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The Power of Full Engagement

Guest post by: David Carter

Article Overview: We live in digital time. Our pace is rushed, rapid fire, and relentless. We cram as much as possible into every day. Time management is no longer a viable solution. Managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance, as well as to health, happiness and life balance.

The Power of Full Engagement

We live in a digital time. Our pace is rushed, rapid fire, and relentless. We cram as much as possible into every day. Time management is no longer a viable solution. Managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance, as well as to health, happiness and life balance. The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quality and quantity of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live your life.

In their book, The Power of Full Engagement, authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz show that our bodies operate on 90 minute cycles during the day. That is, our energy levels cycle up and down every 90 minutes. You know you are in the "down cycle" when you start to lose focus, feel tired or restless, and start reaching for a snack.

When you feel pressured to get things done, what do you do? Do you try to push through these down cycles or pump yourself up with caffeine and carbohydrates? Try as you might, after working at high intensity for more than 90 minutes, your brain begins to slow down. You become less productive and less capable of thinking clearly.

Humans aren't designed to operate continuously like computers - running multiple programs at the same time. You are designed to work in cycles - and we work best when we focus on one thing at a time.

Here are key strategies to optimize your energy cycles and personal productivity.

Eat less and exercise more.

These 5 words are the "magical" secret to having more energy as well as living a longer, healthier life. Ignore the fads, and confront the brutal truth of this simple statement. There are no shortcuts.

Get enough sleep.

It sounds obvious, but are you getting enough? Top performers sleep an average of 8.5 hours a night, compared to the 6.5 hours that the average person sleeps. Switch off the internet, TV, and other things that stimulate your brain late at night - and try to wind down at least 30 minutes before you go to bed.

Prioritize tomorrow's tasks the day before.

It is amazing how much better you sleep when you have already written down what you need to do tomorrow. Rather than lying there thinking about it - get it out of your head and write it down. Schedule time in your calendar to focus on your #1 priority for the day. "Eat that frog." Do it when your energy is highest, and when you can shut out distractions.

Multitasking is a myth.

When you juggle multiple activities, the time it takes to finish any one activity increases by an average of 25 percent. Shut off the interruptions and just do one thing at a time in a burst of intensely focused energy. Shut the door, and turn off your email, IM and phone completely for at least one hour a day while you attend to your #1 priority.

Take a break every 90 minutes.

Align your body with your natural energy cycles. Get up, walk around, and take a mini-break every 90 minutes to clear your head and get the blood flowing. Practice some deep slow breathing to restore a sense of calm. Then focus on your next task with renewed concentration and focus.

Practice an attitude of gratitude.

Finally, take time every day to pause and be grateful for all that is good in your life. Likewise, make sure you give due appreciation and praise to others. By doing so, you will feel more energized and so will they.

In conclusion, think about this perspective. Athletes practice 90% of the time to perform 10% of the time. However, most of us practice 10% of the time to perform 90% of the time! Managing energy, not time, is your key to enduring high performance, as well as to health, happiness and life balance.

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Portions of this article based on Energy Management for Personal Productivity by Results Group.

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Article Tags: high performance, life balance, managing energy, strategy, time management



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