Dan: My Energy

When I think about my productivity – and how to make progress on more of the things that I want to do – I tend to focus on time management as the leverage point. I think about how I prioritize the items on my to-do list or how I can schedule my work in the most efficient way possible. So it was really interesting to read Marko’s essay and to try to internalize his view that time management is only one piece of the puzzle for him.

We all know that sleep and exercise are important. But, I would argue that there’s another step to go from recognizing their importance to seeing them as part of a broader energy management effort that provides the fuel for creative endeavors. It’s the difference between sleeping “as much as I can” or working out “when I can find the time” and flipping the schedule so that sleep and exercise are locked in and other activities are slotted in around them.

Reflecting on my current baseline in this area, I recognize some of the symptoms of poor energy management. It takes some serious effort to get me out of bed, and I need coffee in the morning (and again around 2 or 3 pm to recover from my afternoon crash). I rarely finish up tasks in less time than I estimate – they almost always take longer, and I’m frequently distracted along the way. I’m also easily distracted in class.

What am I doing that might be leading to these symptoms?

• Sleep – I’m actually getting more sleep now than maybe any time since high school, but still closer to 7 hours than 8. And I usually head to bed right after I’m done on the computer. I had a vague sense this was bad, but after Marko’s essay, I’m going to experiment with closing down my computer at least 30 minutes prior.
• Alcohol - I don’t follow the 2 hours before bed rule, but I rarely have more than 2 drinks. I wonder how much having a drink later in the evening is affecting the recovery benefits of my sleep
• Caffeine – I know caffeine must have some effect on my energy levels and my ability to get good sleep – even if I have generally sworn off of it after 3 or 4 pm. The problem is that I love coffee, so it’s an indulgence I would be very reluctant to give up
• Food - I eat irregularly. I do always eat breakfast, and lunch is usually around midday, but dinner is all over the map. I often struggle with overeating or eating too heavily, which seems to make me tired, and my tendency to do that increases if it’s been a long time since my last meal (i.e., dinner is at 9 or 10 pm)
• Exercise - As I mentioned, I try to fit in some exercise every day, but I know I don’t get enough. While I love sports and try to get a soccer or squash match in whenever I can, I hate working out on my own. One of my problems is the lack of tangible benefits – maybe if I can pay more attention to my energy levels after working out, it will be easier for me to commit time to it consistently

As Marko dives into a bit in the third part of the essay, making changes to these patterns is hard. Our defaults are often systemic – I have 8:30 am class on Tues and Thurs, and there is always homework due, so I need to get it done; if it takes longer than I estimated, I need to stay up late or wake up early to finish it; this makes me tired and distracted, which causes my work that day to take longer, which cuts into my sleep, etc., etc. Getting out of these cycles requires periodic reflection like Marko’s essay prompted and, more importantly, a change in mindset like he advocates – from viewing sleep and exercise not as good things to do if we can, but as essential inputs to leading the creative self. I’m willing to take on that mindset and to try to change my behavior within that frame.