Bravely Connected

As I enter May, I’m finding it’s vital for me to reflect on how I’ve been managing my energy since the year began. Many of us started January with a burst of enthusiasm and dedication, pouring our whole selves into our responsibilities. However, our bodies and minds are not designed to sustain such high levels of output indefinitely. I know I personally have felt this after what felt like a busy winter. It’s essential to recognize when to shift gears and introduce changes that honour our well-being, no matter how busy we are.

Recognize Your Season

Something I teach educators is how to manage their energy throughout their year. This is something I do for myself and it has done wonders for my health. You can notice the rhythm of your year. Every role, every life, has its ebbs and flows. Identifying these patterns can help us understand when we might need to slow down or can push a little harder. If you’re in a career that demands constant high energy, pinpoint those rare dips. These are perfect times for resetting your priorities without the guilt of falling behind. Ask yourself, how can you take pressure off during these quieter times? By understanding and planning around these cycles, we can better manage our energy and avoid burnout.

Start Your Morning with Delight

One of the simplest yet profound changes I’ve embraced is reshaping my mornings. It’s tempting to start the day diving straight into productivity mode, but this often leads us to ignore our natural rhythms. For a while, I thought I “should” begin every day with a workout, but this didn’t always suit my body’s needs. Now, I start my day with activities that truly resonate with my soul, which is starting the day slow with a quiet cup of coffee.

Think about how you can transform your mornings to feel more aligned to you. What makes you feel rejuvenated and excited for the day? How can you incorporate these elements into your morning routine? Letting go of the “should’s” can significantly alter your energy throughout the day.

Gentle Shifts

I have found spring to be an ideal time for downshifting my energy. Even if your job remains demanding, adjusting your intensity can significantly reduce stress and prevent burnout. This doesn’t mean performing less but rather finding ways to be gentle with yourself. Introduce small disruptions in your routine that can lead to significant positive changes in how you feel. Sometimes, simply changing the scenery on your lunch break or choosing a different task management style can make a world of difference.

Evening Joy

This is what I’m working on the most right now. How we end our day is as crucial as how we start it. After a long day, it’s important to engage in activities that help us relax and recharge. Personally, I make it a point to wrap up my work at a specific time so I can enjoy a walk or attend a dance class. These activities aren’t just hobbies; they’re part of my joy routine—essential practices that help rewire my brain towards happiness and resilience.

Model Energy Management

It’s also valuable to pass these habits on to our young ones. Children and students also benefit from learning how to manage their energy. By modelling these practices, we can teach them to recognize their own rhythms and find delight in their daily lives, which is just as important as their academic achievements.

In conclusion, May is a perfect time to take stock of how we manage our energy. By shifting gears appropriately, we ensure our productivity does not come at the expense of our well-being. Start your day with what lights up your heart, introduce mindful disruptions, and end with activities that restore you. This balanced approach not only improves our lives but also sets a powerful example for those around us.

If you found some of these tips helpful that I’m implementing myself, you will love my free energy management tool kit. You can get that by filling out this form and saying “Energy Management Please!”

Want more on this? Check out my podcast version of this on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube.