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! 

           

Want a Little FREE Post-Election Energy?

Photo by Bill Beck

Whew! The election is finally over.

            Now, it’s time to recover and recharge the batteries.

            One way to do that is to download a FREE copy of my ebook, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            You can get it by following this link to Amazon from November 8 to 12 only.  Just say you want to “buy” the book (NOT “read it for free”).  The “price” should be zero.  

         If the link doesn’t work, paste this in your browser: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-UP-Supercharging-Your-Energy-ebook/dp/B01G5TUKQ8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1478451163&sr=8-1

NO Computers in Class?

“Should computers be barred from the classroom?”

            That question triggered a spirited discussion the other day at a faculty meeting at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Prompted by a Wall Street Journal story headlined “I’m Banning Laptops from My Classroom,” professorial opinion ranged from “computers MUST be in the classroom” to, well, me.

            Since I started teaching several years ago at Bloomberg, ranked the #1 public health school in America, I have flatly prohibited any 21^st Century technology in my class.  No laptops, no smart phones, and no iPads or assorted “tablets.”

            Although I spell this out in my syllabus, few students bother reading a syllabus, and so there is usually shock and awe at my first class of the semester.   I have to dole out paper and pens because many students no longer carry such ancient writing implements.

            Interestingly, several of my students were in the faculty meeting and they spoke out in favor of computers…in some classes.   Nobody was nervy enough to suggest computers should find their way into my marketing class.

            Why do I ban these devices that have essentially become one with our bodies?  Here’s what the author of the Wall Street Journal piece, Rutgers law professor Stuart Green, said he experienced when he walked to the back of his classroom while a guest lecturer taught his class:

            “What a revelation to see what the students are up to. While virtually all of them have open laptops and most are taking notes, many seem more intent on emailing and texting, posting on social media, reading news sites, shopping online, or looking at YouTube videos. I recently saw one student systematically checking out law-firm websites for summer-associate salaries. Another spent an entire class streaming an NHL hockey game.

            “If this is what the students are doing while I’m sitting behind them, observing the class, I can only imagine what they’re doing when I’m up front, lecturing.”

            What do you think?  Computers in the classroom -- or not?

To be continued…the impact of technology on our energy.

Life Imitates Long Distance Cycling

            PAC Tour is a great way to spend 18 days…if you’re planning to write a book on energy …because life imitates riding across the country.  Just ask Einstein, who knew a bit about energy.  He said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” And, on PAC Tour…

§  Each day brings its own challenges;

§  The external obstacles, like mountains and traffic, are unchanging and uncaring;

§  The internal obstacles are tougher: pain, exhaustion, anxiety, confusion, discouragement, irritation, distraction;

§  Sometimes, you ride with friends; sometimes, you must ride alone;

§  You must decide how to spend your energy; how to save it; how to recover it;

§  It’s a little dangerous;

§  Tomorrow, you ride again.

            At 66, Medicare card in my wallet, I became the oldest rider to complete this event since it began in 1995.  Some folks think it’s pretty impressive that an old fart like me could ride that long and hard.  In this book and my courses, I’m going to argue that it’s no big deal compared to the amazing things YOU could do with more energy.

            To learn how to do that, stay tuned or check out my website, http://www.MorePersonalEnergy.com.  Or, buy my book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

My Getting UP! Energy “Chops”

Racing in Alaska

                    “Who are you to write about energy?”  would be a perfectly good question for you to ask. 

            I am not:

§  An Olympic gold medalist;

§  A coach of Olympic gold medalist;

§  A promoter who has hired a coach of an Olympic gold medalist to sell diet supplements, exercise equipment and yoga vacations.

            I am like you:

§  Not as young as I used to be;

§  Dealing with the stress of too much to do and too little time to do it;

§  Striving to bring balance to a demanding life and career.

            One difference between us is that I may have way more energy than you do.  And I’d like to tell you how you can get more energy yourself -- so you can do amazing things, better manage stress, and improve balance in your life. As I have told thousands of others in my energy seminars, you don’t have to be Einstein to figure this out. And you don’t have to buy anything.

            Except, of course, unless you want to buy my book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            Stay tuned to this blog and we’ll explore the amazing world of high energy!

More Energy … More Blog!

                For several years, I have blogged about marketing and energy at my other blog http://blog.goodgroundconsulting.com/.  That blog will stay active, but much of my energy will go into this new blog based on my new book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            The book is available in both paperback and ebook formats and, frankly, makes great summer reading!   You’ll get a little extra energy just when you need it to enjoy the super summer weather.

Join Me on the Road to More Personal Energy!

            We suffer from the most widespread energy crisis in history.  It has nothing to do with oil, gas or solar power.  It’s…it’s…it’s hard to get up in the morning.

            Indeed, it’s hard to get up -- period -- for a lot of what we must do. We used to think we didn’t have enough time, but the ugly truth is we just don’t have enough energy.

            The good news is that we can get more energy.  The bad news is that the ways we get it are often expensive, dangerous and counterproductive.  There are better ways.

            This new blog is about a different approach toward getting the energy to be ready, willing and able to live the successful, balanced life you want.  I’ll include the many energy tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years as a ultra-distance bicycle racer, consultant, trainer and all-around energy geek.

            Many energy insights are from my book, GettingUP! Supercharging Your Energy, and from the scores of energy seminars I’ve taught.  You’ll learn why:

§  Managing your energy, not your time, is the secret;

§  Getting more energy isn’t about what you drink…it’s about what you think;

§  Driving a stake through the hearts of the vampires sucking your life away might help;

§  Supercharging your energy is inexpensive, simple and fun.