Your schedule can be your friend or enemy when it comes to maximizing your energy or impeding it. Knowing your peak times for working on strategic tasks, to-do lists, and supporting others can be beneficial for organizing your schedule and personal time.
Additionally, understanding how your energy ebbs and flows can help ensure your system gets what it needs to run effectively. This includes knowing your physical needs (e.g., when to eat, sleep, and exercise), emotional needs (e.g., your current mindset, attitude, and relationships), mental needs (e.g., your ability to focus and not give in to distractions), and spiritual aspects (e.g., that you are connected to your values and purpose).
As Author James Clear wrote, “Focus is the art of knowing what to ignore.” Setting daily intentions can help you direct your energy more consistently, live more congruently, and prioritize what matters most to you.
Time may be limited, but your energy is sustainable.
A common theme of “high and low expressions” runs through most personality, psychological, and behavioral assessments, as well as therapeutic modalities and Human Design. These scales go by different names, such as the Enneagram’s “Stages of Development” or “Integration Levels,” the Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator’s (MBTI) “Dichotomies,” the Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i 2.0®) “Leadership Scale,” and Internal Family Systems (IFS), “Polarizations.”
However, the ranges within these systems reflect similar aspects and relate to your energy, from high to low extremes. This applies to how you think, feel, and act—with yourself, in situations, with other people, and in the world around you.
To safeguard and optimize your energy, here are five things to ask yourself:
#1 Where do you put your energy?
Your energy is a sustainable resource, and knowing where it goes is essential to choosing how to use it. This includes providing ample physical, emotional, and mental care for your system’s needs. For instance, if you tend to rush through things, not only can the quality of your experience and output suffer, but as your energy drains, your survival instincts will kick in, altering your behavior. Instead, slowing down to create balance internally can help you discern where the pressure is coming from and what’s within your control to change. For example, perhaps you need to minimize saying “yes.” Saying “no” kindly is not easy. However, saying yes when you really want or need to say no adds stress and compounds an ever-growing to-do list. You can use the stop-start-continue tool to evaluate what is no longer needed, clear out the clutter, and redistribute your energy.
#2 Who is taking up your space and capacity?
Remaining conscious of who is in your orbit is crucial for your energy reserves, especially if you tend to be concerned or affected by those around you, as you may inadvertently pick up someone else’s negative vibes. Even though you have no power over someone else’s beliefs or behaviors, you do not need to succumb to their way of being. Rather, you can create distance between you and them and turn your attention and energy on yourself. Being resilient—a skill that can be learned—means you can adapt and work through challenges, with experiences propelling you forward. Furthermore, the quality of how you feel when in connection with someone else has a lot to do with your inner connection with yourself and being attentive to what is occurring. And lastly, always remember, when you feel stuck, you still have agency over your mindset, approach, and actions that you take or not.
#3 How is your mindset and skillset supporting you?
Believing in yourself and your capabilities is crucial because your views, perceptions, and experiences shape your outlook. The EQ-i 2.0® assessment includes a “Well-Being Indicator” that helps you assess your contentment and ability to enjoy life. The score is calculated by averaging several competencies, which can be improved with practice. Specifically, increasing your “Self-Regard, Self-Actualization, and Optimism” capabilities can help you remain committed to your objectives and recover more quickly from setbacks. Additionally, Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) suggests that it’s not external events themselves that cause emotional concern, but rather how we interpret and react to them through our beliefs. Asking yourself, “What concerns or beliefs are stopping me?” can help you address limiting beliefs that impact your confidence and overcome obstacles as they occur.
#4 What self-care practices are you cultivating?
Personal wellness is not just a “nice to have.” It’s about discovering and implementing a structure that works for you. Instead of “pushing through,” recognize the signs that it’s time to take a break and manage your precious energy. Establishing habits that are right for you takes experimentation. Prioritize self-care with these three S’s, focusing on the benefits of feeling good and attaining your desired outcomes. Further, concentrating on your breath and feeling into your body can help you release negative energy. Take a few minutes each day to pause, listen, and reflect on what you need and do it. Start small and seek support if you’re uncertain how to make changes, as every person and situation is unique. And most importantly, treat yourself as patiently and kindly as you would a loved one or friend.
#5 What is your dominant story?
An internal monologue is a fundamental aspect of yourself that supports everyday living, from managing your activities to working through issues and making decisions. Your inner voices are potent facets of your psyche that integrate your conscious and unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions. These voices comprise various personas with distinct traits, capabilities, wants, and desires, all working to keep you healthy and safe. If your self-talk is limiting you or is filled with conflicting opinions that affect how you view yourself, your narrative needs a refresh or upgrade. Ask yourself, “What reflects me now?” and “What do I need to update or reframe?” Separating vital facts from less critical data can help you organize relevant themes. Additionally, looking toward the future can expand your thinking and open yourself up to what is imaginable.
Embody a more balanced approach through self-management.
Your system is fluid and responsive to what is happening in and around you. Finding what works for YOU is key, as your stance on YOU makes all the difference. With focus and intention, you can become more self-aware and mindful, using what you learn to make minor adjustments that magnify your presence through stories and narratives that represent and propel you forward.
Activate your best with those around you.
Self-leadership is about getting to know yourself better and applying that knowledge to your interactions with others. As a lifelong student, certified professional coach, and consultant, activating the best in others through self-leadership, interpersonal relations, and team dynamics are passions of mine. My approach is personalized and customized, tapping into various assessments, disciplines, modalities, and techniques. Contact me to schedule a free consultation.