Someone in your life has probably uttered the clichéd (but true) wisdom that “you can’t buy more time.” The art of managing the seconds, minutes, and hours we have at our disposal is a lifelong project—but what if we’re looking at things all wrong? What if, instead of focusing on building time management skills, we started bolstering our energy management skills?
“We spend a lot of time talking about time. So, do I have time on my calendar? Do I have time to spend with my friends?” says social worker, author, and mental health educator Minaa B. “A conversation that isn’t had often is energetic management. Meaning, do you have the energy to participate in certain things—whether it be outings, tasks, or socializing? You can have time, but you may not have energy.” When we approach tasks with plenty of time but not much energy, we may find it more difficult to focus and tackle our to-do lists.