Managing your time is managing your energy. Time spent at your desk does not equate to productivity, and many of my clients are struggling with long hours.
To help you reduce the amount of time at your desk while still accomplishing what you need to, here are some tips for managing the different aspects of your energy. Choose to be proactive with these, and you’ll more easily stick to the boundaries you set for your work-life balance in lockdown.
Physical energy
Get outdoors in the morning; daylight winds up your internal clock.
Breathe – Stretch – Jump – Walk or run intermittently throughout the day in short bursts. I am not very coordinated but I’ve found skipping to be strangely addictive.
Food, drink, sleep and many other aspects of physical well-being are covered by the media – you just need to decide what is important for you and do that.
Mental energy
Give your thoughts a rest while you do your physical exercise, by counting or focusing on your breath.
Finish your meetings 10 or 15 minutes before the start of the next one. Plan to get a drink, step outside, stretch – whatever will allow you to recuperate and make an effective separation between meetings.
Separate business calls from informal catch-ups or socials. This means your business calls can get straight on with the work and be efficient. Friendly or work socials will be more relaxed, knowing that the clunky gear-change “shall we get on with our agenda now?” doesn’t need to happen.
Use a timer system to improve your concentration and schedule breaks. The Pomodoro Technique is based on the Italian kitchen timer of the same name...
Emotional energy
News, social media, or certain people can leave us feeling tired and down. Before you expose yourself to these detractors, decide how you’ll keep their influence to a minimum. Wear your imaginary ‘emotional Goretex’ so that only a certain amount can filter through, and ruthlessly reduce the time you put yourself in the way of negativity.
Switch emotional state by changing your physiological state: go to another room, do something physical, sing, lie on the floor, inhale fragrance, play.
Discharge negative emotional energy by writing your grievance down and tearing it up. Hitting cushions works, as always.
Build positivity not with inauthentic optimism but by recognising that you can cope, you are resourceful and it’s okay to ask others for what you need too.
Spiritual energy
The motivation to sit and work can be hard to find when you’re alone in your lockdown home office. Humans need to feel that we matter, that we are part of a worthwhile joint endeavour, that we belong: these are the reasons we go to work.
Think about or discuss the bigger picture, the ‘why’ of a project, the ‘vision’ for the service you’re working on. Anticipate the benefits and advantages it will bring when it’s done. Consider the progress made and the barriers that have already been overcome. What can you take from this ‘preview and review’ process?
Highlight the positives in the current situation e.g. time with the family, freedom from commuting, less emotionally intense work relationships, more autonomy...
Imagine a year from now – when you look back at how you behaved, what is the story you want to be able to (truthfully) tell about yourself? So what does that mean for what you do next?
Keep an eye on your own career development. Lockdown is another opportunity to show your worth if you possibly can. Adapt your career action plan so that you do what you need to raise your profile, create a successor, or fulfil the requirements.
If you’re furloughed, take advantage of this time to develop yourself and to upskill.
By managing these four types of energy, you’ll keep a better grip on your time, your work-life balance, your productivity and your well-being.