One Secret to Managing Your Productivity

If I asked 100 people what they would change in order to be productive, I’m sure I would get a smattering of answers. But most of them would have a lot to do with time management.

Most people believe that in order to be more productive, they have to be better at blocking their calendar, creating boundaries, prioritizing. That all might be helpful in staying organized. But the truth is that productivity starts on a much more primal level before we even open our computers or check our phones in the morning.

Being more productive and focused starts with energy management.

Our time and schedule is much more flexible than our energy. We can move meetings and rearrange our calendars to fit our colleagues, personal lives, and emergencies. But our energy is not as flexible. It starts with eating a good breakfast and staying hydrated. It continues through the day by taking short breaks. It doesn’t really matter the length, but quality does matter.

Taking a break from work on your computer by watching a youtube video or checking your email on your computer is not reaping the benefits of what a break should be. Step away from the screen, stretch your body, give your eyes a rest, connect with another human if you can. Be conscious of the kind of work you’re doing– is it energizing or depleting? (We call those fountains and drains).

Having a meetingful day™ is a drain and requires finding a fountain to restore and sustain energy.
5 minutes of reading.
10 minutes of meditation.
Play a song on an instrument.
Do 10 pushups and squats.
The more we’re mindful of our energy, the more we can sustain the workload we’ve been given. Our energy fluctuates, minute to minute and day to day.

And while we might be able to block off time for our most important work and use time management to help with productivity, the truth is that managing your energy will give you the sustained habits you need for longer-term focus.

---

Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We write regular posts on Medium and send out monthly newsletters with productivity tips, life hacks, and recommendations. Sign up for the mailing list here.

Jake Kahana is a cofounder of Caveday. Sign up for his personal emails, called “The Email Refrigerator” here.