“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” — Benjamin Franklin
You can regenerate your personal energy with skill if you know how.
The great news is that personal energy is a skill you can learn, and I would argue it’s one of the most important skills you can master for work and life.
As a high-performance coach at Microsoft for two decades, I have seen how personal energy can significantly impact our ability to achieve better results in work and life.
In fact, some people argue that the greatest challenge we face today is the “human energy crisis.”
Yet, when I began to explore the various models on personal energy several years ago, I found them to be lacking or not cohesive enough to help people in extreme scenarios.
As someone who has been in many extreme situations, including life-threatening ones, I know the importance of addressing personal energy in a holistic way. That’s why I set out to create a more powerful energy renewal system to help individuals renew, rebound, and regenerate their energy with skill.
I introduced my Personal Energy model in my book Getting Results the Agile Way, but I want to share a better walkthrough here.
In this article, we’ll walkthrough my Personal Energy Model and the key principles and practices that can help you cultivate a sense of balance, vitality, and purpose in your life.
What is the Personal Energy Model?
The Personal Energy Model is a framework I created to help individuals and organizations operate at the highest levels in a sustainable way.
Here is a mental model of the Personal Energy Model:
The Personal Energy Model recognizes that our energy levels are influenced by a variety of factors, including our mindset, physical health, emotional well-being, social connections, and environment.
By understanding and optimizing these areas of our lives, we can renew our energy and increase our capacity to handle challenges and pursue our goals.
To optimize our personal energy, we need to focus on defining our purpose, drawing from multiple sources of energy, investing in our energy, understanding the cycles of life, managing our expectations, cultivating healthy relationships, participating in social networks, and creating a physical environment that supports our well-being.
By adopting these principles and practices, we can cultivate a sense of balance, purpose, and vitality in our lives.
Better Energy, Better Results!
By prioritizing energy management, Agile Results aims to help individuals achieve sustainable high performance and better outcomes in their work and personal lives.
“Better Energy, Better Results” is a core principle of Agile Results, a productivity and time-management system introduced in the book, Getting Results the Agile Way. The principle emphasizes the importance of managing your energy levels to achieve better outcomes and results in your work and personal life.
The idea behind Better Energy, Better Results is that our energy levels, both physical and mental, have a direct impact on our productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. By managing our energy levels effectively, we can achieve more and perform better, without burning out or sacrificing our health.
To apply this principle in practice, Agile Results encourages you to prioritize activities that boost your energy levels, such as better exercise, better nutrition, and better sleep. It also recommends taking regular breaks throughout the day to recharge and renew your energy, rather than pushing through fatigue or stress.
Regenerate Your Personal Energy with Skill
The whole point of the Personal Energy Model is to remind you that your energy comes from multiple sources and that if you master these sources, you can renew your personal energy with skill.
Personal energy is a skill.
In fact, it can help you create extraordinary advantage and outpace your problems.
I first shared my personal energy model in my book Getting Results the Agile Way. I had already been coaching people through major setbacks, crises, and big challenges in work and life.
But I think I did a better walkthrough in my 30 Days of Getting Results series.
And now I realize that I really need to explain it more in depth as more people are facing the greatest challenges of their lives.
The 7 Energy Levers of the Personal Energy Model
Here are the 7 Energy Levers of the Personal Energy Model:
- Mind
- Body
- Emotions
- Spirit
- Relationships
- Social
- Environment
These 7 Energy Factors are the broad strokes of personal energy management.
These are the places to look when you need to regenerate your energy and to build a sustainable approach for your personal energy.
Inner Core + Outer World for a Holistic Personal Energy Framework
I split the 7 Energy Factors into an Inner Core and an Outer World to make it easier to manage them:
- Inner Core: Mind, Body, Emotions, Spirit
- Outer World: Relationships, Social, Environment
Let’s walk through each one to help you better understand your sources of strengths and renewal and how you can regenerate your personal energy on demand.
Inner Core Personal Energy Factors
Here is a mental model of the Inner Core in terms of the Personal Energy Model:
Your Inner Core can be your greatest source of renewable personal energy.
Here is a simple summary of each factor of the Inner Core in terms of the Personal Energy Mode:
- Mind: Your mind is the source of your thoughts and beliefs, and it’s crucial to focus on positive, growth-oriented thoughts to renew your energy. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and visualization can help you to quiet your mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote mental clarity.
- Body: Your physical body is essential to your overall well-being and energy. Regular exercise, the right nutrition for you, and sufficient sleep are critical to renewing your physical energy. Engaging in physical activities that you enjoy, such as sports or dancing, can also help to boost your energy levels.
- Emotions: Your emotional state impacts your energy levels, and it’s essential to manage your emotions effectively. Practices like journaling, therapy, and self-reflection can help you to process your emotions and release any negative energy. Focusing on positive emotions like gratitude, joy, and love can also help to renew your energy.
