How to Manage Your Energy Instead of Your Time

You probably spend a lot of time obsessing over your phone’s battery during the day. I’m running low on juice, I need a charge stat! But when was the last time you focused on your own depleting energy? Time is a finite resource–there are only 24 hours in a day. But so is your energy, and it’s much harder to measure.

The only way to guarantee that you’ll have enough fuel to power you through the day–and let’s face it, the whole work week–is to incorporate activities into your life that reenergize you. These rituals and behaviors will become part of a new self-care routine that can propel your productivity, your happiness, and your career success forward.

Here are some ideas to reenergize your mind, your body, and your spirit:

• Walk away from your desk and take a 30 minute lunch break either alone (if that feels most fulfilling to you) or with someone else (if you feed off other’s energy).
• Cut out habits that interrupt your sleep cycle like drinking caffeine, reading on your phone in bed, or working out too close to your bed time.
• Start volunteering for an organization that means a lot to you.
• Sign up for an exciting learning opportunity at work or outside of work that will increase your skills or knowledge.
• Take a vacation day mid-week.
• Get up 30 minutes earlier so you can prepare and eat a fulfilling breakfast.
• Set an earlier bedtime.
• Take an afternoon walk: outside, inside, on a treadmill, wherever! Just get moving during the afternoon slump.
• Set a meal plan for the week (including breakfasts, lunches, and healthy snacks!) so your grocery shopping trip can be more efficient and purposeful, and you won’t be grabbing unhealthy food on the go.
• Mentor a younger coworker or ask someone to become your mentor.
• Book a much-needed vacation and completely unplug.

What makes you feel recharged? Comment below!

Image via Paralog/Flickr.