As people begin to consider the importance of energy management in their lives, they often think that those who get the most work done, must have the most energy.
Even more worryingly, many people think that if they force themselves to do more; their body will eventually adapt to deal with the increased workload. That is thinking about things in the wrong order. The key to using energy management to increase your productivity is to learn to recover your energy quickly. To recover your energy quickly after you have put in an intensive effort does not require some form of magic. The action you need to take to recover your energy can range from a cup of tea to a long rest; depending on the previous activity undertaken.
The importance of recovering your energy
If you struggle to accept that your ability to recover your energy is one of the key aspects of increasing your productivity; you only need to look at the world of sports. The reason that most drug cheats use drugs is to aide their recovery. They understand that by recovering quicker, they can train more often, thus improving the gains they make.
I am not recommending that you take illegal drugs but you can certainly gain some insight from the drug cheats. Another insight which you can gain from them is that they use their drugs during their training periods; not for competition. They understand that if they have higher energy levels on a daily basis, they will achieve better results than if they went for a temporary boost under pressure. The work equivalent of this would be that you should develop a lifestyle which increases your energy levels daily rather than rely on coffee and sugary food to get you through when faced with a tight deadline.
Strategies to recover your energy quickly
There are many different strategies which can help you to recover your energy quicker but the following are some of the best:
1. Move
When you don’t have much energy, you may struggle to see how moving can help you recover but it really does. As Tony Robbins says, ‘Emotion comes from motion’. If you want to feel positive, energised and motivated, get moving. A few minutes walking briskly or even dancing can help you to elevate your energy levels. Slower movement like stretching and yoga can also help you to recover your energy quicker. They also have the added bonus of relieving stress.
Moving is especially helpful when you’ve spent hours at a desk or focusing on something intensive.
2. Rest
Your body is a lot more intelligent than you think it is. It will let you know when you need to rest and, if you don’t listen, it will force you to rest; through injury or illness.
Have you ever sprained your ankle? Notice how it swells up, becomes stiff and difficult to stand or move around on? That’s an example of your body forcing you to rest. However, if you are in tune with your body, you can learn through more subtle signs like tiredness, stiffness and soreness.
It is even better if you don’t wait for your body to give you a sign. You can be proactive and schedule breaks and active rest. When you do this, you will recover your energy quicker because you will never let it hit rock bottom.
3. Meditate
A calm mind and a healthy body help you to minimise your energy wastage. It is amazing how much precious energy is wasted by worry and panic. Meditation is one of the best tools for developing a calm mind and healthy body.
When you’re still and go within yourself, you experience a new energy that you didn’t have before. You become more peaceful, restful and resilient. Your ability to stay calm in the face of adversity will be greatly improved.
Note: To feel the full benefits of meditation, you need to do it regularly.
4. Defend your time
Everyone has the same amount of time, but how we use it varies from person to person. One of the biggest energy drains and causes of stress in life is when you give your time away to people or activities which add no value to your life.
By eliminating these from your life, you will have less of the activities which drain you and you can replace them with more of the activities which boost your energy, thus helping you to recover your energy quicker.
5. Breathe
When things go wrong, and they will, it is imperative that you do not waste energy with an extreme over reaction. Instead, make it a habit to take a deep breath whenever you are faced with a difficult challenge. If needs be, take a short break from the situation to gather your thoughts and think clearly about the situation in which you find yourself. You will solve the problem quicker.
Not only will you solve the problem quicker; you will recover your energy quicker because you have avoided unnecessary energy wastage and your body will return to a state of ease sooner.
To learn to breathe and problem solve under stress, check out Breathe.
6. Pursue your purpose
Your purpose is not a specific job; it is the way in which you impact the world in positively. You can pursue your purpose through just about any role. It may be as a parent, teacher, manager or friend, but take some time in your busy life to decide how you would like to make the world a better place. This is how you live you live your purpose.
When you live your purpose, you are happier, more energised, less stressed and more confident about life in general. All of these qualities promote a high energy, quick recovery lifestyle.
If you are uncertain about your purpose, check out the Living Purposefully Workbook.
7. Take care of your body
Through diet, exercise and other ways; care for your body in a manner which promotes energy management. If you want to create a better life for yourself, you need to behave in a manner which shows that you deserve the better lifestyle. Self-care is a fundamental part of this.
8. Follow your inspiration
Have you ever seen someone take part in activities which they are passionate about and inspired by? You can hear the enthusiasm in their every word and you can see the joy written all over their face. They are often bouncing around like they are ready to take on the world. This is pure, positive energy unleashed.
Passion and inspiration are that powerful. Find the things which inspire you and locate your passions. Make time for these activities in your life and you will find that you have a well of energy which can be tapped into with ease.
Rather than do things and be around people who drain you, stay away from that and nourish the relationships and activities which make you feel alive. Care for yourself as though you were caring for any other person whom you love. Give yourself the very best of what you have to offer. Life will throw problems, issues and difficulties your way and, they will drain you of your energy. But with the right strategies, implemented on a daily basis, you will recover your energy quicker and bounce back to your very best; as if nothing had ever happened.
