Energy is the Esssence of Life, OPRAH

Energy is the essence of life.

Every day you decide how

you are going to use it

by knowing what you want

and what it takes to reach that goal,

and by maintaining focus.

Oprah

This is an interesting concept of Oprah's about how we use our energy or determine the essence of life.  To do this, it would require a daily evaluation of our designated tasks for the day and equate what it was going to take to reach the goal.  Maintaining focus would assist in meeting our goals.

It is a given that we each have just so much energy every day to spend, but most of us over estimate or over extend.  We prematurely "run out of gas".  This is easily observed by how many times we cancel an evening event we had looked forward to attending, but the day just took too much out of us.  Perhaps the morning brought unscheduled tasks requiring more energy in the morning that was normally preserved for late afternoon.

The same is true for weekends.  During the week we mentally form a Saturday chart cleaning the garage or weeding the garden or sorting through closets, but when we get up Saturday morning, we may easily recognize these tasks are no longer our focus.  Whether it is running the kids, going to the grocery store or general cleaning, we frequently do not have the energy to address the additional list.

Time Management Principles will tell us to be realistic in making a daily plan for each day of the week.  We are to list what must be accomplished on each day with realistic time alotments.  If our time runs out, we finish what we can and then slide the unattended tasks onto the next daily page.  (However, if you have been realistic with time and task, this generally does not happen.)  Time Management Principles also state that if you have remained on course and complete your day's agenda, you do not fill up the now open space with other tasks.    The unexpected available time is a reward for staying on task and maintaining focus.  The general tendency is to tackle additional tasks so the day still ends with us being maxed out.

The idea perhaps is to build in down time for our selves so we are not always stuck in an adrenaline rush.  Some days will be busier than others, but most days will be appropriately balanced.  If we remain focused on the task at hand, rather than allowing our thoughts and actions to jump forward to another day's assignment, our daily lives will unfold in a kinder rhythm.

Many of us do not have control over our schedules and face demanding deadlines.  In spite of this, perhaps we could choose one day where we could apply these principles.  The concept instills the realization that working our selves to depletion every day, does not make us a better worker.   Respecting our energy levels allows us to work more creatively and accurately. When we honor our energy through appropriate distribution the essence of life is enchanced.