My overachieving clients often tell me that at the end of the day, they feel unaccomplished and behind. Often this means they work later, or harder, and longer often at the cost of their long term well-being and quality of life.
Generally, conscious entrepreneurs are surrounded by a hustle and grind culture that is unsustainable, toxic, and bankrupt. When you treat your brain like a machine that can process non-stop 24/7, mistaking adrenaline as focus using arbitrary deadlines to accomplish more–you may now feel more efficient producing more in less time; however, consider your brain and body are getting fried.
You cannot treat your brain like a 24/7 machine, it actually needs to rest. This is where rest becomes your most productive action to take. And where effectiveness trumps efficiency. In fact, efficiency could now be added to the list of your greatest detractor.
Why Energy Management Matters More
What if you could instead, have the willpower to stop, breathe, and go offline for long stretches to tackle bigger projects? What if you lived your life as a series of intentional moments that fulfilled the essence of why you are alive, no matter what action you were taking? What if every action was sacred? As you ground yourself, your actions will become more effective, constantly cutting out what’s wasted energy and leaving room for planning intentional moments.
Here are 3 key energy hacks that I share with my clients and students on how to redirect their energy
1. Make a Space Where You are Pulled to Focus Naturally
Choose an empty boring environment that naturally allows you to focus with no interruptions from family, kids, clients, apps, laundry, etc. By creating this non distracting space, you can really tackle important, non-urgent projects that require deeper thought.
For example, once a month, some of my clients attend a Shut up and Write session at a co-working space. They go into a room, say what they are going to work on, then shut up and write—whether it’s a newsletter, blog, paper, or any project you might put off.
They are amazed how simple and powerfully effective this is in a short period of time. No distractions plus the added peer accountability knowing you have to report out by the end if you did what you said you would at the start.
2. Create a template calendar week that nourishes your soul.
I often train my students to block in all your recharge periods each day, week, quarter and year first in their calendar system. It is super critical for my clients to know when they get to rest. Rest is productivity, so for overachievers, this is equally if not more critical than doing the work itself.
For example, I have spiritual time and exercises everyday for 1.5 hours first thing in the morning and in the evening. I do a longer personal retreat Sunday mornings, and quarterly take a trip, and annually take a week long trip alone to recharge.
Schedule into your calendar EVERYTHING (including all well-being like sleeping and eating). Set these actions to run on repeat weekly. One pitfall of time blocking is not putting everything on it. Like commuting, transition or buffer time, eating, etc. It’s all or nothing. If you only put half the things you are actually doing, you won’t trust your calendar because there will be daily breakdowns. In fact, you’ll write off time blocking like it won’t work. You have to find what will work for you.
NEVER pack your day to the hilt. Leave at least 2 hours of buffer time to manage breakdowns and the unexpected which inevitably will come. If they magically don’t, great! You just earned 2 hours of fun time.
3. Do What You Resist And Moves Your Business Forward First
Get it over with. Then you can go outside and play or spend time with your family as a reward. You must plan cycles of focus and recharge, rest, and relaxation like charging up your battery rather than force your brain to “run on the treadmill” 24/7—constantly making it work.
My clients have learned some of the following techniques to support them in accomplishing that one big thing each day.
a. Remove any stimulus or distraction. Turn off your phone or put in on silent altogether
b. Play the right kind of baroque music that helps your brain waves relax into a more focused yet relaxed state.
c. Each day when you plan your day, limit yourself to the top 5 most important things to accomplish. Don’t work on #2 until #1 is done. Then you’ll know when you’re done for the day rather than continue to keep tackling the never ending to-do list.
The Bottom Line
Remember, it takes time to build the habits above. Once you start seeing the results and fulfillment, you’ll trust yourself and your calendar more and more. Creating your calendar by prioritizing what recharges your first, followed by all the meetings you have with others will not only be more effective, it will be fulfilling, allowing you to stay in flow.
While most humans live and relate to time like it controls them, consider life is a string of moments. You only have so many moments left–how do you want to create each moment?
You have the opportunity to transform your level of consciousness in planning out your time, by focusing first on your energy management. Create your calendar from the inside out, and experience accomplishing what matters most with grace and ease. Discover the freedom in discipline and self-imposed limits of distraction.
Not only will your mind, body, and heart be happier, you’ll create the impact you were meant to make on the world with your business.
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Anna S. Choi, Conscious Business Coach, empowers the next generation of conscious entrepreneurs to unleash their brilliance, attract more clients, and scale their impact. As a broke art major with zero experience, connections, or knowledge she started her first conscious wealth management business, InsideOut Investing. By age 25, Anna was able to triple her net income and gross six figures. Now she helps her clients do the same by clarifying their vision, leveraging their genius, and executing strategic marketing plans. If you’re interested in gaining focus, energy, and inspired action in a like-minded conscious entrepreneur community, learn more at www.annasunchoi.com.
