In this final post in my series on managing your energy at work, I want to distinguish between two different kinds of motivation: the kind that comes from opening yourself up to ideas that inspire you and the kind that comes from delving deep into your values, intentions, and character. Let’s talk about the different sources of energy to power your week.

Fill Your Cup

I like the simple metaphor that equates your energy levels to the amount of water you have in your cup. Some days, your cup feels full and almost overflowing. You have plenty of energy to use and enough to share. You can splash it around. Other days, it feels like it’s bone dry and you have nothing to go on. You might wonder if your cup has a crack in it because your enthusiasm and gumption seem to be gone before you know it.

It raises the question: Where can you refill your cup?

Fill from a Waterfall

Perhaps the most joyous way to fill your cup is to tap into a seemingly unlimited source of energy, inspiration, and ideas. This is the energy that comes from creativity, passion, and curiosity. There are a few places to look for those secret waterfalls. The first is to connect to a cause you feel passionately about. Are you solving a problem that’s confounded you for ages? Are you finally getting around to fixing something that will make your life much easier? Are you finding a way to add value for your customers that will slingshot you ahead of the competition?

It’s not enough to identify your worthy subject; you have to immerse yourself in it. That means blocking out the relentless distractions of daily life and giving yourself two or three hours to let it flow. When you protect time and focus to work on something that matters, you’ll notice an influx of energy. This is the kind of energy that makes you not want to be interrupted (and sometimes to blow through a scheduled meeting or skip a meal). This is the torrent version of energy, and it’s too rare in our world because we’re seldom willing to walk in the woods long enough to find a waterfall.

Tips to Find a WaterfallName the most important way for you to add value at workIdentify a problem that needs to be solved to add that value, orPick a source of friction that’s been slowing progress, thenSpend an hour framing how you might tackle a specific chunk of the issueAssemble the pieces you need to make headwayCarve out a three-hour slot to work uninterruptedTurn off all notifications and put your phone in a different roomSet a timer for 15 minutes and start doing something (anything) to build momentumEach time you start to feel stuck, switch modalities (e.g., change from typing to dictating, from dictating to drawing, or from drawing to teaching someone)Refrain from editing or correcting anything; keep moving forward the whole time

We are so unaccustomed to working in flow that this practice might take a while to work. You might have to wander in the woods for a while before you find your waterfall, but keep looking.

Fill from a Well

I wish there were more waterfalls in your week, but if not, you have another source of energy. This is the energy that comes from discipline, self-awareness, and grit. Everyone has their own wellsprings of energy, and knowing where to find yours is key to tapping into an underground source of energy when you need it. To find your well, reflect on what activities give you a lift when you’re feeling rundown. How could you take a task that seems mundane, or pointless, or insurmountable, and make it more manageable?

I’m going to list a few different wells. As you read them, you’ll recognize which ones are good sources for you and which are bone dry. Which of these seems like a good prospect for you?

The Wellspring of Action

You might be the type of person who gets mental energy from expending physical energy. Sitting on your butt at your desk or in meetings might be the most exhausting thing you can do. If that’s you, get moving!

If you have control over your time, add exercise to the middle of your day.If you don’t have control over your time but do have control over your space, try a standing or walking desk or stand up during meetings.If you don’t have any wiggle room, get some silly putty, a stress ball, or even some chewing gum and feel the boost you get from even a minor motor release.The Wellspring of Order

You may experience the dual benefit of feeling both calmer and more energized by bringing order to chaos. Working in a slap-dash world of surprises and things not going according to plan might be burning you out. If that’s you, start organizing.

If you’ve got the autonomy, create a new mid-term plan that incorporates all the moving parts.If you don’t have sway over others, plan your own week so you know what’s coming at you, when.If your world is far too unpredictable to plan a week, craft some if-then statements for how you’ll handle new expectations that come at you.The Wellspring of Connection

You might get your energy from connecting, collaborating, and competing with others. Working on your own and without any sense of whether you’re winning (or even making meaningful progress) might make your work feel pointless.

If you’ve got a team available to you, hold an informal brainstorming sessionIf you don’t have a group you can call on, find a colleague to talk through your ideas withIf you’re on your own, set a goal and a timer and play it like a reality tv show.The Wellspring of Imagination

Did none of those sound like wells from which you could draw energy? You might be a person who is energized by ideas, insights, and inspiration. Doing the same old, same old crushes your spirit. If that’s you, start inventing.

If you’ve got the purview, rethink what you’re trying to accomplish with your work and articulate your purpose in new, more compelling languageIf you don’t have control of the outcomes, come up with a better way to achieve the outputs you requireIf you don’t have the liberty to change much, make small changes to your workspace to make it more creative or playful.

Whether you can follow the trail that leads to a waterfall of inspiration or you have to dig deep to tap your natural wells of energy, there are ways to fill your cup throughout the week.

Additional Resources

Energy Management: Rituals, Routines, and Refills That Work

The Four Birkman Colors

From The Coaching Tools Company 7 Easy Ways to Energise and Refocus at Work

 

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