Your Energy Map & Menu: The Simple System That Makes Productivity Feel Lighter

Why time management isn’t always your friend

If you’ve tried strict calendars and still feel behind, you’re not broken—you’re sensitive to rhythm. Your nervous system performs best when the right task meets the right window. Energy-first productivity honors that reality, so focus rises and pressure falls.

Step 1: Make your 3-day Energy Map

For three days, jot a quick 0–10 for clarity and steadiness at AM / Midday / PM. You’re not chasing perfect data—just noticing patterns.

• Clarity = thinking feels crisp, ideas land.

• Steadiness = you can keep going without strain.

Keep it simple: “AM 8/7, Midday 5/6, PM 4/5.”

What you’re looking for: your Peak Window (often where clarity ≥ 7). That window earns your most thinking-heavy work.

Step 2: Build your Energy Menu (4 columns)

Create four short lists you can reuse daily:

• Brainy: writing, pricing, strategy, sensitive emails, hard decisions.

• Social: calls, walk-and-talks, collaboration, feedback sessions.

• Admin: inbox, billing, filing, scheduling, lite tidy.

• Recovery: in 4 / out 6 breathing, shoulder softening, water, window light, 90-second stretch.

This turns “What should I do?” into “Which menu fits this window?”

Step 3: Pair tasks to windows

• Peak Window → Brainy (your best 60–90 minutes).

• Next best → Social (conversation is easier when you’re warm but not maxed).

• Lower energy → Admin (steady tasks, minimal friction).

• Between blocks → Recovery (tiny, frequent resets win).

Pro tip: Start your peak with a Minimum Lovable Step (MLS)—the smallest action that moves the work forward (outline 3 bullets; draft 1 paragraph; define success in one sentence).

Step 4: Choose a focus cycle that fits (20 / 30 / 40)

The Pomodoro baseline is 25 minutes, but fit the tool to your system. If 40 minutes feels better, use it. End each cycle with a 60-second breath: inhale 4, exhale 6, soften the jaw/shoulders. This signals safety and resets attention.

Step 5: Don’t force it (flow beats push)

If you stall, step away for 2 minutes. Change one thing—open a window, clear two visual distractions, sip water. Return for a single MLS. Pressure narrows options; small resets restore choice.

Step 6: Delegate by energy rating

List recurring tasks and rate 1–5 (1 = drains me, 5 = fuels me).

• Keep the 4–5s (that’s your value zone).

• Batch or delegate the 1–2s into your lowest-energy window—or hand them off if possible. This is energy management at its most effective.

Step 7: Let your space help (Feng Shui lens)

• Launch lane: one arm’s-width of clear desk for today’s task only.

• Sensory boundaries: lamp over overheads; reduce glare; tuck unrelated items out of sight.

• Living energy: plant, fresh air, soft natural light.

Your environment quietly cues focus and calm.

Real example: For years I scheduled exercise first thing because it’s common advice. It never felt right—my energy crashed and the day stayed “off.” When I moved workouts to late afternoon/early evening and kept mornings quiet and reflective, my daily energy stabilized and my output climbed. The right task in the right window changed everything.

A 7-day starter plan

• Day 1: Map AM/Midday/PM (0–10).

• Day 2: Build your Energy Menu (4 lists).

• Day 3: Protect one Peak Hour for a Brainy task (one tab only).

• Day 4: Pick your best cycle length (20/30/40).

• Day 5: Delegate or batch two 1–2-rated tasks.

• Day 6: Add two Recovery micro-breaks between blocks.

• Day 7: Review: what felt kind and what you’ll keep.

Scripts to protect your Peak Hour

• “Focused until 10:15—can we pick this up after?”

• “I’ll give this my full attention at noon; does that work?”

• “I’m going to take a 2-minute reset and circle back clear.”

Troubleshooting

• Missed the Peak Hour? Use a 30-minute mini-block; schedule polish for tomorrow.

• Interruptions? Put a simple sign: “Deep work until :15—text if urgent.”

• Restlessness? Shorten the cycle and add a breath reset.

• Perfectionism flare-up? Name an MLS and ship version 1 today.

When you pair the right task with the right window, your work gets lighter—and your results improve.

→ DM “RHYTHM” on my LinkedIn and I’ll send Tips to Help You Be More Efficient and Productive to customize this to your day.