Performing at your best takes considerable energy. A person’s energy comes in 3 different sources. When one of these sources gets depleted, it will effect the other two, keeping us from being our best.
The three energy sources:
- Mental Energy
- Physical Energy
- Emotional Energy
I call these the three E’s. These energy sources depend on each other for us to perform and live at our best.
#1 Mental Energy
The average person has thousands of thoughts per day, which begins to eat away at our mental energy. Mental energy is where your focus comes in. You have to block the noise and focus on the things that matter the most. I’m talking about extreme focus with no distractions. Get into solitude and quiet the world around you as you begin to focus on the things that matter the most. It takes work and practice to prepare your mind for your best work. Stand guard of your mind and protect your mental energy because your highest performance starts with a single thought. My mentor once told me, “They can take your body, but they can’t take your mind unless you give it to them.”
#2 Physical Energy
Are you physically showing up as your best when it counts the most? As a former professional athlete, I had to protect my physical energy at all times during the season so that I was physically ready on my game day. Likewise, you have to protect your physical energy so that you are prepared to perform when it counts.
I have 4 TIPS for you to protect your Physical Energy.
1. Sleep & Rest
You can’t work around the clock and expect to perform at your best. Science says that we need 7 to 71/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to live and feel optimal.
2. Nutrition
How are we fueling our bodies? Is our diet and nutrition in alignment with us living out our best?
3. Water
Drink half your weight in ounces of water every day to fight off dehydration. Dehydration will massively affect your physical energy.
4. Exercise
Sweat every day for at least 20 to 30 minutes. It will enhance both your physical and mental energy. Remember, if one energy source breaks down it will begin to affect the others, therefore, keeping you from being your best,
#3 Emotional Energy
This is your passion. All of your excitement and enthusiasm comes from your emotional energy. Guard yourself against expressing your passion on the things you can’t control or that won’t help you become the best version of yourself. You only have so much emotional bandwidth. Don’t waste your energy on things that don’t matter. Guard yourself against replaying negative events in your life because it eats up your emotional energy.
To play the game of life at your best, you have to manage your energy.
These three energy sources need to be protected and expressed when it matters the most.
You were born with seeds of greatness. Water those seeds with your highest performing energy.
2 Responses
Thank you! I also add spiritual energy. Depleted my energy. Had a family life event that put son in law in prison and kids at odds parents and siblings. I had been healthy weight for 4 years. I began eating like there was no tomorrow. Negative effect I gained 40 of the 50 pounds back. Who did I hurt? ME!
FOCUSED ENERGY: When I sit and keep working when nothing seems to be moving in business and a breakthrough of great business happens. This has happened over and over again. It is mind over matter. I CAN AND WILL WIN
Thanks Todd for the needed attitude adjustment
Excellent blog Todd. I noticed some troubling patterns when I tracked my performance through weekly journals. Whenever I was “over tired”, staying up late or stretching myself too thin, I noticed poor concentration, sluggish moods and increased irritability (decline in patience and mindfulness).
I decided to put into a place a deliberate sleep routine that cut back on electronics and mindless snacking before bed. I also tried to maintain the same bedtime every night.
Although challenging at first, it started working! When I added a weekly cross-fit routine, the combination of the two really started paying dividends. Truly, the hardest thing is to fight inertia and get started (even baby steps by literally putting one foot in front of the other)–when you accomplish that, positive habits take on a mind of their own! Thank you and keep up the great work!
Anthony,
Toronto, Canada