understanding our energy cycles and placing our energy giving and energy draining activities can help us flow through seamlessly.
Ayurveda refers to DinaCharya and RituCharya , which roughly translate to guidelines for navigating your day and seasons. They are quite detailed and we’ll explore them in another edition. For now just touching upon the importance of understanding energy cycles so that we can fit our energy givers and energy drainers in our respective energy cycles.
Energizing your Environment
Your environment is the next most significant thing that impacts your energy. It can be transformed to something which energizes you by incorporating few small changes in our environment.
Energy Uplifters: There are some objects , the perception of which simply uplifts your mood. These could be a photograph that you like, an incense stick which spreads your favourite aroma, a painting that energizes you with memories etc. These are tiny aspects sparkled around in your house, looking at which simply increase your energy levels.
Energy Spaces: You can design certain areas in your house/work environment in a way that enhances your energy as soon as you enter those spaces. These could be your go to space whenever you are low in your energy or need an activation to enhance your energy levels. This could be a space of work as well that provides you with inspiration and gets you in a state of flow.
In Conclusion, Managing our energy is a crucial aspect of living a fulfilling and balanced life. By recognizing our unique energy givers and drainers, we can cultivate habits and engage in activities that invigorate and uplift us. Strategically scheduling energy-draining tasks during high-energy periods helps maintain a better balance. Understanding our energy cycles and creating energizing environments further enhance our ability to harness our energy effectively.
Prioritizing energy management alongside money and time allows us to tap into a boundless source of vitality. By embracing our individualistic energy givers, minimising energy drainers, and optimizing our surroundings, we unlock the potential to thrive in all areas of our lives. So, embark on this transformative journey, and unleash the power of energy management to live a life of vibrancy and purpose.
Alongside worry of inflation and trying to be more productive, let’s focus on building an energy reservoir and managing our energy better!
1. https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time
2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettsteenbarger/2019/04/19/your-energy-and-your-environment-accessing-your-strengths/?sh=417a25b74296