Time management advice is everywhere—colour-coded calendars, five-step plans, and apps promising to make your day flawless. But here’s the thing: most of these methods don’t factor in the secret sauce to success—your energy levels. Instead of cramming your day into rigid blocks, let’s explore how you can manage time in a way that honours your unique energy cycle. Spoiler alert: it involves a little self-reflection, a touch of planning, and embracing the fact that you’re not a productivity robot.

Understanding Your Energy Landscape

Your energy is a dynamic thing, impacted by sleep, the tasks on your plate, and even the people you interact with. Start paying attention to what fuels or drains your energy. Does presenting to a group make you feel alive, or does it leave you wanting to crawl under a blanket for the rest of the day? Maybe repetitive tasks are soothing, while creative work needs all your brainpower. The key is knowing your triggers.

Energy isn’t just about physical stamina; it’s mental and emotional too. A morning filled with back-to-back meetings might wipe you out mentally, even if you haven’t moved from your chair. The same goes for emotional energy—spending time with certain people can leave you drained, while others inspire you. Be honest with yourself about what takes the most out of you and what recharges your batteries.

Don’t forget that energy levels aren’t static. They change daily, weekly, or even hourly. Women especially can see fluctuations based on hormonal cycles, but everyone experiences shifts. By observing these patterns, you’ll gain insights into how to structure your time around your natural rhythms, rather than fighting them.

The Art of Energy Tracking

Tracking your energy might sound tedious, but it doesn’t have to be. Think of it as detective work—figuring out what makes your days flow or flop. Start with something simple, like jotting down a quick note at the end of each day. How did you feel? What drained you? What gave you energy? Over time, patterns will emerge.

One popular method is using a five-year journal, where you can track your days year over year in just a few lines. Not into physical notebooks? Use a digital app or even a spreadsheet. The tool doesn’t matter as much as the habit. Once you’ve gathered enough data, you’ll start noticing trends—like how Mondays always feel harder after a packed weekend or how certain activities consistently zap your energy.

Remember, this isn’t about perfection. You don’t need a journal worthy of Pinterest or to track every detail of your day. The goal is awareness, not overwhelm. By understanding your energy flows, you’ll be better equipped to schedule your time in a way that aligns with how you naturally operate, not how you think you should operate.

Tailoring Your Time Blocks

Time blocking gets a bad rap, and for good reason—traditional methods often feel stifling. But when you use time blocks to honor your energy instead of just your tasks, everything changes. Start by identifying non-negotiables like meetings, appointments, and deadlines. These become the anchors in your schedule.

Next, look at what’s left. Got a free morning? Assign tasks that require creativity or deep focus. Afternoon dragging? Fill it with mindless admin work or chores. The magic lies in matching the type of energy you’ll have to the type of task that needs doing. And don’t forget to leave buffer zones—your brain (and your sanity) will thank you.

Not every block needs to be filled to the brim. Sometimes the best use of a time block is a break. Yes, rest is productive! If you’ve had a particularly energy-draining day, let that inform your choices for the evening. This kind of flexibility isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential for maintaining long-term productivity and well-being.

Hyperfocus: Friend or Foe?

If you’ve ever gotten so deep into a task that hours flew by without you noticing, you’ve experienced hyperfocus. For neurodivergent brains, this can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s amazing for tackling big projects. On the other, it’s easy to fall down rabbit holes that lead nowhere productive.

To harness hyperfocus, plan for it. Set aside time for tasks that benefit from intense concentration, like creative projects or strategic planning. Eliminate distractions during this time and give yourself permission to dive in. The trick is to know when to pull yourself out—set alarms or reminders to keep yourself grounded.

That said, don’t beat yourself up if hyperfocus occasionally gets the better of you. It happens. The key is to recognize it as part of your energy cycle and learn to use it intentionally. With practice, you can turn hyperfocus from a random occurrence into a powerful tool in your productivity arsenal.

Redefining Productivity

Here’s the hard truth: society’s definition of productivity doesn’t fit everyone. Hustle culture tells you to be busy 24/7, but that’s a one-way ticket to burnout. Instead, focus on what’s productive for you. Some days, that’s checking off a long to-do list. Other days, it’s giving yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.

Productivity isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters. If you’re constantly running on empty, take a step back and reevaluate. Are you prioritizing tasks that align with your goals and values, or are you just keeping busy? Spoiler: busy isn’t the same as productive.

Finally, remember that rest is just as important as action. Think of rest as a refill for your energy bank. Whether it’s taking a nap, binge-watching your favorite show, or spending an afternoon in nature, these moments of recharge are what enable you to show up fully for the tasks that matter most.

 

Time management isn’t about squeezing every last second out of your day. It’s about working with your energy, not against it. By understanding your unique energy cycle, tracking your patterns, and scheduling your tasks accordingly, you can create a routine that feels good and works even better.

So, ditch the guilt, toss the cookie-cutter advice, and embrace your way of doing things. Productivity isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. And when you honor your energy, progress becomes a whole lot easier (and way more enjoyable).