Megan Baceda, Energy Management Mentor

In a nutshell, Energy Management is very similar to the concept of time management, but focusing on your energy (mood, mindset and motivation) instead of time.

Time management is, of course, an important part of life, but if you find you’re still unmotivated, sluggish or procrastinating when it comes to your schedule, energy management can help you time your to-do list with your energy.

Especially as moms, we have a lot on our plates. If you’re a full time mom and homemaker, most of the time you don’t have to divide your time between work and home, so you get to create the bulk of your schedule, and tailor it to your kiddos and yourself.

Before I share how to build and strengthen your energy management practice, here are a couple things regarding your inner game or work to consider…

1. What beliefs are you holding about time, how you manage time, and what you’ve been taught or conditioned (generationally or societally)? Is your worth, value and enough-ness determined by how much you produce or take on? Creating a time/energy management practice is only part of the equation. There will most likely be some inner work and de-conditioning needed as you move through this practice.
   
2. Familiarize yourself with cyclical time or a more natural, energetic cadence. We’re so accustomed to being on a linear time-frame, using the clock and calendar as our main reference point to time. Using the moon phases or the seasons as templates is a great way to get started. As you pay attention to this cyclical energy, you’ll begin to notice how your mood, mindset and motivation interacts with different phases, and you can begin to pattern out your energy. Side Note: It’s not about you syncing up to these cycles and phases, but about recognizing how you feel and adjusting what you do accordingly.

There are other things that may come up as you build out your practice and experience what works for you, and where you have resistance, but keeping those 2 points in mind will be helpful as you start…

So let’s begin! Depending on your personal energy, you can do this daily, weekly or monthly, but I started on a weekly basis, which was helpful as I was listening and connecting with my personal energy cadence.

Getting started, make a list of the following

1. Weekly scheduled appointments. These appointments are connect to a specific time and will create a framework for the rest of the week
2. Priority things, that maybe have a deadline, but not a specific start time
3. What you need to get done, but aren’t top-priority
4. What you want to get done, but aren’t top-priority

Be sure to begin to include what things are fulfilling and meaningful to you as well. As you begin this practice, you’ll be able to notice different moods where you’ll feel inspired and creative, playful, restful, etc.

Next, using a calendar, or just jotting it down, map out your low, neutral and high energy levels:

1. Track your period, or if you don’t get your period, track when you have low and slow energy, mind-fog, lethargy or fatigue. How do you define this energy for yourself? Use a quick and easy phrase or word that you will recognize when you’re in this state.
2. Determine when you tend to experience high energy, clear mind, focused and motivated. How would you define this energy for yourself? Again, use a quick and easy phrase or word that you will recognize when you’re in this state.
3. The times in between your high and low energy levels, you can determine when you’re in a more neutral state. These tend to be times when you feel a little more settled and even-keel mentally, emotionally and physically.

The next step is to create a template calendar, where you have both your energy levels and your schedule/to-do list incorporated together.

To begin, you might notice that you have a lot of things scheduled during your low and slow energy. To plan ahead, you can start to anticipate or pattern out your low and slow energy, and take on less during this time, or only take on what feels fulfilling, meaningful or restful for you during these times.

Schedule time-specific appointments, errands and tasks for your higher energy levels.

The things you have on your to-do list that don’t have specific time requirements, but are necessary to do, try and schedule those during your neutral or high energy states.

An additional fun and interesting thing to spice up building out your energy management practice is learning about the essence of your energy, through personalized charts like astrology, numerology, human design, or the gene keys.

The information gathered from these different charts can help you understand personal patterns, themes, gifts and challenges. Knowing yourself is key to tailoring your energy management practice. Your main priority is you!

Working with a guide or mentor can also offer a different vantage point and perspective if you’re struggling with resistance or blocks.

There is a huge benefit to having someone in your corner who understands what you’re working towards as well. Community and connection with like-minded women can propel you forward and inspire you to keep going when things get tricky or tough.

I offer custom services and personalized experiences that can assist you through building out and moving through the ups and downs of your energy management practice.