Eight Ways to Create Energy
As the winter and lockdowns stretch on (and on), many of us are feeling pulled down by the monotony of our days.
We desire the variety of our pre-pandemic lives.
The busy places that we used to visit, the colour and energy of new spaces and faces, the jolt we could get just from interacting with different groups or encountering something novel.
As I’ve written about before, many of our natural transitions have disappeared. From the evaporation of commutes to waiting in line for the elevator, and all the chance encounters along the way — the departure of these natural, at times unplanned changes to the rhythm of our day have another impact.
Days feel starkly similar.
One hour blends into the next.
We sit in the same place and do the same things.
It’s been like Groundhog Day on steroids.
Unsurprisingly, the result is that many of us are feeling bored.
It’s as if our life went from a multicoloured mosaic to a monotone canvas, devoid of dimension, variety and hue.
It’s been my observation that boredom and this sense of monotony drain our energy and affect how we show up for our work, sapping our productivity and altering the way we spend our time.
We humans have a natural desire for variety. Without it, we struggle to find the energy and motivation to perform even the most basic tasks.
Many of us feel so depleted it’s a challenge to get the energy to show up and motivate those around us.
So, here are eight ways to generate energy within and beyond our pandemic-hindered lives.
1. Be intentional
Think about your day ahead of time. If you love to be spontaneous, try checking in with yourself the night before or even the morning of.
Simple questions can clarify: If I could do one thing for myself today what would it be? What small thing would feel amazing today?
2. Shift gears
Shift what you are doing and thinking about. That might mean shifting from deep work to an administrative task, or from the professional to the domestic. Sometimes a break isn’t in the cards, but switching gears gives a particular part of our brain a break.
“And we all know a muscle that gets worked and rested and worked and rested will grow stronger.”
Emily Nagoski, Burnout
3. Consider your natural rhythm
Understanding and respecting your daily rhythm is key. If you are naturally clearheaded and focused first thing, schedule your heavy mental lifting then. If you find it hard to sit at the computer around 3 p.m., schedule a call with a team member where you can walk and get up from your desk.
4. Consider your experience
Add in music, smell or other rituals to the task. This might look like listening to a particular playlist for a kind of work you are doing. Or maybe it’s making your best latte before a challenging task. Consider what kind of support would help make the activity feel more appealing to you.
5. Switch communication channels
Catching up with your team? Try a mutual walk meeting. Walking has long been known to aid in thinking. In one study, volunteers had to come up with novel uses for things like buttons or tires. Those who were walking came up with four to six more ideas than those who were seated.
6. Take a break
Seriously. There’s a limit to how long our brains can focus: 52 – 90 minutes, depending on the research. So you may as well schedule in breaks that actually restore you, rather than rely on accidental breaks that are self-invented when your brain needs a rest. The Pomodoro technique has been in practice since the 1980’s and is good place to start if you are interested in trying this out.
7. Design in connection
Many of us are feeling drained at the end of the day and often the last thing we think we need is another Zoom call. Recently I was working with a client who was feeling pretty maxed. A full work plate meant they’d been working late into the night, almost every night for the last few months. They were dreading a catchup Zoom that evening with a friend.
In fact, it turned out that it felt really good to connect one-on-one with a friend whom they hadn’t seen since the start of the pandemic. Seeing and interacting with someone who you know, like and trust can be an enormously energizing, restorative use of your time.
8. See the sky
There is simply no replacement for getting outdoors and noticing the world around you. Go for a walk, run, whatever you fancy - ideally in the sunshine. Take a look at the world around you and shift your perspective. If you can’t get outside, start with looking at the sky even just for a minute or two.
