GON Reader Question
Hi Maria,
Regarding high and low energy times of the day, I often find
myself doing the most urgent tasks first, even though some of them may not require a lot of energy such as computer work.
Then later on, I don't have the energy to do some of the cleaning tasks which aren't as much of a priority.
What to do about that?
-- Linda Jacob
Response from Maria
Hi Linda,
Thank you for sharing your dilemma! It sounds like you're experiencing a common challenge many people face when managing their time and energy effectively.
To navigate your energy levels efficiently, clearly identify your peak energy times on paper. Then, begin fitting in your peak and low energy tasks within those time ranges.
Let's say you're not super high energy when you
first wake up at 7:00 AM. It takes you maybe an hour to get going. So, handle a few low energy tasks like loading the washing machine or making the bed.
Then, at 7:45 AM, you might get a burst of energy. Use this time to vacuum, followed by some light but important computer work. Put at least an hour or two into your computer work to
make good headway on these important tasks.
Your energy may begin to dip at 10:00 AM. Have a snack to help get you going again and use this time to do a lower-energy task, like reading through email.
Once your energy rises a bit, let's say at 10:30 AM, do a higher-energy organizing project, like working on decluttering your clothes closet for 30 minutes.
This should take you to around 11:00 AM when you go back to computer work or
other important priorities.
Balance is the name of the game and you will likely have to keep switching between high and low energy tasks based on your personal energy levels.
Something I wanted to mention...be very mindful of contributing to the urgency of your tasks. Tasks that may not have been urgent a week ago, can suddenly become urgent if you wait all week to handle them. Working on projects incrementally each day can prevent tasks from reaching a critical, urgent state.
Also, when doing important computer work, turn your phone and computer notifications off so you're not getting sidetracked along the way.
I hope this answer has provided you with some thoughts to
consider.