Everything starts with energy.
We require energy for our bodies to function, to repair, to think and to do the physical activities we enjoy doing. Even when we are energised, we can drain our energy through things like worry and stress. Our energy can be sapped by activities we don’t enjoy doing or are not particularly good at, or through not having the right conditions or equipment.
Most of us think of our energy as physical, but energy comes (and is required in) different forms:
Physical - the energy we need to move
Mental - the energy we need to think
Emotional - the energy we need to relate to ourselves & others
Spiritual - the energy we gain from hope and inspiration.
Thinking about our activities in the context of these energy types can help us understand where we might have energy deficiencies, and it can help us find ways to boost our energy, powering us to successfully complete a task. For example, we might identify that we require more rest to re-energise. It could be that we need to eat certain foods or stay hydrated. We may need to work with others to inspire or guide us to achieve more, or we might need to link our activities to a greater purpose that drives us to succeed.
As a starting point, we can use energy to test our wellbeing and our likely performance on a task by simply asking ourselves, ‘How energised am I to do this?’
Using an ergometer (above) as a calibration tool, we can rate our energy from 1-10. If we are highly energised, it likely means we are feeling good and we stand a stronger chance of success. If we are de-energised, we may well procrastinate and waste time, fail the task or not complete it to the best of our ability.
Understanding why we lacked energy is a key part of being able to re-energise and improve. Maybe we slept badly last night. Maybe we didn’t understand the task or have the right equipment. Maybe the task isn’t our strength or interest and delegating it to someone else could achieve a better result.
We often take our energy for granted without really considering what drives it or taking the time to intentionally boost it. Yet, understanding and managing our energy enables us to be more energised when we need it most.
What energises you and how can you boost your energy to improve your performance?
To help you calibrate, track and boost your energy, we've created a 5-day Energy Management Sprint. You can get yours here!