Time Management is Old School. It’s All About Energy!

Eden Sunshine

Vice President, Realty Executives

I was physically exhausted, drained, and unable to focus. I would lose my train of thought and could hardly keep my eyes opened. Within an hour of waking up in the morning, I was ready for a nap. I was wiped out, yet had to keep-up with work, family, responsibilities, serving clients etc. After several months of struggling, I finally gave-in and went to see someone about it.

I visited a naturopathic physician who, after a thorough evaluation, diagnosed that “I was burned out.” “Is that a medical term?” I sarcastically stated, “Was hoping you could tell me something I didn’t know.”

He just smiled and explained that I had been running at such a high level of intensity with work, and my life, that my body simply hasn’t had time to recover. He compared me to a race car running at high speeds for a long period without service or slowing down. At some point, he explained, the motor and systems within the vehicle just start to fail. In my case, my hormones were completely out of whack and my digestive system was not working productively. As a result, it was creating a cascading effect on every system in my body, particularly with my brain function.

Since then, I’ve made some significant adjustments and here is what I learned about increasing productivity and effectiveness in all aspects of life.

1. Time Management is an “old school” way of Energy or productive management is where it is at. Time management is about making best use of the 168 hours we all have in a week. Energy management focuses on having maximal energy, vitality and focus when engaged in the work or activities we do during that time. Being an efficient time manager alone does not equate to being productive. I was a very proficient time manager yet was unable to get much done. Energy management makes sure we can get more done, more effectively, in the time allotted.

2. Do the Right No doubt you’ve heard the benefits of exercise on your overall health. The right type of exercise helps in a very specific way to assist with work and focus. Moderately intense exercise releases endorphins into your systems. Endorphins are associated with the “high” that runners experience after a period of sustained effort. Endorphins are naturally pain relievers and reduce negative effects of stress and generally make you feel good. The effect of endorphins can last up to 24 hours. The key to releasing endorphins is doing the right type of exercise. Moderately intensive efforts of 30 minutes of brisk walking, light jogging, biking, yoga or essentially any sustained activity that you could hold a short conversation while doing it however would struggle singing a song. In other words, short-of-breath not out-of-breath. Other types of exercise like weight training, CrossFit, and high intensity interval training are beneficial but don’t necessarily empower in the same manner for higher cognitive function.

3. Get Your Mind Worry, anxiety and stress release excess cortisol into your system. Cortisol is important when you face danger, like coming face to face with a bear in the woods. Your brain however doesn’t know the difference when you experience fear because of something you hear in the media, are worried or anxious about something or you are in front of a bear. In my case, I wasn’t filtering outside information and paying attention to my thoughts. Without realizing it, my body was working as if there was an approaching bear 24/7.

Getting your mind right starts with focusing on being grateful. Practicing gratitude releases positive hormones into your system like Dopamine, the happy hormone, that supports memory, learning and concentration. It also releases Serotonin, which stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. I have discovered by practicing gratitude, I am more grounded, levelheaded and less reactionary. This helped me with my last point.

4. Know I often found myself engaging in activities that, upon careful reflection, really didn’t matter and produced no tangible results in my life. I made myself intentional about everything! I suggest you ask yourself frequently “Why am I doing this?” Doing so keeps one from getting caught up in unnecessary drama, chasing shiny objects and doing non-essential activities. Learn to say No, to allow you to say YES, to more productive and beneficial activities.

Before you do anything, ‘self-check’ why you are doing it and if it doesn’t meet the “This is a very good use of my ENERGY and FOCUS TEST” then get back to the activities that really matter most.

High producing people have consciously or intuitively figured out that the key to effectiveness, vitality, and getting more done has more to do with the management of energy, focus and intent rather than just cramming more into their schedule.

Eden Sunshine is an entrepreneur, the creator of The Level 7 System, a speaker, author and Vice President of Operations for Realty Executive in Phoenix Arizona. Eden has coached and consulted with over 300 of the top Real Estate agents and teams throughout the USA and Canada since 2003. Eden specializes in helping businesses become scalable, positioned for exponential growth and productivity while establishing a meaningful, high performing business culture.

Eden developed the Level 7 System, which is a one of a kind, simple and systematic business development approach that guides businesses to become scalable, systems driven with great cultures. He also has developed other ancillary programs like the Systemize Your Business in 90 Days Program. He is in the process of publishing two books: The Book on Building Great Businesses and Woo Hoo: Successfully Transforming Your Business and Your World.