5 Ways to Use Your Energy More Wisely
The way we spend our energy is a fundamental component to our success. What you choose to focus on shifts your frame of mind to either a negative or positive space. As you become busier and more overwhelmed, you may find yourself focusing on the negative, rather than the positive. However, the busier you are, the less energy you have to spare.
In a recent article, the author discussed the concept of there being two strategies to how we utilize our energy: we can fill our energy tanks more thoroughly and more frequently, or we can spend our energy more strategically. I remember the first time I heard the quote, “work smarter, not harder,” and it was really life changing because it finally clicked that I did not always need to put everything on my plate at once. Tasks were better off completed one at a time. My goals were more manageable when I cut them down to one or two main goals, rather than ten.
As someone with attention issues, it can be hard to finally get to this point. However, how we spend out energy correlates to what we get in return in life. If you know you have more energy to do things when you are healthier, then improving your exercise routine and eating habits could be a great place to focus your energy on. Another example, if you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks, then putting your energy on organization could be beneficial for you. You just have to look at your day to day life and identify the areas that need improving. Here are five ways to use your energy more wisely:
- Notice your energy.
First, you have to recognize where the bulk of your time is going toward. When you take an overview of your life, you begin to notice areas that need improvement. Where does your mind wander? Do you spend an excessive about of time worrying about everything you could forget? Perhaps it is time to refocus that energy on getting organized. Do you get tired and sluggish easily? Perhaps it is time to focus on your diet and exercise routine. Take a day to think about the areas of your life that you need to be accountable for. - Find What Brings You Joy.
If you know what brings value to your life, you can make smarter decisions. Make a list of all the goals and experiences that interested you. Then, focus on how you can redirect your energy on obtaining those goals. Find out what brings you joy and find the most productive ways of getting to that point. - Organize Your Life.
Once you figure out what drives you, schedule and organize your life in a way that makes those goals achievable in a concrete manner. Write the goals down and put benchmarks on a calendar. Set appointments for activities that will continue you on that path. Let those appointments crowd out the area of your life that drains you of your energy. At the end of each day, examine your patterns of behaviors to understand how you can make improvements. - Know Where Not to Invest.
Once you begin to understand where your energy is going, you can now clearly point to things that are “energy drains.” It is easier to never do something, then to stop doing something. Before you embark on a new venture, think about whether that venture will increase your productivity or drain your energy. Try not to involve yourself with things or people who get you nowhere. - Don’t Over-Analyze It.
Finally, try not to focus on energy expenditure so much, that it becomes a counterproductive energy drain too. Just take it a day at a time. Pull yourself away from a useless conversation and ignore a silly Facebook post. Let go of that nagging thought and try to focus on what you are doing rather than what you aren’t doing.
The goal is not to be perfect, just better than yesterday. Optimize your life and find out how you can decrease the energy drains in your life. Sometimes the solution to the biggest challenges is not to do more; it is to do less. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please do not wait. Call toll-free 1-800-777-9588.