Work With Your Energy, Not Against It
If you’ve ever sat down at your desk full of good intentions and realised your brain feels like porridge… you’re not alone.
As ambitious, self-employed women, we’re often told the secret to success is time management – colour-coded schedules, morning routines, and endless productivity hacks. But here’s the truth: no amount of perfect planning will work if you’re ignoring your energy.
The real secret? Learning to work with your energy, not against it.
Why “Time Management” Isn’t the Full Picture
We all have the same 24 hours, but we don’t have the same energy – or the same kind of energy – every day. Some hours are golden. Others? Not so much.
If you’ve ever noticed how some days you’re full of ideas and momentum, and others you’re slogging through treacle, that’s not laziness – that’s rhythm. Your body and mind have natural ebbs and flows of energy, focus, and creativity.
Trying to ignore those rhythms and force yourself into a rigid routine is like trying to row upstream with no paddle – exhausting and unsustainable. Instead, the goal is to understand your energy patterns and design your work around them.
Get Curious About Your Energy Patterns
Start by simply noticing when your energy peaks and dips throughout the day.
For example, I’ve realised I’m at my most creative and inspired in the mornings and early evenings. That’s when I can write, plan, or record content that flows naturally.
Mid-afternoon? Forget it. That’s my “forcing it” time – when admin or easy, repetitive tasks are the only things that make sense.
Once you know your rhythms, you can stop fighting them. You can schedule your high-energy, creative work for when you’re naturally switched on – and leave the practical or less demanding tasks for when your energy dips.It’s not about doing less. It’s about doing what matters most, when you’re best equipped to do it.
Matching the Task to the Energy
Different tasks need different kinds of fuel.
- Creative energy – writing, content creation, big-picture planning.
- Practical energy – admin, inbox management, finances, operations.
- Relational energy – client calls, networking, or coaching sessions.
When I plan my week, I make sure to match these to my natural energy flow. For example:
- I take client calls only three days per week, with no more than three per day (because I know that any more than that and I won’t give my best to my clients – or be much good to the people I love once I’ve finished on those calls)
- I leave buffer time between calls (introvert energy needs recovery!).
- I record social media videos immediately after podcast episodes, when my ideas and energy are still fresh.
And I protect at least one day a week as a “flow day” – no meetings, no calls, just creative space. Because once I’m in flow, I want to stay there as long as I can.
The Power of Rest and Flexibility
Here’s something else people don’t like to admit: rest is productive.
If your head’s pounding and you can’t think straight, pushing harder won’t fix it. Sometimes stepping away – for a cuppa, a walk, or even ten minutes playing a game on your phone – is exactly what resets your brain and restores clarity.
Other times, we need to recognise the difference between faffing and resting. If you’re procrastinating on income-generating work by doing “busy” admin? That’s faffing. If you’re genuinely depleted and need to pause? That’s rest.
Learning to tell the difference is part of mastering your energy.And of course, life shifts – especially if you have kids or other responsibilities beyond your business. During school holidays, I move my working hours around: early mornings, weekends, or short bursts when my son’s occupied. The point isn’t a perfect routine – it’s a flexible rhythm that works for me and my family.
Energy Management > Time Management
Time management says, “Fit everything in.” Energy management says, “Do what matters most when you have the right energy for it.”
When you align your work with your energy, you get more done in less time – and it actually feels easier – I literally had a client tell me on a call this week that she was doing the same amount of work in less time and it felt really spacious. You stop wasting energy fighting yourself and start flowing with how you naturally function best.
That’s how you avoid burnout, feel calmer, and stay consistent without forcing it.
Try This:
This week, track your energy. Notice:
- When do you feel most creative and focused?
- When do you hit that slump?
- What kind of work feels easy or hard at different times of day?
Then, make one small change. Maybe move your content creation to your high-energy window, or protect one “flow day” where nothing’s scheduled.
Small shifts like these can completely change how you feel about your work – and your capacity to sustain it long-term.
Because when you work with your energy instead of against it, you don’t just get more done – you feel more like yourself doing it.
And if you want something to help you find a little more energy & ease in just 5 minutes then you’ll want to grab this free e-guide – it does just that!
If you’d like to explore ways that I could support you, you are always welcome to get in touch.