How to Conduct an Energy Audit for Optimal Creativity, Productivity, and Fulfillment

Do you ever notice how different tasks take different amounts of energy, for different people?

Understanding what makes up your unique energy signature by doing an energy audit is key to experiencing optimal creativity, productivity, and fulfillment. 

While there are many variables to consider, conducting an Energy Audit is a powerful tool to uncover these patterns and align your activities with your natural rhythms.

Here’s how to get started:

Decoding Your Energy Patterns

Take out a piece of paper and put (+) on one side and (-) on the other.

Pull up your calendar and take a brief look at the last six months.

In each column, compile your list. 

• Identify Your Energy Sources

• What Sustains You: In the (+) column, list activities that provide energy, refresh you or align with your passions. These are energizing activities that you enjoy. They give you a boost and leave you feeling invigorated.
• What Drains You: In the (-) column, list activities or tasks that deplete your energy. These might include certain responsibilities, meetings, tasks, interactions, or decisions that leave you feeling drained or discouraged

Identify Optimal Energy Days of the Week

Next, look at the past few weeks. Do you see a pattern around what days of the week you feel most productive? Collaborative? Creative?

Are the days of the week you feel drained or depleted?

• What is your weekly energy rhythm?
• What small change could you make to optimize how you plan your week? 

For example, I typically take Mondays to dive into creative writing. I’ve learned that when I book the entire day with meetings and clients, by Tuesday morning I already feel depleted and start wishing for the weekend.

What I’ve learned about my own energy signature is that if I move clients and meetings to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, my weeks flow and give me energy.*

I’ve also learned to refrain from booking clients on Fridays whenever possible. That way I have space to tie up loose ends before the weekend and set myself up for the following week without feeling like I’m constantly behind on admin.

*I realize we all have circumstances that prevent us from sticking to our optimal schedule 100% of the time. This isn’t about perfection. We’re going for the 80/20 rule. Let’s aim for your optimal schedule 80% of the time! 

If you need support with implementing your optimal schedule, click here to book an exploration call so we can talk about setting Upper and Lower boundaries to help you shift into your optimal schedule. 

Identify Optimal Energy Times of the Day

You most likely already know if you’re an early bird who gets the worm kind of person or a night owl. Go back to Step 1 and start to match what you have written in the (+) and (-) columns with the days of the week and optimal times of the day. 

For example: If you need focused creative time to write a blog post, what day of the week and time of day would be optimal for you to do so? 

Or if you need to answer emails and complete admin tasks, what is the optimal time of day for you to do this alongside the other tasks and responsibilities you have? 

• What’s one change you make to your daily schedule to optimize how you are using your energy? 

Suggestions:

• Shift a meeting to a different day or time
• Refrain from checking your email until your creative writing is done
• Reserve admin tasks after projects that require critical thinking
• Delegate anything from the (-) you can!
• If you can’t, strategically decide when you will do the more energetically draining tasks so they are not a consistent interruption.
• Use the Pomodoro technique to use time blocks effectively
• Revisit your goals and intentions so that you can clarify which actions to take each week to help you realize them.
• Then, use your new insights to map out when you will take each action based on your optimal energy. 

Identifying Energy Refreshers

• Recognize What Refreshes You

There are some responsibilities that you will not be able to delete or delegate. This is why it’s important to identify what refreshes and recharges your energy. 

Make note of activities that refresh and rejuvenate you so that you know how to recharge when needed.

Here are a few examples:

• Reading a novel or something inspiring
• Meditating
• Napping
• Going for a brisk walk
• Spending time with others
• Spending time alone
• Listening to music 
• Singing
• Playing a musical instrument
• Playing a sport
• Baking or cooking
• Engaging in creative projects like collage, knitting, painting, or photography

By conducting an Energy Audit you will start to uncover your unique energy signature so that you can start to intentionally leverage when you do certain things. 

In time you will uncover what times to match with what tasks, optimizing how you are spending your time and energy so that you have more in the tank left for yourself to enjoy how you see fit! 

Energy optimization is not just a science; it's an art that involves aligning your tasks with your natural energy flows.

If you need support with uncovering your own energetic signature, click here to book an exploration call and we’ll go through the audit together! 

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