In my last post which discussed the whole idea of having a sufficient amount of capacity, I stated that I would talk about some of the things I did to help invest and analyze my energy.
Analyzing your energy may seem difficult since you are trying to measure something intangible, but it really isn't as hard as one may think. Here's a couple of things I did to get started:
Go To Bed Earlier & Wake Up Earlier
I normally went to bed at 11:30 to midnight. I don't know, I just always seemed to be occupied with something (i.e. watching a show, surfing the web, etc.) until late at night. So, every Monday night I would go to bed at 9:00-9:30 and wake up at 5:00 (versus my usual routine which was going to bed at 11:30 and waking up at 6:30).
Quick Note: Start off with one day at a time; it really makes this work a lot easier if you take baby steps.
When I would get up at 5:00, I would surprisingly feel more awake compared to waking up at 6:30. Obviously, it was is difficult to get up when it's pitch black out, but once you get in and out of the shower, things seem to pick up.
And wouldn't you know it... I started to notice a difference in productivity on my Tuesday's versus the rest of the week. I felt more energetic and more focused on my work... something which no triple-shot-caffenatedchino has ever done for me. This led to me getting more things accomplished in my day.
Once you are able to successfully achieve this for about 3 weeks, add another day. Again, do this in steps or else it will really take out your motivation (this is coming from experience).
Intentionally Take Breaks
It may sound like an oxymoron to intentionally take breaks to be more productive, but it is surprisingly the opposite. Every day at 2:00-2:30pm, I stop everything I am doing and focus on something that relaxes my mind. For you, it could be reading a book, shutting your eyes for a bit, or taking a walk outside. No matter what it is, make sure you take a 15 minute break to do it.
During this process, try not to think of work either. If you do, it really eliminates the purposes. The goal of this is to come back rejuvenated so you can allocate more time and energy in your work, thus making you more productive.
I choose between 2:00-2:30 because that is normally when I need it the most. I always seem to be more productive before lunch, but it may be different for you.
Try working on these things as soon as possible. I can tell you from experience, working off of natural energy is a beautiful thing. It keeps you motivated and helps you be more productive. Plus as an added benefit, you feel better about yourself when you know you accomplished a lot in one day.
Not to mention that not having to rely on Starbucks every morning is financially satisfying as well :).
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