Managing Your Energy (Management Tips– #07-082916)

As organizations demand more and more from their people, time-pressed employees have to scramble to keep up. You may not be able to make the day any longer, but you can replenish your energy. Use these four simple ways to help you work smarter and prevent burnout:

• Take brief but regular breaks. Step away from your desk every 90 to 120 minutes. Take a walk, get a drink, or just stretch your legs.

• Say thank you. Being positive boosts your energy level. Regularly express appreciation to others.

• Reduce interruptions. Perform tasks that need concentration away from phones and e-mail. Instead, designate specific times in your day to respond to messages.

Do what you love. Understand where your strengths lie and what you enjoy doing. Find ways to do more of those things and less of what tires you out.

Decrease Your Technology Dependence

How often do you hear someone ask, “What did we do before cell phones?” One of the many answers is: we relied on our memories. Studies have shown that using our memories improves reasoning and creativity. Yet, because of our increased reliance on technology, few of us can even recall phone numbers or appointments. Try remembering and entering numbers by hand or picturing your weekly calendar in your mind. This will not only help you use your mind in a healthy way, but may save you when the inevitable happens and your BlackBerry or iPhone goes down.

Capture Big Ideas in Simple Ways

Don’t rely on your memory or BlackBerry to record and capitalize on good ideas. Go old school with a stack of 3 x 5 index cards. Carry them with you and, when you hear a good idea, write it down. The physicality of the cards forces you to reflect on them at the end of the day, and the act of writing down the ideas helps you remember and process them. Having the blank cards in your pocket is also a useful reminder to be looking for new ideas and, most importantly, to listen.

Combine Creativity and Results

In academia, critical thinking is the norm, and asking questions is required. On most campuses, questioning ideas is the first step, and the second is questioning the question. As a result, academia has a reputation for being too open-ended and sluggish.

In industry, we prefer to set a deadline, get things done, and focus on execution. We worry that thinking about an idea could hold up progress. Combine the two approaches to be sure you are both thinking creatively and getting results. Ask many questions but don’t let the questions impede movement. The questions should drive you toward a clear, defensible outcome.

Get Creative by Zoning Out

Studies have shown that an idle brain is more likely to come up with a new idea. Yet, we often feel that we need more focus. Try taking mental breaks from e-mail and deadlines and let your mind wander. These breaks can be critical to remaining creative and open to fresh ideas. You can take a short break during a hectic day or you can opt for a longer, creative sabbatical over a week, month, or year. Regardless of the duration, be sure you are giving your mind needed space to think for the long term and big picture.