Finally. Personal energy management is now a thing. The productivity gurus will have to rethink their strategy. Good time management skills are not the only way to be productive. You can’t manage your time if you don’t have the energy to get stuff done. Let alone do everything else you need to do. Like rest and play.

Poor time management is not the only reason why you can’t do what needs to be done. It’s not the only reason why you can’t get started. It’s not the only reason why you don’t finish what you’ve started.

Poor time management is a symptom. It indicates low personal energy levels. There’s a deficiency in your physical, emotional or mental energy. If all three are running low, you end up with a depleted spirit. And when you don’t have enough spirit to fuel your aspirations, you will lack inspiration, so it’s almost impossible to motivate yourself. If you do manage to motivate yourself, it will be a strong, ingrained habit that’s driving you on.

But.

You can only function on autopilot for so long.

You can only push on in low-to-no-energy-mode before you burnout.

It’s not a fluke to steer clear of burnout. Good personal energy management activates good time management. Try listening to what your body, soul and spirit need and respond accordingly so that you minimise stress and avoid burnout.

It is not counterintuitive to suggest that if you’re struggling to manage your time then do the opposite. Stop. Bring time to a standstill. Be present. Pull yourself together. And by that I mean, pull the pieces of your energy back into your body and into present time. Put your feet up. Take a rest. Make it a habit. Try stream of consciousness journaling. Or meditate. If you can, take a good, long holiday. Restore your energy and refocus your attention to where it matters. Make rest and play a priority so that you have enough energy for work.

Productivity is less about time management and more about how much energy you have to do what needs to be done.