Not Getting Enough Done? Is It A Problem of Time or Energy Management?
I am a busy, single Mom juggling multiple projects and endless tasks a day. I am all too aware of good time management practices. It seems that there just aren’t enough hours in the day and, as such, we feel the considerable need to make the most of the time we have, right?
There’s nothing wrong with that in theory. Sure, we want to make the most from our day and to achieve as much as possible because we know there is always more to do and waiting for us tomorrow. The issue, however, is that in many cases, we overlook something that is arguably even more important: energy management.
Do you feel as though you would like to have more time in the day and could accomplish a whole lot more if you did. If Old Wise Man Father Time or your Fiercely Fabulous Fairy Godmother waved a great walking stick or magic wand to give you additional hours in the day, you would accomplished more than most people you know in your lifetime. Maybe, just a few extra measly minutes to your busy day.
Let me ask you, what would you do with an extra ten minutes?
• Maybe you’d turn that hobby into a thriving business.
• Maybe you’d work out and get into incredible shape and look like a fitness model.
• Maybe you’d just keep the house tidy enough to receive guests without a pre-warning phone call. lol
Guess what?
You probably already have all the time you need.
Think back to the week you had. Was there any point at which you weren’t being 100% productive? Hmmmm..c’mon think about it? What were you up to?
• Maybe it was when you were flicking through Facebook and Instagram.
• Maybe it was when you watched that 20-minute YouTube video that sucked you in with a great tagline
• Or maybe it was when you binged on four episodes of Stranger Things back-to-back. Ok, full disclosure, I totally get this one because the fourth season is jaw dropping amazing!
Anyhoo, in other words, you had time, but you just didn’t make the most of it. And most of us are like this.
And why didn’t you make the most of it? Simple: because you ran out of energy.
Everyone knows that time is limited, but they forget that energy is limited too.
Energy is Finite
This belief that we can do as much as we want to, as long as we can fit it into our day, is responsible for a lot of unfulfilled goals and ambitions.
Consider how many people plot a new training program. Often, they will start out by identifying they want to get into better shape (so far so good). Next, they decide they are going to follow a training program that consists of 5–6 workouts a week, each lasting about an hour (bless their heart). What’s more, is that they do this while eating less.
The reason they were probably out of shape is that they didn’t have the energy to commit to being more active in the first place. Being stressed and tired likewise caused them to want to eat more things that weren’t conducive to weight loss.
So now, they intend to go from that, to adding four hours (7 if you add driving to the gym, showering, and more) of exertion, while having less energy in the form of food to help power them through it!
Geez, why do you think that doesn’t work?
Don’t Overlook This
The solution is to recognize this finite nature of energy and to realize that you need to dedicate some of your time to resting and recovering.
Just because you have the time to do something, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do it.
So, if you want to start a new training regimen, then what does this mean? It means that you need to first stop doing something else. That could mean finding ways to make other tasks less time-consuming or stressful, such as getting a ride to work instead of commuting on a crowded train, for instance.
And if you want to be more productive and get through more of your to-do list at work, what do you do?
The answer is to ensure that you’re better rested, take regular breaks, and clean eating for energy. Keep your energy management in mind as you tackle your task list. If you are like me, you need to get up early and get the exercise in before allowing other tasks to takeover your day. That is why prioritizing the important things are so important, not just without time but also with our use of energy.
Energy management is just as important as time management — and more relevant.
Do your best not to ignore keeping energy levels up. It helps us stay enthusiastic and motivated throughout the day and we will be in a better mood as well!
