Managing life is a full-time job. Keeping on top of a household, finances, children, health and even personal care can become overwhelming! As an artist I have found that managing all these areas of life AND moving forward in my artistic practice, has taken.... well...it's taken some serious multitasking.
Today I want to talk to you about time management. But not in the way that you may think. Most people talk about time management skills as setting goals, prioritizing, planning, and scheduling to name a few. Even though focusing on these areas are important to staying on top of tasks, you cannot schedule, prioritize or strategize your way out of exhaustion and burnout. However, I believe shifting your focus from time management to energy management is a powerful tool that works with the flow of your natural rhythm.
What is energy management? Just as we utilize strategies to optimize our productivity with time management, a similar approach can be used to tackle those never-ending tasks with just a few tweaks. Energy management uses your energy as a resource to plan your schedule, knock out that to do list, and have enough energy to spare.
We all wake up with a million things to do on a daily basis. But we also all wake up with a certain amount of energy to complete those tasks. Paying attention to how you manage energy can ensure that you get things done successfully and not get burnt out in the process.
Here are some tips I have picked up along the way. I hope they will help you as well:
- Notice your energy levels at different points of the day.
- Identify Low Energy vs High Energy Tasks.
Identify the tasks in your practice that require high energy and the ones that don't drain too much from you. This may take some time, trial and error to figure out. Remember energy is a valuable resource and identifying the things on your to-do list that need much of your energy vs the things that don't will help you to organize your day in a way that works better for you.
For example, in my practice, painting takes up a lot of my energy. Even though it is my passion and joy it still requires a significant amount of creative energy. Scheduling my painting sessions in periods of peak energy will help me to be successful in bringing my paintings to life.
On the other hand, what are your low energy tasks? Is it reading, researching, organizing, etc.? Scheduling low energy tasks at other points during your day (other than peak time) will maximize not only your time management but also energy management. Doing the things that don't drain your energy battery at the times you identify as low energy periods, can not only ensure that you are saving energy but are moving the needle toward completing your to-do list
- Schedule White Space or Self Care during Energy Dips
In moments of peak energy, you may feel like you can tackle many tasks at once. But I encourage you to be aware that usually after a time of peak energy there is an energy dip soon approaching! During the times when I know my body will need a break, I schedule in some white space. What is white space? It's a time when I do absolutely nothing. I rest. Note that I didn't say I take a break, I actually schedule in times of white space. Penciling this into my schedule gives this time just as much importance as everything else.
Additionally, during these times having a bit of self-care can be a way to refresh and reenergize. Now self-care doesn't have to include anything fancy. Self-care can look like, eating a healthy meal, drinking a cup of tea, reading a book, taking a hot shower, or simply resting. Schedule in white space or self-care during times when your energy takes a dip. It may be just what you need to get through that afternoon slump!
If you have been struggling with your time management, I hope these tips have helped you to turn your focus toward energy management. Remember your energy is resource that you can use in your favor.
xoxo,
