Personal Energy Is A Renewable Resource

The great equalizer is time. Every human being, no matter their aspiration, motivation, location, status or business title, has the same 24-hour day to accomplish their goals and dreams. So, how can more time get allocated to achieving important objectives? The answer: simply by managing personal energy.

Personal energy is the total amount of physical and mental strength a person possesses. The level of personal energy someone has, is impacted by the thoughts, emotions, and choices they make. Personal energy management is the secret to getting more done and to being more effective at work. While building business acumen skills, consider managing and growing personal energy reserves, too.

Attitudes and actions impact how much energy a person has at any given time. For example, an individual who prioritizes good health, fun times with family and friends, along with regular sleep, is going to have more personal energy than another person who eats poorly, sleeps less than six hours each night, and rarely finds times for relaxation.

Self-care Prevents Burnout

Many people believe the only way to get ahead at work to meet increasing workplace demands is to spend 12 to 14 hours each day in the office, leaving little time for self-care. They may find themselves feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and not as productive as they imagined they could be. Often this leads to frustration and disengagement. Experts say this lifestyle of non-stop overwork may also be contributing to the rise in burnout and increased cases of depression and general workplace dissatisfaction.

However, while time is a finite resource, personal energy is renewable. The key to generating more energy is in developing energy-positive habits – specific behaviors that you do almost mindlessly as if on autopilot. According to Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, about 40% of daily our activities are driven by habit. In order to describe how habits are formed, Duhigg identifies three components of habits: the cue or trigger, the routine or behavior, and the reward. Altering just the routine, can lead to changing bad habits into good ones. Duhigg goes on to say that willpower is the most important habit, and focusing on developing it alone can help us refuel our personal energy stores and achieve our greatest goals.

Recharge Your Personal Energy Reserve

Personal energy is spent through physical and emotional activities, and it is renewed through mind and spiritual rituals or habits. To recharge your personal energy stores, individuals need to recognize the costs of energy-depleting behaviors, stress, and negative emotions, and then work to change them by implementing positive habits such as the following:

• Take intermittent breaks or short walks throughout the day
• Perform deep breathing at your desk
• Build reflection breaks or meditation practice into your day
• Exercise
• Pursue hobbies
• Cultivate positive emotions and attitudes
• Spend time with loved ones
• Prepare and eat healthier meals
• Keep a journal
• Practice mindfulness
• Establish an earlier bedtime

Studies show that the effects of these positive habits not only lead to greater personal satisfaction, but also to better work performance and an increase in personal energy.

It is critical to continue to invest in developing business skills, knowledge, and competence. Yet, it’s just as important to build and sustain personal energy, too. After all, it’s the only way to get more accomplished, effectively, and in less time.