Create Quick Energy With These 5 Things
Sometimes we just need a boost. Days can get long and tiring, and a jolt of energy and a lightning strike of motivation is needed. Other times, a quick nudge gets us back on track, and we’re ready to go. Often, it is up to us to get ourselves going, though, so how can you give yourself that little jump start that’s needed to get back into the groove and making things happen?
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." — Walter Elliot
Small activities and corresponding wins can be the fuel for tremendous bursts of energy and activity. But how do you get yourself going in that direction? Big projects can seem daunting. Really small tasks can seem inconsequential, so why bother? It is finding that in between space with a meaningful activity that can inspire us to take the next step (of many) forward. Let’s look at five quick ways you can create energy for yourself and others to build momentum for bigger things.
Set a near term goal
If you have a bigger project ahead, what is a quick short-term goal you can set for yourself. Frequently when I am putting off writing an article, I set a quick goal of just writing the first sentence or paragraph. I feel like if I can get something down, the next time I come back to it, it will feel less daunting to work on it; after all, it’s already started. What I typically find is that once I get into the motion of writing, I continue. Usually, the first paragraph turns in to multiple and a full draft is complete. Working in small chunks is an excellent way to get started and create a path to completing the bigger project.
Apply the two-minute rule – if it can be done in two minutes or less, do it now
Procrastination is the great barrier to many great things. Similar to the idea above, getting something started can often result in completion. When you are faced with a small task, and you know it will take less than two minutes, just do it. That could be an email response you really don’t want to do. But getting it done will give you a burst of endorphins from the feeling of accomplishment and relief of completion, that it will propel you into the next thing and the next thing after that. Use science to your advantage.
Write down something you are grateful for right now and pause to think about what it means to you
Keeping similar science in mind, gratitude is a super way to boost energy and enthusiasm for work ahead. If you’re feeling a little slow and not anxious to get moving on something big, take a moment to think about and write down something you are grateful for. Having a gratitude journal is a perfect way to have a place to capture those thoughts and even use it as a source of motivation to generate more feelings of gratitude. That energy you get from thinking about what makes you happy will move you towards the next step you need to take.
Work on a task with someone
Together is better. Sometimes that is what it takes. If you are struggling to get going on a task you need to complete, pick up the phone and give a friend a call. This is where FaceTime, Teams, or Zoom can really help. Having a face to face, visual, session with a partner can be a great source of motivation and, to a degree, personal accountability. Having someone to bounce ideas off and ask for suggestions will have many benefits. The same chemicals that come from getting something done, or gratitude, begin to come into play here as well. And if you really want to turbo boost the energy, repay the favor while on the phone with that person. Once you have a good start on your work, ask them what you can do to help them on their current project. It’s two for one here!
Call a 10-minute brainstorming session on a current topic
Beyond turbo changing in a one-on-one discussion, get a small group together and have a brainstorming session. You can keep this as simple as possible. Having a group of people sharing ideas in an impromptu session can get a lot of people fired up quickly. This is another where the benefits will be far-reaching. You may call the session for your specific needs, but I guarantee you everyone will walk away with more energy in them to also take on their next task.
Any or all of these may seem like they require a lot of time or effort. If you’re a Store Manager reading this, I could also see it being easy to say, “this is great for office jobs, but I am too busy in my store.” Any of these can be applied in a store setting. Replace a phone call with a quick conversation on the sales floor. Don’t think of a brainstorming session as something that happens in a meeting room with a whiteboard or easel, a quick huddle of two or three people is all you require. Imagine a lull between customers, grabbing the people you do have (even if it only one other person), and saying what can we do for the next few minutes to get something done? Or if sales are soft today, how can we serve the next five customers who come in better to encourage additional sales? We all tend to have our phones in our pocket, so capturing a thought of gratitude is nothing more than a quick text in your note-taking app. There are ways you can take these energy boosters and apply them to your situation, anywhere, anytime. Give it a shot and see how much energy you can boost for yourself and others.
What idea will you try? What other ideas do you have for boosting energy to get more done?
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Photo by Nejc Soklič on Unsplash