Unfinished, but some insight for me to refer to
See My Commitment And Vision, at end of piece
ANALYSIS AND OBSERVATIONS
MY DAILY ENERGY GRAPH
I graph this so I can see where my energy is at a particular time of day, so I can match it up with what it takes to do a task. Also, it helped me to discover where I need to insert strategies, in order to get more out of the day.
x = normally, though could be lower; m = managed, if do what corrects it
Level Of Energy
Very high x
High x
Good x m m m
Decent m
Fair
Low x x x m (go to bed!)
Very Low x x x
Close to 0 x
8 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12 2
Time of Day
My "useful" hours at x: 5 hours
My "useful" hours at m: 9-10 hours (extremely valuable to extend my day!!!)
Potential increase in forwarding more of what I want: 100% plus the geometric effect from devoting more energy into living the 80/20 Way.
Later, I decided to flip my schedule, going to bed at about 10 for best circadian rhythms and sleep, plus I decided to do absolutely nothing else but high value activities when I had the high energy to reap the value out of them. The idea of my schedule is at Pre-set Super-Committed Schedule
LOWERS MY ENERGY:
Staying up late! Converts morning to low and is killing in the afternoon and evening
Watching TV - Even if I think I am managing the world! Creates a stupor, lower energy and a passive "entertainment" causing it to be easy to stay up too late
Getting tired and not resting, and continuing in low mode, inefficient
Eating too much late at night: Especially ice cream or "crazy eating" late at night
Doing things at random, so feel no progress. I feel better if I have done things where I feel progress.
Not eating/snacking regularly during day or early evening: I get to be listless or at least lower energy.
Not breathing deeply, tensing in one position: If not clear sinuses, if don't get up and move around
Boredom, non-movement, especially evening: Watching TV, flipping channels, stupid movies not worth watching
Bad news: Watching negative or disasters or contentious (such as political shows)
DISCUSSION AND CORRECTION:
Staying up late! Converts morning to low and is killing in the afternoon and evening
Management: Go to bed by 12 or when tired if earlier, once I notice I am languishing (and wasting time in langor). Set alarm on timer, to go off at 11:30 (use portable alarm in bedroom, so have to shut it off). (Now revised to my new pre-set super-committed schedule, starting around 6 a.m. with early exercise!)
Getting tired and not resting, and continuing in low mode, inefficient
Management:
Actually exercise before the evening (or even in the evening) is helpful. More
valuable earlier, as it raises metabolism and energy for the rest of the day.
Just consider it reading time, done on a treadmill.
Definitely a 20 min. nap at natural afternoon low
Taking a "breather/relaxer" for a minute, when my hourly 'mindful clock"
bongs (download by clicking on the link). Doing a 5 minute "rest" instead
of a distraction.
Eating too much late at night: Especially ice cream or "crazy eating" late at night
Management: Not allowing myself to get so tired that I "eat for energy" or go mindless (unintelligent) and passive. (Thus, the afternoon nap strategy, right sleep, exercise, regular eating.) Having snacks of good food available.
Doing things at random, so feel no progress. I feel better if I have done things where I feel progress.
Management: Stick to my to do list, writing down the things I could divert to (and scheduling if need to). Organize a good reference system, so I can put items that might interfere on the side, so I can be confident it is there for followup.
Not eating/snacking regularly during day or early evening: I get to be listless or at least lower energy.
Management:
Eat religiously every 2 1/2 hours, setting my timer alarm. 100-150 calorie snack,
set up ahead of time for the week as much as is feasible.
Eat more calories at 'dinner', so not have to make up for it later. 600-800
calories
Exercise before 7 pm
Not breathing deeply, tensing in one position: If not clear sinuses, if don't get up and move around
Management:
Do facial soak or NeilMed sinus rinse whenever sinuses full, use decongestant,
antihistamine.
Not let self get too tired, use above strategies.
Early to bed, to bed when tired, so not accumulate fatigue or throw cycle off
Boredom, non-movement, especially evening: Watching TV, flipping channels, stupid movies not worth watching
Management:
Not letting myself get so tired or without calories, as above.
Operate from a list of activities to do when in a lower energy state
Get out and do something outside of the house, even just walk a tiny bit. Do
low-energy-required items, such as shopping.
Bad news: Watching negative or disasters or contentious
Management: Don't watch evening news and political/news cable shows (or radio), except perhaps PBS.
MY COMMITMENT AND VISION
I want to fully live my life - and I cannot do that if I operate without at least "good" energy. I am committed to life! And therefore I must be committed to operating with freshness and being in a highly resourceful state. If I slack off, I'll feel bad about it, plus I'll lose all the time that I could have lived life at a higher level.
I say I love life but I have acted as it I could throw away alot of it, languishing or seeking comfort, being in my lower state...
My useful hours...
