MANAGE YOUR ENERGY, NOT JUST YOUR TIME

It’s no surprise that inadequate nutrition, exercise, sleep and rest diminish people’s energy levels, as well as their ability to manage their emotions and focus their attention, and these all have a direct effect on how we cope at home and at work.
 
In the workplace, low energy levels can lead to a reduced sense of wellbeing, less enjoyment of life, reduced personal productivity and less job satisfaction. By comparison, in a state of high energy we are better able to come up with new ideas, deliver great results, add value to the business, and complete complex tasks with more ease.
 
Hours are fixed, energy is not
Time is a finite resource. We can’t add more hours into the day. However, with high energy we can achieve more and better results in the same number of hours. Defined in physics as ‘the capacity to work’, energy comes from four main wellsprings in human beings: the body, emotions, mind, and spirit. In each, energy can be systematically replenished and expanded with behaviours that are intentionally practiced and actively scheduled.
 
Regularly renewing our energy can be the x-factor in fully accessing our best and highest potential. With a little knowledge and some effort, we can become conscious and intentional about managing our energy and gain more from our time. 
 
Energy is contagious
We also ‘catch’ energy through our interactions with others, and in the workplace this can have a direct effect on our performance.
 
To understand how this works, think of people at your work who buoy you up and lift your spirits. What do they do?  What do they say? Some people are energising because they give off positive vibes – they’re happy, they smile, they’re warm with others. Others energise us because they create genuine connections. In conversations, for example, they devote their full attention and you feel heard. Conversely, you are likely to recognise those with lower energy. They may appear bored, angry, tired or disinterested, and being around them can feel like your own energy is being sapped.
 
What sort of energy do you think you give off to others?
 
Improving our energy levels
To recharge ourselves, we need to recognise our energy-depleting behaviours, then take responsibility for changing them. The resultant improvements in customer relationships, engagement with work and colleagues, and personal and job satisfaction are worth it for both employee and employer alike.

Where to start
Click below to take our Energy Audit (below left) to see where your energy levels are at, then come back here to check out our tips on how you can start making improvements to your energy levels (below right).

"It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol."
Brené Brown

Get the EAPworks app.