Several months ago I audited where I was allocating my energy.
The whole exercise presented a humbling reminder that energy is a finite asset that can either be diligently invested or clumsily thrown away.
A few activities where I have thrown away my energy include:
- Complaining
- Checking things more than twice (the first check offers the highest probability of catching an error. After that, the probability diminishes exponentially).
- Doing something that consistently hasn’t worked (see: definition of insanity)
A few activities where I’ve invested my energy well include:
- Picking 1–3 ruthless priorities at work and focusing exclusively on them.
- Dedicating “water cooler” time to talk with my teammates — something I took for granted pre-pandemic.
- Reading books to reinforce the kind of mindset I want to have moving forward (Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo, Creativity Leap by Natalie Nixon, and The Practice by Seth Godin)
We are all creatures of habit — the stronger the habit, the more invisible it tends to be.
Instead of unwittingly engaging in habits that aren’t helpful, try routinely auditing where your energy is going.
Ask yourself: “is this activity an investment or a drain?”
You won’t be able to change overnight, but it’ll at least bring into focus what may need changing.