Energy vs. time: A smarter way to structure your day
She was so close to getting her caffeine too. Sad.
We've all been told that time management is the secret to productivity. Make a to-do list, stick to a schedule, and boom, you’ll get more done. But let’s be real. Just because something is on your calendar doesn’t mean you have the energy to do it.
You don’t need more hours in the day. You need more energy for the hours you already have.
Instead of forcing yourself into a rigid schedule, let’s talk about how to structure your day around your energy levels so you get more done without feeling drained.
Time is fixed, but energy is flexible.
You can’t magically create more time (trust me, if we could, we’d all be doing it). But you can learn how to manage your energy better. Some tasks fire you up, while others completely drain you. Figuring out what fuels you, and when, is a game-changer.
Ever notice how some days you’re laser-focused in the morning and others you hit a slump by lunchtime? That’s not just a coincidence. That’s your body’s natural rhythm at work. The key is matching your tasks to your energy levels.
What to do instead:
Stop treating all hours as equal. Your brain doesn’t work like that.
Plan your biggest, hardest tasks when you naturally have the most energy.
Accept that you’ll have dips, and work with them instead of against them.
Take action: For the next few days, pay attention to your energy levels. When do you feel most alert? When do you hit a slump? Jot it down and you’ll start to see patterns.
Do you think she really read all of those books?
Find your peak productivity windows.
Not everyone is a morning person, and not everyone can pull an all-nighter. The sooner you figure out your own high-energy windows, the easier everything becomes.
Elon Musk apparently schedules his day in five-minute chunks to maximize efficiency (which sounds exhausting, to be honest). But you don’t need to go full billionaire mode—you just need to align the right tasks with the right time of day.
What to do instead:
Do deep work (thinking, problem-solving, writing) during your high-energy hours.
Save low-energy tasks (emails, meetings, laundry) for when your brain is running on fumes.
Experiment. Your natural rhythm might not be what you expect.
Take action: Tomorrow, swap one task to a better energy-matching time. Notice how much easier it feels.
Stop pushing through energy slumps. Recharge instead.
If you try to power through when you’re exhausted, you’ll end up staring at your screen, scrolling social media, and getting nowhere. Instead, take strategic breaks to refill your energy tank.
Studies show that taking a break every 90 minutes helps you stay more focused (your brain isn’t designed to work nonstop). Even a 5-minute walk or stretching session can reset your energy levels.
What to do instead:
Schedule breaks like meetings. They’re just as important.
Move around! Sitting all day makes you even more sluggish.
Step away from screens. Your brain needs a breather.
Take action: Set a timer for a 2-minute stretch or deep breath break. Feels good, right?
Read: Create your dream life: 3 Unconventional steps that actually work
Work with, not against, your natural rhythms.
Your body already has built-in energy cycles (thanks, circadian rhythms). Fighting them is like trying to swim upstream. It’s exhausting. Instead, go with the flow.
Athletes train in cycles. They push hard, then recover. Your workday should be the same. You’re not meant to be "on" all the time.
What to do instead:
Use peak energy times for focus-heavy work.
Schedule lighter tasks for when you naturally slow down.
Listen to your body instead of trying to override it.
Take action: Identify one daily task you always struggle with. Could you move it to a different time when it would feel easier?
Read: Manage your stress and save your life: How to prioritize self-care
If you’ve been trying to squeeze more out of your day by micromanaging every minute, take a deep breath. It’s not about the schedule, it’s about the energy.
✔ Pay attention to when you feel most focused and most drained.
✔ Match your biggest tasks to your biggest energy windows.
✔ Take breaks before burnout hits.
✔ Work with your natural rhythm instead of fighting against it.
You don’t need more time—you need better energy strategies. And once you start working with your energy instead of against it, everything feels easier.
What’s one way you can structure your day around energy instead of time? Drop it in the comments.
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