Conduct a Personal Energy Audit

Often clients come to me feeling tired, overworked and overburdened by the demands on their time. Unanimously they all want more hours in the day so they get even more done. One of the first exercises I ask of my clients is to conduct an energy audit.

The energy audit has 3 parts:
1. Notice what times of day you have the most energy. This varies greatly from person to person. While most of the world is structured around a 9 to 5 type work week, many people report having more energy at night. “I am a night person.” For these people their greatest bursts of energy come just as others are winding down. On the other hand, those who wake up raring to go report being “morning people, “ while still others fall in between true night and morning people. It doesn’t matter whether you are a morning, night or in between person, just note it as a key factor for your energy audit.

2.For one week, notice which activities give you energy vs. those that deplete your energy. Keep a journal and include everything from work responsibilities to household tasks to hobbies and sports activities. Be honest and reserve self judgment. The goal of this exercise is to increase the energy replenishing activities and reduce or replace energy depleting ones. For example, if your sports activity involves fretting all day about getting to the gym to pound away on one or several machines, perhaps you could change your routine to make it more fun. Heading out for a walk at lunch, buddying up with a friend for an outdoor hike or joining a class with the kind of moves and music you enjoy might change your whole outlook and provide the kind of energy you want to have.

3. Using the results from points 1 and 2 above see how you might compose your day differently striving for maximum energy. During high energy periods tackle (a small portion) of that big project, the one you have been putting off and putting off, and now your boss, colleague, partner, local tax authority, etc are getting antsy. Move on to another. During lower energy periods do those things that provide you the most energy. If you are energized by being around others, schedule meetings for this time of day, conversely if you get energy from being alone plan this time to do your research, writing, designing or other quiet work alone.

Using the above three points set a general rhythm to your day. One client, a small business owner, handles all his administrative, accounting and correspondence work in the morning when he is wide awake and can attend to detail. In the afternoon, he revitalizes by seeing clients and suppliers and discussing big picture projects. Another client, a lawyer, prefers strategy, client and team meetings in the morning and gets into contract details and negotiations in the afternoon or after dinner when his attention to detail is sharpest.

Just being aware of and honoring your own energy rhythm can make a palpable difference to your productivity and well being. So eliminate the value judgment, take the audit and maximize your energy today!