A lot of people talk about Time Management. Often, this misses the point.
While there are many books and websites with good advice on how we can use our time wisely, few people mention the need to manage our energy.
By this, I mean that it’s hard to be super productive when we’re bored.
In his book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Daniel H. Pink reminds us that we do a better job with some tasks at different times in the day. Many of us are more creative late at night or more focused early in the morning. The advice is to know the natural rhythms of your body and to take advantage of that knowledge.
Richard Feynman has the right idea when he says, “Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn’t matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don’t think about what you want to be, but what you want to do. Keep up some kind of a minimum with other things so that society doesn’t stop you from doing anything at all.”
We tend to have tons of energy when we’re working on an activity that we love!
It reminds me of something I figured out during college. I could often get more done by adding things to my plate than by only doing the things I felt like I had to do. After studying for one exam, I would go play piano for a half hour before studying for my next exam. This is a lesson that’s helped me tremendously throughout my life.
Certain activities are energizing! Doing a bit of exercise can make us more alert. Talking to a good friend can be exciting. Spending a weekend in the mountains can be liberating.
When you feel weighed down by responsibilities, take the time to play. Have some fun, and the rest becomes more manageable.
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