New Year’s Resolution Dilemma: Will You “Pack” 2017 Tighter?

          I just listened to an interesting TED talk by time manager Laura Vanderkam.  Her message: there’s plenty of time in the week…we’re just not using it as well as we could.  Her conclusion: we could reorganize to pack more stuff into our schedule. 

            Maybe you’re thinking of doing that in 2017. 

            I don’t necessarily disagree with Laura.  But her talk illustrates the time manager’s dilemma: how do we keep cramming more “stuff” into an already crowded schedule?  Her talk completely misses a central issue: what if you don’t have the energy to exercise, take a class, read a book or play with your kids when you have the time to do so?

            One of her key points -- in a crisis, we make time -- supports my contention that we should focus on energy management over time management.  When we face a crisis, the adrenalin generates the energy we need.  Often, we “rise” to the occasion. But not everything is a crisis.  How do we generate more energy to get more done?

            There are lots of ways to do that, as outlined in my book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy. 

            Here’s one idea, that marries both scheduling and energy.

            It’s not just time; it’s timing.  If we look at our energy flows, we can schedule tasks when we believe we’ll have the most energy to do them.  For example, we could tackle that important report first thing in the morning when we’re mentally fresh.  We could do the laundry in the middle of the afternoon when we’re in a post-lunch, low-energy food coma.

            As you make your New Year’s resolutions, if you’re worried about finding the time to do them…think energy instead! 

           

What Now? New Trump Energy Rules?

             One of my sharpest clients in financial services has come up with a personal-energy-based approached to navigating the new world of President-Elect Trump.  She’s advising her clients to watch for:

-- Pace over path

-- Inflection over momentum

-- Emotion over logic.

            Pace over path: Notice the amount of energy, not just where it’s going.  For example, deregulation might be a new direction for the new administration, but that will take a lot of time.  It can stop or slow down on enforcement almost immediately.

            Inflection over momentum: As we saw in the election, everything can change overnight. Expect sudden shifts in focus and energy.  Trends, the staple of prognosticators past, may not be so reliable any more.

            Emotion over logic:  Emotional energy is often more powerful than intellectual energy.  Just because something “makes sense” doesn’t mean it will happen  -- either in politics or economics.