Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

A personal note from HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your-time

  • Interesting terms:
    • Ultradian rhythms
    • Switching time
    • Ultradiant sprints
    • Crisis mentality
    • Reset expectation
  • Dimensions of Energy: BEMH — Body, Emotion, Mind, Human Spirit

    1. The Body: Physical Energy

      1. Nutrition
      2. Exercise
      3. Sleep
      4. Rest
        • regular/intermittent breaks/recovery
          • ultradian rhythms
          • walking as regular breaks
            • not actively thinking: allow the dominant hemisphere of the brain to give way to the right hemisphere
            • greater capacity to see the big picture & make imaginative leaps

    2. The Emotions: Quality of Energy

      • intermittent recovery: to be physiologically capable of sustaining highly positive emotions for long periods
      • fight-or-flight mode & how to defuse negative emotions
        1. breathing exercise (deep inhalation & exhalation)
        2. expressing appreciation to others
        3. telling ourselves different stories
          • learn to tell the most hopeful & personally empowering story possible in any given situation, without denying/minimalizing the facts
          • view a situation through any of 3 new lenses:
            (1) reverse lens, (2) long lens, (3) wide lense

    3. The Mind: Focus of Energy

      • multitasking undermines productivity
      • distractions are costly
      • switching time phenomenon
        • increases the amount of time necessary to finish the primary task by as much as 25%
      • do ultradian sprints
        • far more efficient
        • (1) fully focus for 90-120 minutes, (2) take a true break, (3) then fully focus on the next activity
      • reduce interruptions
      • focus systematically on activities that have the most long-term leverage
      • intentionally schedule time for more challenging work
      • most effective FOCUS RITUAL
        • identify each night the most important challenge for the next day
        • make it the first priority when arriving in the morning
        • e.g., concentrate the first hour of every day on the most important topic

    4. The Human Spirit: Energy of Meaning and Purpose

      • Meaning and purpose are potential sources of energy
      • Establish accompanying rituals in 3 categories
        1. Doing what they do best & enjoy most at work
          (starting with discovering areas of strength)
        2. Consciously allocating time & energy to what’s important
          (work, family, health, service to others)
        3. Practicing core/key values in everyday behavior
      • achieve a greater sense of alignment, satisfaction, and well-being in their lives on & off the job
        • source of positive energy
        • reinforce people’s desire to persist at rituals in other energy dimensions as well