Energy vs. Time: What Really Drives Performance
Working on Self: A Journey of Mental Strength
Self-growth doesn’t happen all at once. It’s not a lightning strike, it’s a process. And like any process, it has stages, moments that test us, shape us, and ultimately build the person we’re becoming.
Recently, I’ve been considering the distinction between managing time and managing energy.
The Story
We all get 168 hours in a week. That number never changes. I’ve tried to squeeze more productivity out of it, more calendar hacks, better to-do lists, tighter schedules. But sometimes, even when the hours are there, the energy isn’t.
Running taught me this lesson. A six-mile run after a good night’s sleep feels empowering. The same run after a week of poor rest feels impossible. Same time, different energy.
In work, it’s no different. Two hours of high energy and focus can accomplish more than eight hours of drained and distracted effort.
The Framework: The Four Energies
- Physical energy – sleep, nutrition, exercise. The foundation.
- Emotional energy – gratitude, connection, relationships that lift you.
- Mental energy – clarity, focus, and reducing distractions.
- Spiritual energy – your why; the sense of purpose behind what you do.
When any of these are depleted, time alone won’t carry you forward.
The Bigger Picture
High performers, from athletes to leaders, don’t just manage their calendars; they manage their energy. They know that time is finite, but energy can be renewed, restored, and multiplied.
The secret isn’t working harder in the hours you have; it’s working better by fueling the energy you bring to them.
Question for you:
Where do you need to invest more right now, in managing your time or in building your energy?