Energy is a crucial commodity we all work with. If we have all the time in the world, but no energy, we are not very effective.

The authors in the book “The Power of Full Engagement” say that “Because energy capacity diminishes both with overuse and with underuse, we must balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal.”

Having adequate energy requires balancing work and renewal.

When our children were younger, we would often have what we called a “work hard, play hard Saturday.” When we had a big yard, home, or other project, we would work hard together for a few hours, then we would go do something fun like dinner and a movie, a hike, bowling, or some other renewing activity. We enjoyed these Saturdays. Working and playing together strengthened our relationships. It gave us the opportunity to talk, to learn new skills together, accomplish projects, and have fun.

Hard work is important. That is what leads to the accomplishment of your goals and the things that are meaningful in your life. However, when you neglect to put the same emotional energy into your renewal, you often end up feeling fatigued, unbalanced and unfulfilled. When you tie your renewal activities with something meaningful to you, it is more rewarding. For example: going for a hike, going to lunch with a friend, or working on a hobby may have greater renewal value than spending the day binge-watching a series.

5 actions to take

1. Determine what productivity looks like to you. There is value in being productive. It feels good to accomplish something meaningful to you. Are your activities tied to your priorities? Or are you simply caught in the trap of tying your worth to being busy or to the number of tasks completed in a day. My mom and I used to call each other and talk about everything we got done that day, we rarely talked about our renewing activities. Much of our identity was tied to what we were accomplishing. It isn’t uncommon for people to feel guilty when taking time out for renewal. They don’t want people to think they are lazy. Don’t confuse productivity with self-worth. Allow renewal to be part of your public identity. Taking time to renew allows you to be more productive by going back to your work with more energy and balance.
2. Clarify what renewal looks like to you. Are there people who rejuvenate you? Are there places that are renewing like a mountain trail or a museum? Are there certain activities? What is renewing for one person may not be for another. I attend a workout class three days a week. This is very rejuvenating for me. I enjoy the social connection. I love the music and the exercise. Someone else may find dragging themselves to an exercise class drudgery. As a bonus, if a renewal activity helps you to become more balanced in another area, it can be more energizing. Find what rejuvenates you.
3. Commit to self-renewal. Once you have decided on some renewing activities you enjoy, make time for them. It is often easier to break a commitment with yourself than to say no to someone else’s request for your time. Make commitments with yourself and your renewal a priority.
4. Define your work schedule. If possible, decide on a time each day that you will be done with work, then leave work at work. So often we keep taking calls or trying to solve issues at work rather than being present during non-work hours with ourselves or with others.
5. Don’t let your devices dictate your activities and values. Anymore, it seems like we are always available on our devices as we almost always have our phone or other device with us. They buzz and seem to demand our attention. Also, viewing others’ priorities, possessions and activities on social media can influence our own priorities, values and use of time. Be intentional about clarifying what you value. Consider limiting time on social media and putting your device on “do not disturb” during your renewal time.

If you are wanting to increase your energy, remember that the objective is to balance work with renewal. Too much work without renewal can drain your energy, and too much downtime without working on something meaningful can leave you feeling depressed and unfulfilled. Define what productivity and renewal look like for you, schedule in time for work as well as for renewal, and control the influence of your devices. What changes could you make today to increase this most crucial commodity – your energy?

Pamela Henrie is the owner of The Success Choice, LLC, and the creator of The Success Choice System and Planner, as well as the Choosing Joy in the Journey Journals. To learn more, you can go to www.TheSuccessChoice.com.

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