Manage Your Energy
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
Over the last several years, I have worked diligently to organize my time. I believe time is a necessary commodity, and we need to treat it with respect. Scheduling and organizing help best utilize the time on this earth God has given us. Yet, amidst all the benefits of planning and scheduling, a challenge remains. What happens when you schedule important activities when our physical, emotional, and spiritual energy is low? Just because we prepare and complete a task doesn't automatically make it successful. If we do not have the energy to fulfill the job well, completion impedes our overall productivity.
Nick Wignall, who I often quote, helped me rethink my time management commitment and consider a new process for creating productivity. Wignall's article "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time" forced me to rethink my productivity paradigm. Rather than focusing only on scheduling and time management, I should also find an avenue to focus my time and schedule around my daily and weekly energy level.
Wignall points out, "It's a lot easier to do your best work with your best energy." Wignall calls us to "Identify when you hit peak creative energy." Once we recognize our body's internal rhythm, we can do our best work. When you learn your body's rhythm, you can organize your schedule correctly. Do not waste your peek time reading and answering emails. Wignall calls us to schedule our time by prioritizing our activities based on the importance and energy required. Once we can maximize our energy, our creativity and productivity will light a fire within.
Today, prayerfully ask God to "Guard your creative energy ruthlessly." Our spiritual, emotional, and physical energy is essential because it helps us fulfill God's call for our lives. Remember, saying "no" is as important as saying "yes." You will be able to say "yes" more often if you retain the energy to remain productive. Allow God to strengthen your resolve. Do not bend to the mindset of despair and exhaustion. Focus instead on the rhythm of your energy and prayerfully invite the Spirit's guidance, and you will be pleasantly surprised with your emotional, physical, and spiritual productivity. Let's get to work.
