Energy

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” Benjamin Franklin

We live in a busy world. Within the circle of people in my life —  retired or currently working – bored individuals, looking for another task to add to their to-do lists are nowhere to be found.

Common time-related expressions we hear every single day include:

“If only I had the time. . . “               

“I am just too busy”

“Sorry, I am late, but . . .” and,

Rarely heard utterances include . . .:

“I am so bored.”

“I having nothing to do today.”

You might think retirement would create a life replete with plenty of free time. However, just the opposite is true for recent retirees whom I know personally.

We have been told that to be successful, long hours are necessary  On numerous occasions throughout the years, I, too, have spouted  this strategy. There is truth in the doctrine that success is often built on a platform that includes a significant investment of time. Because this creed is embraced and accepted by many consumers, quite a few individuals have created successful businesses that market time-management solutions. I have met and used some of the materials espoused by several of these time-efficient moguls.

Even though I have a positive opinion of these entrepreneurs, , going to another time-management seminar, or buying the newest book on how to better schedule my time, is not appealing to me. What about you? Is there something missing here? I believe so. The actual strategy of managing our time may turn out to be part of the problem.

So, what is the issue? In efforts to become  better managers of our time resources, we may also be creating additional stress. The ‘perfect day’ filled with a full calendar, hitting on all cylinders, accomplishing everything I want to do today, might not be so perfect. If my goal  is to more fervently live a perfect, comprehensive, not-waste-a-single-moment kind of day, every day from now on, I am not ready for such a regulated full schedule.  How about you?

If anything, I see the potential for much stress. And stress can reduce energy. If energy is the fuel we need for a successful life, less of it is probably going to be counter to our efforts. At some point, my all-consuming comprehensive ‘perfect day’ schedule is going to come crashing down. I have been there before. Have you?

In doing a computer search on the subject of energy, you will find many well-written articles on how to increase this in your life. These articles list several important common factors, i.e.,  get enough sleep, reduce alcohol consumption, and review certain vitamins. The one item rarely mentioned is stress reduction. One author has stated,  “. . . Every time you get upset, it drains your emotional energy. Losing your cool makes you tired.”

In a recent Harvard Business Review (HBR), article on the subject of  stress, the writer poignantly states that “Stress-induced emotions consume huge amounts of energy.” The article continues . . .“One of the main reasons for fatigue is overwork. Overwork can include professional, family, and social obligations. Try to streamline your list of “must-do” activities. Set your priorities in terms of the most important tasks. Pare down those that are less important. Consider asking for extra help at work, if necessary.”

One obvious message of the HBR article is to ‘lighten your load.’  While not a new idea, even to the time-management gurus, my conclusion is we may need to go much deeper.

Delete!  Eliminate the clutter.  Avoid ‘paralysis by analysis.’  Remove what does not need to be done. Cancel.  Scrub.  Erase.  Get rid of the noise. Reject postponement. Scratch future study. Delay only ends up with tasks being put back on a calendar that is already full and begging for some relief. Is your current schedule crying out to you for a change? Are you listening to yourself? Perhaps your personal approach to time management needs a new focus.

What would happen, if in the next 30 days, you concentrated solely on what is most important? What if what is unimportant did not get done and was replaced by doing what is extremely important?

Later in life, as you reflect on your successes throughout the years, what will be on your list?  Rather than assembling a litany of many things never accomplished, how about exclaiming over two or three  things you did very well? Doing those things well will be remembered in your legacy far more than 100 other things you did in an average manner. What do you think? How do we get there?

Time is a finite resource. No time-management solution will ever create even one additional second for the rest of our lives.  Energy is different. It can be increased. Is today a good time to review time management under the lens of energy?

We all can agree that we want to be successful in life. We want to be the best at what we are meant to be and do. How do we get there?

Choose a new time-management paradigm.

Delete. Eliminate clutter and noise.

Choose some things to no longer do.

Focus only on what is important.

Increase energy.

Succeed!