The Only Resources That Last Are The Ones We Learn To Renew

First published on April 1, 2020

Never underestimate the influence that one contribution may have on someone's life. About eight years ago I belatedly listened to an interview series - Waking Up The Workplace - that my brother and two of his friends created, interviewing leading thinkers in the world of what they called Conscious Business. Listening to these people fundamentally changed the way I thought about business, and certainly played a part in setting me on the road that I find myself on today.

But, that change of attitude is perhaps not the biggest influence of Waking Up The Workplace. In the second episode of that series, consultant Tony Schwartz (who appeared in the public eye a few years ago as he shared his experience as Donald Trump's ghostwriter), spoke about his work at the Energy Project. I had almost forgotten how fundamental this had been to my life until, last year, I reviewed his work so I could teach it to a group of researchers on a leadership programme I work on.

It was only then that I realised just how fundamental it has been in the way I work.

In the episode, Schwartz outlines the key principle of his work (and the broader work of the Energy Project, who have consulted with many international companies including Google): that we all have the same amount of time in the day. In the end, we run out of time, and in the modern world, with more pulls on our time than ever before, that happens pretty quickly. We then have a choice: we can try to spend more time working on things, or we can think about productivity. And what we need to be productive, is energy. The energy we have affects not only the quantity of work we can get done in a certain amount of time, but the quality of that work. In workplaces which prize quantity of hours over quantity and quality of work, it makes sense to have a culture that encourages 18 hour days. But would you rather have 18 hours of someone working at 20% of their capacity, or 10 hours of someone working at 80% of their capacity? The answer is obvious.

We need, therefore, to refuel ourselves, and Schwartz and the Energy Project give us a powerful guide for how to do that. Broadly, says Schwartz, humans need to refuel four types of energy to be at our best (and most fulfilled and - if you ask me - most happy). Indeed, as he says in that interview, 'The only resources that last are the ones we learn to renew.' Since listening to this episode in 2012, and particularly since leaving my last employed job three years ago today (congratulations, me!), I have used these types of energy as a way to stay fuelled and enable myself to work better and feel better while doing it.

In the moment we are all living through right now, with all our routines broken and our stability taken away, our practices for looking after ourselves have become doubly important. So, in your isolated, homebound life, consider: how can you refuel each of these, every day.

Physical energy: this affects the quantity of energy you have. Look after your body.

Emotional energy: this affects the quality of the energy you have.

Mental energy: this affects the focus you are able to bring to your energy.

Spiritual energy: this affects the purpose you put your energy to.

To recharge your physical energy, ask yourself: am I looked after? Find the ways to look after your body: exercise, sleep, diet and more.

To recharge your emotional energy, ask yourself: am I valued? Find the ways to look after your emotions: connect with people, in person, if you can. Connect with yourself and your heart. Connect with high positive energy and appreciation, for and from yourself.

To recharge your mental energy, ask yourself: am I given the opportunity to express myself, especially focusing on one thing for a long period? Give yourself those opportunities to focus for a long period. That could be on something which expressed your unique gift, but including meditation, reading, running.

To recharge your spiritual energy, ask yourself: am I part of something bigger than myself? Connect yourself to something bigger, whether that is nature or your family or the reason you get up every morning and do the work you do. Find meaning in your work, your life.

These things are always vital but, as the old zen saying goes, 'I meditate for an hour a day, except when I'm busy. Then I meditate for two hours a day.'

I need this advice as much as anyone: right now, if you are in lockdown and struggling with isolation, double down on the ways you recharge your energy. At least, do your best.