Experiment
It has been a slow week for me. I haven't felt motivated to do my normal, daily routine. Perhaps it is a symptom of the weather or the fact that's June and we have a huge, international move coming up this month. I feel like I have been productive on somethings - for example I have been solid with my morning routine. But around other things, I lack the motivation to get stuff done - such as the fact that I put off recording the Happy Heart Yoga video until the last moment, when normally I try to record at the beginning of the week to give myself time to edit and upload (uploading alone can take up to 12 hrs depending on how fast my internet feels like working that week).
What I noticed was that if I pushed myself to do something that I wasn't feeling up for, I ended up discouraged and more exhausted. On the other hand, when I acknowledged my lack of motivation, gave myself some space and flexibility, and waited to complete the task until I was ready, I felt happy and satisfied afterwards.
As a result, I am playing with the idea of making decisions based on my energy levels rather than just following a checklist I created for myself with arbitrary deadlines. Although this could wind up being a fabulous excuse for the procrastinator in me, I think there is an important lesson here...
What I am hypothesizing here is: if I can respect the natural rhythm of my energy levels throughout the day and week, while continuing to honor my responsibilities and hold myself accountable, I will end up being more effective and happier in the long-run.
By adjusting this factor for how I make decisions throughout the day, it will be necessary (required, even), that I take the time to tune into myself and decide what will be best for me at any given moment. The hope is to live more presently and in alignment with my energy levels rather that force myself to live based on the expectations I set for myself at some point in the past.
Exercise
If this resonates with you, here are a few implementation steps to try out next time you are faced with a task that you want to complete based on your energy level:
- Take a step back and ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this task optional?
- When does this task have to be completed? Is the deadline fixed or moveable?
- Do I have the energy to do this right now?
- How will I feel, from an energetic standpoint, if I do the task right now?
- Based on your answers, decide if you will complete the task now or hold off until later.
- What is the best decision for me to make based on the desire to preserve and honor my energy levels?
- If you are holding off on completing the task, set a specific time that you will come back to the task and re-evaluate your energy levels.
Here is what it looked like for me earlier this week:
TASK: Recording Yoga Video
- Is this task optional?
- Yes, but I really want to do it and hold myself accountable to offering a free yoga video every week, barring any extenuating circumstances.
- When does this task have to be completed? Is the deadline fixed or moveable?
- In order to get a video posted within the week, I have to finish recording by Wednesday night.
- Do I have the energy to do this right now?
- No, I do not have the energy nor do I feel inspired to record it. And ultimately, if I am not inspired to record this video, it will not be useful for me or others.
- How will I feel, from an energetic standpoint, if I do the task right now?
- Drained.
- What is the best decision based on the desire to preserve and honor my energy levels?
- Hold off until I feel ready and inspired.
- If you are holding off on completing the task, set a specific time that you will come back to the task and re-evaluate your energy levels:
- I will check back in tomorrow at 5:00pm when I am done with work and have time available to record if I feel ready.