Organize Your To Do List By Maximizing Your Energy
Have you ever tried to organize your to-do list by maximizing your available energy?
I used to feel so drained, overwhelmed and even bummed at the end of my workdays because I felt like I wasn’t getting as much done as I thought I could.
Ever feel like that?
I felt like I could never keep up let alone get ahead.
I was tired of feeling this way, so I chose to reframe my approach to my to-do list by deciding to:
A) Get realistic with my limited energy by reserving the work that matters most for my peak performance period.
B) Get clear on my Why to prioritize the tasks most likely to have the greatest impact on my work and to reduce busywork.
C) Savor my accomplishments at the end of each day to honor the work I created and to realize I did enough.
There are several ways to organize your to-do list by maximizing your energy.
Here are three experiments you can try:
#1 MONO TASK
Multitasking might make you “feel” like you are getting a lot done, but it requires more energy than “mono-tasking”.
Your brain quite literally operates as a “one-track mind”. It can only give attention to one conscious action or thought at a time.
Multitasking gives you the illusion of doing two or more things at once, but in reality, your brain is switching super fast between each activity.
Try experimenting with mono-tasking by first organizing your to-do list by related task types.
Next, schedule blocks of time to work exclusively on one specific task type.
For example, I used to schedule all of my podcast interviews on Tuesdays only. My mind was in interview mode all day long, conserving my energy to conduct higher-quality interviews.
During my peak performance period between 7am and 11am I work on my writing projects like blog posts, trainings or our Weekly Reflection Reminder.
Try experimenting with mono-tasking by theming your mornings and afternoons by task type for one week.
#2 ORGANIZE YOUR TO-DO LIST BY THE QUALITY OF YOUR ENERGY
Organize your to-do list by the energy required for you to complete each task.
Tasks that require greater focus and attention, take more energy to complete compared to those that don’t require your full attention.
Determine how much energy each task requires:
High Energy
Moderate Energy
Low Energy
A high-energy task for me is any type of content creation. It requires my full focus and sharpest attention.
Moderate energy tasks for me include conducting a podcast interview, brainstorming ideas or meetings. I naturally have a lot of energy for social situations. Social tasks still require focus, but I don’t need to concentrate as much as I do when I write.
Low-energy tasks are generally more administrative for me like responding to email, planning or scheduling meetings.
We’re all uniquely productive, so different tasks might require different amounts of energy for you than they do for me or for one of your colleagues!
This method of organizing your to-do list is all about making the best use of your available energy, so you can keep getting stuff done in alignment with how you are feeling in the moment.
#3 GO WITH YOUR GUT
I know this might sound radical, at least it was for me when I first tried it, but try abandoning your to-do list for one day and go with your gut!
Why?
I have discovered when I use this approach, I often get more done using less energy, but also feel more energized too!
Honestly, my brain likes to create extra work I don’t really need to do, which often ends up on my to-do list.
My to-do list also feels like an annoying boss, who makes me feel like I’m never getting enough done.
As I’ve learned to trust my gut, I know I’m getting more of what really needs to get done that will have the greatest impact on my business.
It also reminds me of what energizes me and what makes my work fun for me.
As a recovering perfectionist and overachiever, I highly recommend waking up one day this week and just letting your gut decide what you are going to do hour by hour.
If nothing else, you are going to learn a TON about yourself very quickly and in the best of ways!
Learn more about yourself than ever before when you enroll in our 12-Week Self-Assessment Challenges.