- Spirit: Your spirit is the part of you that connects to something greater than yourself, whether that’s nature, a higher power, or a sense of purpose. Practices like prayer, yoga, or spending time in nature can help you to renew your spiritual energy. By connecting to your spiritual side, you can find meaning and purpose, which can be a powerful source of energy.
Note that I didn’t try to be complete or comprehensive. I really wanted to provide thought starters to that you can be more effective as you manage your personal energy.
Outer World Personal Energy Factors
Here is a mental model of the Outer World in terms of the Personal Energy Model:
Your Outer World can also be a great source of energy. But it can also be a source of risk, and there are more moving parts outside of your control.
Here is a simple summary of each factor of the Outer World in terms of the Personal Energy Model:
- Relationships: Your relationships with others can have a significant impact on your energy levels. Positive, supportive relationships can help to boost your mood, reduce stress, and provide a sense of belonging. In contrast, negative or toxic relationships can drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted. To regenerate your energy, it’s important to cultivate healthy relationships with people who support and inspire you. This might include spending time with friends or family, seeking out positive role models, or working with a coach or mentor.
- Social Connections: Your broader social connections, such as your community or social network, can also have an impact on your energy. Being part of a supportive community or social network can provide a sense of connection and belonging, which can help to renew your energy. This might include joining a club or group that aligns with your interests, volunteering in your community, or participating in social events.
- Environment: Your physical environment, such as your home, workplace, or outdoor spaces, can also influence your energy levels. A cluttered or disorganized environment can be draining, while a clean and organized space can help you to feel calm and energized. Spending time in nature, such as hiking or gardening, can also be a powerful way to regenerate your energy. To renew your energy, it’s important to create a physical environment that supports your well-being. This might include decluttering and organizing your space, incorporating natural elements like plants or natural light, or spending time in nature.
Again, I didn’t try to be complete or comprehensive. I really wanted to provide thought starters to that you can be more effective as you manage your personal energy.
Relationships vs. Social
Relationships and social connections are two related but distinct concepts:
- Relationships refer to the connections and interactions we have with people who are important to us, such as family members, friends, romantic partners, and colleagues. Social connections, on the other hand, refer to our broader social networks and the various groups and communities we belong to.
- While relationships and social connections can overlap and intersect, they serve different functions in our lives. Relationships are typically more intimate and emotionally meaningful, involving deeper levels of trust, understanding, and support. Social connections, on the other hand, are often more casual and less emotionally intense, but can still provide a sense of belonging and social support.
- Both relationships and social connections are important for our well-being and happiness. Relationships can provide us with emotional support, a sense of purpose, and a source of meaning and fulfillment. Social connections, on the other hand, can provide us with a sense of belonging, identity, and community, and can help us build resilience and coping skills in the face of stress and adversity.
Ultimately, whether we’re focused on building relationships or social connections, the key is to prioritize connection and engagement with others.
By cultivating meaningful and supportive relationships, and by actively participating in social networks and communities that align with our values and interests, we can create a sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives, and build a stronger foundation for our overall well-being.
Why Did I Callout “Color” in Environment?
I called out color simply because it’s something easy to ignore, yet, for you, might have profound impact.
Plus, in some cases, you might be able to influence or change the color, such as maybe in your home office.
I know color is a big deal for me. I don’t like the look or feel of a clinical or sterile looking environment. It’s like it washes out life for me. I don’t like concrete or steel structures. I like to see more green. If I can have more nature around me great. But if I can’t, then if I can have more green and blue, that helps.
There is some evidence to suggest that color can have an impact on our energy levels and mood. Color psychology, which is the study of how colors can affect human behavior and emotions, has been a subject of research for decades.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people’s moods and energy levels were positively affected when they were in a room with blue or green colors. Blue and green are often associated with calmness, relaxation, and nature, which may explain why they have a positive impact on mood and energy.
Another study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that wearing red can improve performance and energy levels during physical activity. Red is often associated with energy, passion, and strength, which may explain why it has a positive impact on physical performance.
While the research on color psychology is still emerging, these studies suggest that color can have a profound impact on our energy levels and mood.
By incorporating colors that promote calmness, relaxation, or energy into our environment, we may be able to boost our energy levels and improve our overall well-being.
Renewing Your Energy: A Holistic Approach to Thriving in Life
The Personal Energy Model offers a comprehensive approach to renewing your energy and enhancing your overall well-being.
By recognizing that our energy levels are influenced by multiple factors, we can take a holistic approach to cultivating our vitality and resilience. Whether we focus on our mindset, physical health, emotional well-being, social connections, or environment, each of these areas plays a critical role in renewing our energy and supporting our goals.
By adopting the principles and practices of the Personal Energy Model, we can increase our capacity to handle challenges, pursue our dreams, and lead fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
Let’s embrace this model and take action towards cultivating our personal energy, so we can thrive in all aspects of our lives.
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