From Slump to Sprint: Transform Your Productivity by Riding the Energy Wave

From overwhelm to bliss. Image from Pixabay

Have you been enduring a lot of stress? Have you been feeling angry? Overwhelmed? Fatigued? Please know that you are not alone! This phase of life is not going to last forever, but the effects of it can be long lasting for sure. Let’s see how we can navigate these waters by understanding and managing your energy levels.

Let’s face it, when we go through difficult or nerve wracking times, there are some days we feel we can conquer the world and other days we feel like a hero just getting out of bed! We get to be in touch with our emotions to be able to redirect negative energy into positive activities, so we can navigate through both high and low energy days effectively.

The Importance of Knowing Your Energy Levels

Self-Awareness

We see the world through our lens and when we have all sorts of emotions all at once, it’s hard to see the world as a wonderful place and for the world to see true and beautiful us. We get to be aware of our energy levels to be able to self regulate, feel productive, and move forward. This self-awareness is a component of emotional intelligence, which involves recognizing and managing your emotions and the emotions of others. As you probably know, emotional intelligence can significantly impact your productivity, relationships, and overall mental health.

Benefits of Energy Awareness

1. Optimized Productivity: By knowing when you have the most energy allows you to tackle high-priority and demanding tasks during peak times.

2. Stress Management: By recognizing low energy periods and signs, you help prevent burnout and encourage rest and self-care.

3. Improved Well-being: By aligning tasks with your energy levels you ensure a balance between work and rest. You can have more days when you feel more of human-being as opposed to human-doing.

Redirecting Negative Energy into Positive Activities

Strategies for Transforming Negative Emotions

1. Physical Exercise: When you feel emotions are getting the best of you, start moving your body to physically redirect the energy. Simple small movements are great. And if you can go for a run, stretch, dance it out (hello Grey’s Anatomy fans!) more points to you! Even if you are tired, 15–30 min of any type of movement helps release endorphins, which can improve your mood and increase your energy levels. Take yourself out for a relaxing stroll around a block, a power walk up the hill, fun run up and down the stairs. The other day, there was an internet outage in my area so being productive with work was not an option for me. I had the whole day planned out and having no internet was not a part of it… Very quickly the frustration tried to take over any emotional balance I had left, bringing havoc and a feeling of overwhelm with it. Walking my talk, I changed to my horse barn clothes, grabbed a jug of water and off I went. Nothing clears out my head better than riding my horse. By the time I got home there was still no internet, but I didn’t care much at that point, poured a glass of sangria, and read a book that’s been on my “to read” list for a long time. At the end of the day I felt relaxed, satisfied with my ability to pivot, recharged and ready for the next day.

2. Creative Expression: Use art, music, writing, or any other form of creative expression to channel your negative emotions into something cool and artsy. Who knows, maybe you are the next big hit in the art world! If you don’t see yourself as a creative kind, look for inspiration in everyday objects, great artists of all times, your kids, your dog, a rose bush with gorgeous flowers. Set a timer for 15 minutes of uninterrupted time for yourself and start drawing swirls, painting blobs, pouring epoxy in an expressive way. Focus on the process rather than on an outcome and enjoy it! Be present and let your brush, hand, pencil be a tool to get your emotions out. A client of mine found an outlet in sourdough bread making. Time stops for her when she kneads the dough. It also bring the instant (well, almost instant) gratification and realization that anything can go wrong in her life, but if she takes a perfectly delicious loaf of homemade bread out of the oven, all is well. She’s been feeling complete, satisfied, and grateful.

3. Mindfulness Practices: Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness can help you manage stress and refocus your mind. I believe this Japanese saying “When washing a cup, think only of the cup” — my paraphrasing probably- summarizes the concept of mindfulness so beautifully. Being in the present moment, concentrating only on the task at hand can be very soothing.

4. Connecting with Nature: Spending time outdoors can rejuvenate your spirit and provide a natural energy boost. Sense the breeze, inhale the scents, feel the ground under your feet. Lean against a tree, walk along the beach, sit on a rock and listen to the birds.

5. Social Interaction: Talking to a friend, joining a support group, or participating in community activities can help shift your focus from negative thoughts to positive interactions.

Horseback riding is my happy place, my reset button

Creating Two To-Do Lists: A Practical Approach

Due to some health factors, I feel a big difference between my high and low energy days. There are days I feel best laying in bed and doing some low key activities on my laptop, while other days I can be physically active and enjoy demanding tasks. In order to maximize productivity, I came with a common denominator — having two to do lists. One for high-energy days and another for low-energy days.

High-Energy Days

On days when you feel energetic and motivated, focus on tasks that require significant effort, concentration, and creativity. Examples include:

• Strategic Planning: Work on long-term projects, set goals, and develop strategies.

• Complex Problem-Solving: Tackle difficult tasks that require deep thinking and analysis.

• Creative Work: Engage in brainstorming sessions, writing, designing, or any activity that demands creative output.

• Physical Tasks: Complete physically demanding chores or engage in vigorous exercise routines.

Low-Energy Days

On days when your energy levels are lower, it’s important to still maintain a sense of productivity but with more manageable tasks. Examples include:

• Routine Tasks: Handle administrative work, organizing, or data entry that requires less mental strain.

• Maintenance Activities: Perform light cleaning, decluttering, or simple repairs around your home or workspace.

• Self-Care: Focus on activities that rejuvenate you, such as reading, taking a bath, or practicing gentle yoga.

• Learning: Watch educational videos, read articles or books, and engage in light study or professional development activities.

Implementing the Two To-Do Lists

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Assess Your Energy Levels Daily: Begin each day with a quick self-assessment. How do you feel physically and emotionally? This can help you determine which list to follow.

2. Prioritize Tasks: Within each list, prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. This ensures that even on low-energy days, you’re completing meaningful activities.

3. Be Flexible: Life is unpredictable, and so are our energy levels. Allow yourself the flexibility to switch lists if your energy changes throughout the day.

4. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. This positive reinforcement can boost your motivation and energy.

Understanding your energy levels and being in touch with your emotions is essential for redirecting negative energy into positive activities and maintaining productivity. By creating two to-do lists tailored to your energy levels, you can ensure that you remain productive and balanced, regardless of how you feel on any given day. This approach not only enhances your efficiency but also supports your overall well-being, making it a valuable strategy for navigating the complexities of daily life. Plus you can redirect any strong emotions into something beautiful, positive, useful. Instead of feeling frustrated when things go left when you want them to go right, you now have techniques to help you navigate this and pivot into doing something else that is on your list. It all comes down to being in touch with your emotional and physical energy levels. Once you know how you operate, what works for you, what activities bring you most joy, ways you can maximize your potential at any given day, you become the best version of yourself. You become unstoppable!