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10 Ways To Manage Your Energy At Work

Forbes Coaches Council
POST WRITTEN BY
Forbes Coaches Council

How do you maintain your energy throughout the day in order to get done what you need to? Increasingly, individuals are called to work longer hours, but without properly managing their energy, longer hours may only lead to higher disengagement and burnout.

Individuals need to become aware of their own energetic ebbs and flows, including how to match their work output to these and learn techniques for recharging. Below, members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss how to get started.

From left to right: Sally Fox, Tim Ressmeyer, Laura DeCarlo, Cha Tekeli, John O'Connor, Belinda MJ Brown, Regan Hillyer, Suzi Pomerantz, Jody Michael, Michelle Tillis Lederman. All photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Create Protected Time In Your Schedule 

Not all work is created equal, and not all moments in the day offer us the possibility of sustained, creative work. To foster innovation, we need to carve out chambers of protected time within our schedules to recharge and do what Cal Newport calls "the deep work" of innovation. That work requires time, reconnecting to our passionate curiosity and strong, optimistic energy.   - Sally FoxEngaging Presence 

2. Notice Your Thoughts 

Being aware of your own energy — and of those around you — allows you to be more productive. Walking into that challenging situation, are you thinking like a victim, fighter, rationalizer, caregiver, opportunist, visionary or creator? Since energy attracts like energy, expecting a fight will get you a fight. Go in open to amazing things happening, and you will get the results you want.   - Tim RessmeyerRessmeyer Partners 

3. Start Your Day With The Big Projects 

It's easy to get caught up in checking off the daily to-dos before addressing juicy, important, and likely energizing projects. But time disappears, leaving stress and frustration. Instead, start your day with dedicated time on a big rock project. Don't start the day going throught your email but instead spend 90 minutes on that marketing plan you've been meaning to get to. Then, with a sense of accomplishment, tackle everyday work.   - Laura DeCarloCareer Directors international 

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

4. Know How Your Strengths Can Deceive You 

Energizing strengths are the things at play when you feel you're "in the zone" or "in flow." It's essential to be mindful not to overuse these strengths, even though you enjoy them. For example, a detail-oriented person may be excellent at investigating particulars and analysis. However, in doing so, they may miss the big picture or spend too much time on one project. Calibrating positive energy is key.   - Cha TekeliChalamode, Inc. 

5. Invest First 

Managing energy means managing stress. One of my clients needed to get a three-week project done in one week. She built relationships with others by going the extra mile in helping them with related projects months before her deadline. In advance she asked them for help later and they created a nice, unwritten contract that bound them and helped her complete her project later.   - John O'ConnorCareer Pro Inc. 

6. Know What Energy To Use When 

Energy impacts your productivity and the productivity of others. Being self-conscious about how to use your energy will make you a better manager and leader. Know your peaks and valleys of energy in order to adjust your activity accordingly. You use valleys to focus on tactical or brain resting activities, such as cleaning up your inbox, filing documents; you can use peaks to focus on complex and creative projects.   - Belinda MJ BrownEquanimity Executive, LLC 

7. Adjust Physically And Mentally 

Managing your energy is everything when it comes to productivity. The easiest and quickest ways to increase your energy is to: Change what you’re focusing on (focus on something exciting and positive). Move your body physically. Change your internal language (what you’re saying to yourself in your own head).   - Regan HillyerRegan Hillyer International 

8. Plan Your Rituals Of Recovery 

Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz's book, The Power of Full Engagement, details how you can create rituals of recovery to manage your energy for high performance — just like Olympic athletes who build muscle recovery into their training as well as their performance. List ideas for activities that give you energy in 5-, 10- and 15-minute increments to balance with daily required activities that drain you.   - Suzi PomerantzInnovative Leadership International LLC 

9. Create A New 'Mental Playlist' 

Your mental playlist is one of the greatest drivers of performance. Research shows that negative thinking physiologically zaps your energy levels. When you reframe a non-productive thought (“I’m terrible at delivering presentations" to “I know I can deliver a powerful presentation if I’m prepared”), you experience greater energy levels — and increased productivity.   - Jody MichaelJody Michael Associates 

10. Determine Productive Energy For The Situation 

Not all energy is created equal, but all energy is contagious. Productive energy is based on the needs of the moment. Meet someone where they are. Bringing opposite energy can cause an explosion. Imagine you are feeling calm and reflective and someone comes with a loud, perky presence. Working together won’t work. Consider what the situation or person needs and channel that energy.   - Michelle Tillis LedermanExecutive Essentials