“Time is money.” We’ve all heard this phrase before. But have you ever thought that time is energy?
The concept of time management isn’t new. It’s been around since the beginning of time (or at least since the 1960s). But what if we were to reframe it? What if we said, “Energy management is about how you spend your energy”?
Managing your energy, instead of time, can be a more effective way to manage your life and work.
Today, I want to share five simple tips for managing your energy instead of your time.
Set a time limit for work.
You might think that if you worked every minute of every day, then you’d be more productive, but this isn’t necessarily true. When people work too long without a break, they tend to make mistakes and become less efficient.
Instead, set aside specific times during the day when you’ll work and stick with those times as much as possible. This way, you’ll know how much time is available for work and how much time needs to be spent on other tasks, such as eating lunch or taking breaks between tasks.
Take breaks during the day when you need them, but not too often or for too long:
Breaks give us a chance to relax and recharge so we can be productive again later on. We just need to be careful not to take too many breaks because then our brains will begin associating them with the end of work instead of with the beginning of a new task or activity that requires focus and concentration.
Spend time on what matters most to you, whether that’s family, friends or fitness.
One of the step to managing your energy is identifying where your priorities lie. Do you want to spend more time with your friends and family? Do you want to get into a healthier lifestyle? Are you looking to save money in order to buy a house or pay off debt?
Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, it’s time to make a plan for how you’ll achieve those goals. For example, if you want to start exercising more but don’t have time for a gym membership, start walking outside and set a goal of walking at least 30 minutes every day. Or if you want to spend more time with your spouse but work long hours, agree on an evening date night once a week where both of your schedules are clear from 7-8pm.
Make sure your workspace suits your needs
keep it clean and organized so when it comes time to sit down at your desk, it feels like home sweet home. Use positive reminders like sticky notes on the wall or desktop wallpaper with motivational messages or inspiring quotes to make you feel great about being there.
Balance your life with other interests and activities that aren’t related to your work.
This could be anything from taking a walk or going for a run, doing yoga or meditation, reading fiction or non-fiction, spending time with family and friends, cooking food or baking cakes, playing music or taking pictures, etc. This will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle while also ensuring that you don’t burn out on your job.
