JANUARY 24, 2024
How to maximize your most valuable resource
We often hear that time is our most valuable asset.
I get where that's coming from, but I think time is nothing without (at least) one other component.
If a genie could gift you extra time, it would be worthless unless he also gave you the energy to do something with that time.
Time gives you the opportunity. Energy is what helps you take it.
Or how many times have you had the time to do something, and then told yourself “but I just don’t have the energy right now”?
In a world where time is fixed, the true power lies in managing and maximizing our energy.
Matt Mochary – CEO Coach to companies such as Coinbase, Opendoor, Bolt, and Clearbit – argues that you should spend 75-80% of your time doing things that energize you. That's when you'll perform best – not when you've figured out the perfect time management system.
I like to imagine my energy like a bank account. This precious account fuels my life. And just like a regular bank account, if more energy is going out than coming in, I'm headed for trouble.
That's where an energy audit comes in.
An energy audit is, simply put, an assessment of how you spend your energy throughout the week. It helps you identify where you're wasting your most precious currency and where you could save or invest it more wisely.
Think of it as a budget plan, but for your energy.
Here's how to do it 👇
Step 1
Go back to your calendar and find 1-2 weeks that are representative of a typical week for you (don't pick the week of your Thailand vacation). It helps to do this with recent weeks, as you might have a few blanks that you'll need to fill in. You'll want each hour to be accounted for.
(If you don't track your activities in your calendar, keep a record of your daily activities next week, and then come back to this.)
Step 2
Go back through the week hour by hour and note what each activity did to your energy levels – was it energizing? Or did it leave you feeling drained? I like to use a (digital) highlighter and a simple traffic light system: red = draining , orange = moderate, green = energizing.
My advice: Limit yourself on orange (max. 5 activities). I do believe that there are some activities that are energy-neutral, but don't cheat yourself by making all activities 'neutral'. The red and greens are what will help you shift.
Step 3
Write a list of all your red items. These are your energy takers. Are there patterns? For example, do they all involve a particular person, skill or place? Then, be ruthless in asking: What steps can you take to minimize these in your life? Delegate, outsource, delete wherever possible.
Step 4
Write a list of all your green items. Look for trends here, too. And then ask yourself: how can I maximize these? Where can I add more of this? Where might infusing a little bit of green turn a neutral orange acitvity into an energizer, too? For example, let's say 1-1 meetings are orange for you, and walks outside are green. Can you take a few walking 1-1’s?
The first time you do this, you'll likely be stunned where all your energy (and time) goes.
But don't stop there. Rinse and repeat.
Keep adjusting your schedule as needed to optimize for "green".
We can't create more hours in a day, but we can influence the energy we have in those hours.
Your energy is your most valuable resource. Spend it wisely.
Rooting for you,
Charlotte
P.S. When you’re ready, here's how I can support you:
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