MANAGE YOUR ENERGY NOT YOUR TIME CHALLENGE

I challenge anyone reading this to manage their energy instead of their time.

Two weeks ago, I posted an article on LinkedIn originally published in the Harvard Business Review back in 2007. I should not have been surprised when it went viral, it is so incredibly relevant.

Last week I had a conversation with what I identify as my ideal client (aka a martyr): someone who was sharing how incredibly busy they were, there was just so much to be done, they hadn’t had a day off in weeks, consistently puts in 60 hours a week, has no time for family or self and there was just no one who could possibly take any of this off their plate.

Can you say prime burnout candidate?

Then yesterday a client shared her concerns and struggles with the whole #WFH situation. She felt she was putting in way more hours since she started working from home just to stay on top of things. She mentioned a feeling of overwhelm and struggle to balance work and home responsibilities. Her energy was waning long before the days were ending with still more to do (time v energy). Guilt even stopped her from starting a load of laundry mid-day because she felt she was on the company clock and just unsure what is appropriate in this new #WFH world.

These two conversations lead me to the idea to challenge anyone who read the article (or even just my post introducing it) to join me in a Manage Your Energy / Not Your Time Challenge.

Here is how it’s going to go down:

First,

• Pick a date in your calendar 2-3 weeks out from today (go 4 if you must).
• Block a minimum of 3 hours as unavailable (no excuses, you block time for Doctor and other important appointments for yourself, treat this like that).
• Make sure these are during your peak productivity time (yes, I said peak productivity).

Then,

Over the next two weeks leading up to the blocked-out date:

• Think about where and how you will spend this time.
• Prepare for this time.
• Do not under any circumstances block anything over this time frame (YOU are your most important client).

Lastly,

How to use this time:

• This time must be used for yourself only.
• Self-care, Passion project, Favorite hobby.
• Sneaking off to your favorite spot for some possibilities thinking.
• If you are a business owner, sneaking off to your favorite spot with a pad of paper and think ON your business (what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to add/delete or change).

I will share below how I spend this time. Once you are able to make the mental shift to put your self-care first, blocking this time on a regular basis and start treating yourself like the most important client in your portfolio, you will find that your energy improves significantly in all areas of your life. This in turn, gives you more clarity, better focus, the ability to manage more tasks and be overall more productive.

I personally block time for myself every 2 weeks. It guarantees I have at least one day for me when I can have a good think outside of the office without any distractions.

How do I use my time? I am very intentional and specific (mostly due to COVID) about how I spend this time (Time is precious to me as well).

Being on or near water gives me the most energy, so I check the tide charts for the month and block a few of the days with the lowest tide. As the weather forecast becomes firmer, I finalize my plans. My objective is to be on my SUP (stand up paddle board) one hour before low tide, paddle to the island, shell for an hour or two, then return to shore. I can tell you, there has been plenty of times I’ve done this where by 1 in the afternoon I was back at my desk and working. And my energy was through the roof for days. It’s phenomenal.

When I am on the water paddleboarding, I am working on my business. I am filling my energy reserves. I am taking care of my spiritual, mental, and  physical well-being, with the bonus of vitamin D and fresh air. I am mentally processing things that I want to do to keep my business moving forward. I use this time to think on my practice, client challenges, am I on track to my goals, what adjustments do I need to make, plan for future articles, etc. etc. This totally fills my tank, what an energy filler!

And this is important visionary work. Do not miss this opportunity by being a martyr and working in your business non-stop. You will only hurt yourself in the long run.

Providing yourself with self-care IS managing your energy. Self-care is no longer optional; it is mandatory, we know this now and you do too. The reality is, YOU are your most important asset in both your personal and professional life. You darn well better be taking care of YOU.

Now I want to hear from you! If you are taking me up on this challenge, let’s set up a call. I sincerely want to hear how it went, what the impact was on you and how you plan to continue to carry it forward in your life. I can’t wait to speak.

About Rachelle

BEFORE YOU GO

Want to stay in touch? You can join my mailing list here. I send one monthly newsletter (If I’ve something to say!) and post one blog a month only – who has time for more? We are all busy!! Easy consumption on your part and NO SPAMMING ever. Or if you’d prefer, you can connect with me on LinkedIn here.

Are you a high performer who can’t say no and fears burnout? I love to coach high performers through the process of learning how to set boundaries and navigate the challenges of being a high achiever WITHOUT burning out. Coaching provides you with an outside perspective, someone to hold you accountable to your goals and get you to the finish line quicker – an advocate for your success. Let’s chat for 30 minutes on my dime and see if we are a good match to work together on your journey.

And if you (or someone you know & love) are anything like I was and would rather be more like what I have become – someone who wants to do great things in your career while still loving your life – I invite you to hop on over to my website and take a look around. There’s a cool and quick assessment you can pick up for FREE which will help you determine your current state of capacity and balance right on the home page. Then let’s stay in touch!