Beyond Time Management: The Energy Advantage
Have you ever asked, “Why is my to-do list growing even though I’m always busy?” or “Why do I lose focus halfway through my workday?” These common frustrations highlight a critical but often neglected issue: the need to align time and energy. Managing our energy and empowering team members to manage theirs is essential.
Recent studies underscore the significance of managing both time and energy. According to research by the Harvard Business Review, employees who excel at energy management are 50% more engaged and 21% more productive. The American Psychological Association also highlights that 64% of professionals experience work-related stress due to poor energy management. These findings suggest that while time management is vital, managing energy is equallycrucial for productivity and well-being.
UNDERSTANDING TIME VS. ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Time Management involves planning and controlling how hours are spent to enhance productivity. It focuses on settingpriorities and scheduling tasks but often fails to address fluctuations in energy levels throughout the day.
Energy Management focusses on recognising and adapting to natural rhythms—controlling the “when” and optimisingschedules to align with high and low energy periods. Typical individual patterns can include:
- Early Bird vs. Night Owl Patterns:
Early birds peak in the early morning and taper off by late afternoon, feeling most productive starting work around 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Night owls, however, find their energy peaks late in the evening, beginning their most demanding tasks around 8:00 PM and working late into the night.
- Ultradian Performance Rhythms:
Energy levels rise and fall in 90–120-minute cycles. Recognising these patterns, a person might workintensively for 90 minutes, followed by a 20-minute break to recharge, aligning work periods with their natural rhythms.
- Weekly Energy Cycles:
Some individuals experience fluctuating energy over the week, peaking on certain days. For instance, theymay feel most energetic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, scheduling heavy workloads on these days while reserving Fridays for lighter, more reflective tasks.
FIND THE FLOW
Effectively managing energy is vital for high productivity and well-being for individuals and teams. Organisations invest time and resources developing employees’ skills, knowledge and competence but rarely in building andsustaining their capacity— their energy. Below are some tips for better energy management:
- Track Energy Levels:
Monitor daily energy fluctuations and take note of the patterns. Recognising personal peaks and dipsprovides valuable insights for scheduling high-intensity tasks during periods of maximum alertness.
- Identify Peak Performance Times:
Encourage team members to keep track of their energy levels. This helps pinpoint when they are most energetic and focused, allowing for strategically allocating demanding tasks requiring sharp focus and creative thinking.
- Adjust Schedules:
Align personal and team workflows with these energy rhythms. Schedule brainstorming sessions, strategic meetings, or complex problem-solving tasks during peak energy times. Reserve less demanding activities,like routine administrative tasks, for periods when energy tends to dip.
- Incorporate Breaks:
Promote the importance of breaks within the team. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique—working in focused bursts followed by brief pauses—help sustain energy and prevent burnout. Encourage teammembers to adopt similar strategies to optimise productivity.
- Foster a Supportive Environment:
Embrace a workplace culture that acknowledges and respects individual energy fluctuations. This can include offering flexible working hours, providing quiet spaces for focused work, and encouraging open dialogue about workload and energy levels.
IMPACT
Recognising individual energy rhythms boosts morale and engagement, resulting in better project planning and higher-quality deliverables. Aligning tasks with peak energy increases focus and creativity, fostering deeper concentration andinnovative thinking. Individuals feel more in control of their workload and energy, leading to higher job satisfaction and motivation.
Additional Insights from Harvard Business Review
In their article “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time,” Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy emphasise the importance of managing energy across four dimensions: body, emotions, mind, and spirit. They recommend establishing rituals to build energy in these areas. For example, intermittent breaks can restore physical energy, and reframing negative thoughts can boost emotional energy. Focusing on meaningful activities enhances spiritual energy while minimising distractions improves mental energy (O’Reilly Media).
Focusing on aligning time and energy can transform work and life. It’s not just about getting more done—it’s about doing the best work when at one’s best. Find the rhythm, manage energy, and watch productivity soar.
Author: Janene Schwartz
