Explorer Log: Entry 10 - Manage your capacity, protect your energy
I used to have real social stamina. I lived for group gatherings, events, connections. Yet in recent years I’ve noticed a shift in my capacity, namely that such gatherings can now be incredibly draining. This was a jarring realization for a social butterfly, known for saying ‘yes’ to all RSVPs and priding herself on her ability to connect with others.
I have a number of clients who tell me that they “used to be” a certain way, and often I hear that their energetic shift happened around Covid. I sometimes wonder if we all shifted a bit then, and/or if that time sans social stimulus gave us all time to realize what we actually need. It doesn’t really matter, either way. The fact is that, over time, as we grow and deepen our self-awareness and respond to environmental changes, we as individuals also change.
The question becomes - how do you protect your capacity? What rituals do you utilize to sustain your energy? This may be especially timely for some, given the holiday season is upon us as this post is originally published. It is important to be aware of how your energy ebbs and flows. Indeed, this is one of few things that we can control and a significant factor in how we show up as leaders.
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz write about ‘managing energy, not time’ in their book, The Power of Full Engagement. In researching patterns across successful athletes, military teams and professional groups, they highlight the need for recovery to sustain performance over time.
“The point is not just that pleasure is its own reward, but more practically, that it is a critical ingredient in sustained performance. … Effective emotional renewal puts us in a position to perform more effectively, especially under pressure.”
“The best competitors were using rituals to recover more efficiently and to better prepare for each upcoming point. …It is in the spaces between work that love, friendship, depth and dimension are nurtured. Without time for recovery, our lives become a blur of doing unbalanced by much opportunity for being.”
In this season, when we have the opportunity to choose rest, how will you recover? What rituals will help you manage your energy? How can you protect your capacity when there are numerous demands for your attention?
I still love being with people; certainly more of an extrovert than not in that I get energy by being around others. But now I need more energy breaks than before. I have found ways to restore my energy so that I’m able to sustain my capacity.
Before an event, this might look like -
5 minute meditation in my parked car
10 minutes sitting in silence on a bench down the road
Stepping outside at the end of the day or in between meetings
3 deep breaths alone in a phone booth before joining the group in a shared workspace
After an event, I often relish -
Silence in the car as I drive home
A short solo walk to reflect and decompress
No phone, eyes closed on the metro back
Even 5 minutes laying in bed at home before I do anything else
So how can you manage your energy in this season and beyond? Here are a few steps to get you started -
Notice your inner monologue and remove the “shoulds” - there are plenty of social and cultural pressures we face, whether we recognize them or not. Start to notice where you feel compelled to do or not do something based on an external influence, rather than your own preferences.
Track your energy levels on a scale of 1-10, before, during and after events - It’s simple, but checking in with yourself periodically can help you gauge when your energy is high and when it's waning. Awareness is key!
Take what you need to recharge - when you’re lower energy, what helps you regroup? How can you stabilize where you are and come back to yourself? You can see from my examples above, in these situations I relish quiet time alone. If it’s time outside, even better.
Give yourself grace - we can sometimes experience pressure to feel a certain way and judge ourselves if there is any deviation. ‘It’s bad that I’m not enjoying this’, ‘I’m not a good [insert role here - manager, parent, partner] if this is so taxing for me’. Showing yourself some compassion for just being yourself and even celebrating your growing awareness as you take on these practices will help increase your resilience and strengthen your resolve to do what you need to be the best version of yourself.
At the end of the day, this is an opportunity to learn about and deepen our relationship with ourselves. When I frame things this way, I find it much easier to meet myself where I am, which is one way I role model authentic leadership for myself and those around me.
⭐️ I am deeply invested in you being the best leader that you can be, and partner with clients on three things:
✅ Bringing calm to the chaos
✅ Having clarity in decision making
✅ Maintaining confidence in their leadership
That’s what you get when you work with me - ✨ calm, clarity, and confidence. Interested? Curious? Know someone who might benefit from this work? Let me know and let's explore, together.
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