Effectively Energized

In today’s fast-paced world, finding the right balance between work and rest can make all the difference in how we manage our energy and stay effective. We’ve all heard the advice to “work less and accomplish more,” (I actually preach this myself) but what if it’s not about working less but working more on the things that energize us?

Today, we’ll go a bit contrarian and explore how certain types of work can actually fuel you, and how you can apply this thinking to your own effectiveness.

THE THEORY

Energy management is more important than time management. The concept of “Drainers and Batteries” revolves around identifying tasks that either exhaust our energy (drainers) or recharge us (batteries). While it’s difficult to figure out exactly who created this concept, this idea has evolved from the broader field of energy management that was popularized by Jim Loehr's The Power of Full Engagement. The key takeaway here is that we often focus on managing time when we should be managing our energy. By doing tasks that recharge us, we can accomplish more without feeling burnt out. Drainers pull us down; batteries lift us up - knowing the difference is essential for sustained productivity.

Working in our zone of genius puts us in a state of flow. The concept of the “Zone of Genius” refers to the work we are naturally skilled at and love doing. Similarly, the theory of "flow" describes a state of optimal experience where we're fully immersed and enjoying our work. Both concepts point to the idea that when we align our work with our strengths and interests, it doesn’t feel like work at all - it energizes us. This is where the reason behind the idea that working more (on the right things) can actually be more energizing than working less overall.

Hustle culture emphasizes working harder, but restorative activities help us recharge. Hustle culture promotes the idea that working endlessly will eventually lead to success. However, even with things we are passionate about, this could also lead to burnout, as people can push themselves beyond their natural energy limits. The concept of restorative activities suggests that intentional breaks and restful periods allow us to recharge, leading to better long-term performance. This doesn’t mean we need to be working less necessarily, but working in cycles that allow us to restore our mental and emotional energy. So, again, it’s not always about working fewer hours overall - it’s about knowing when to push and when to rest.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

When I discovered that training others energized me, I realized that some work can actually give you more energy than it takes. At one point, I was spending just two hours a week mentoring and training others, but I felt like I was getting more than those two hours back. I would wake up before my family and start my day feeling productive, as if I was creating extra time. This idea of finding work that refuels you, even as you do it, is fascinating - could it be possible that certain tasks “give back” more than they consume? I sometimes think so. [Side note: BTW, I am currently training teams full-time, so just reply to this message if you want to see my passion in motion - more details in the PS section of this email]

I believe it’s not just about "eating the frog" - sometimes it’s about "finding the frog." When we focus on tasks that align with our intrinsic motivations (what we want to do) rather than extrinsic motivations (what we think we should do), we tap into a source of energy that goes beyond the task itself. By finding the right “frog,” we can work more effectively and feel more energized doing it. It’s about aligning your work with your natural sources of motivation, those that give you energy.

HOW TO PUT THIS INTO PRACTICE

1. Identify Your Drainers and Batteries: Make a list of tasks that deplete your energy and those that recharge it. This awareness is the first step to optimizing your energy.

2. Find the Frog, Don’t Just Eat It: Identify the most impactful tasks that also energize you, rather than simply tackling the hardest task first.

3. Start Tasting the Frog: Force yourself to dedicate time to work that combines your skills and passions, where you lose track of time and feel energized. (Tips here on how to force yourself to find the time).

4. Build in Restorative Breaks: Take this test to ensure you know what is your chronotype and then schedule when it is best to take breaks to recharge.

Energetically,

Jorge Luis Pando