1.) Identify your daily energy cycles. On a blank daily calendar sheet, write down how you tend to feel during different times of day. At 6 a.m., do you feel tired? Peaceful? Calm? Excited? Describe your energy throughout the day. Note the swells and the dips. If you know that your energy shifts differently on different days of the week, write down a page for each of those different days.
2.) List your energy requirements. Write down what you do during a typical day and what kind of energy it requires. Use a number scale from one to 10 to rate how much energy you use during each activity. Each of us is unique. If making the kids' lunches is a seven out of 10 for you, be honest. Does helping out with homework tax you? Are the staff meetings you run pretty routine?
3.) Match tasks to available energy. Look at your blank calendar sheet, your list of energy requirements, and your current calendar system. How well does your typical schedule make the most of your available energy? Where are the big discrepancies? What can you shift to make a better match between energy required and energy available? This step might require conversations with the other members of your household or your staff, co-workers or manager at work.
4.) Create a list of energy boosters. Write down at least 10things you can do quickly that you know will give you a boost of energy. You might do a few yoga poses, read the comics, call your partner, or hug your cat. Post your list and turn to it during those times that you need to press on, even though your energy is flagging. It's easy to create the list; it's using it that will take practice. Allow yourself a month of concentrated effort to make this a habit.
5.) Make transformational changes. All of this work leads to much more than adjustments in your calendar! You've prepared yourself to make bold decisions about which energy sappers stay and which go away. What will you delegate or get rid of that will make a big difference in how you feel at home or at work? You're also in a great position to make room for energy boosters. What gives you energy? It might be time alone, exercise, time with friends, or working in a job you really enjoy. What will you add that will make a huge difference in how you feel?
We're all mothers who work, but each of us has different challenges, stressors, inspirations, and interests. It's tempting to attack our lengthy task lists as quickly and machine-like as possible, ignoring our energy levels. But when we approach our days with knowledge of our own rhythms and preferences in mind, there is much more room in our lives for ease, peace and happiness.
4 comments so far...
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Heather Mundell on 20th March 2008
There are a few times that stick out in my mind... Athough I hate getting up early, I find that once I'm actually awake, I have the most amount of energy and am most productive in the obscenely early hours (ie 4am).
I often hit a tired slump mid-afternoon, but that is also the same time as my daughter's nap, and thus a good time for me to get work done, too, lol.
It will be a fun experiment to really map my energy levels, then match certain tasks to the different times.
I'm looking forward to doing this - it can only make me that much more productive! :)
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Selene M. Bowlby on 19th March 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Heather Mundell on 10th March 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Diane on 7th March 2008