29 Ways to Energize Tired Dogs
Managing energy is more important than managing time. It doesn’t matter how much time you have if your energy tank is empty.
Put more in than you take out or you’ll end up empty. Four areas of life require energy: mind, emotions, spirit, and body.
16 energy drainers:
- Pretending you’re something you’re not.
- Incomplete tasks.
- Relationships with takers, complainers, and “can’t do” types.
- Responsibility without authority.
- Proving you’re right rather than developing solutions.
- Feeling alone and disconnected.
- Procrastination.
- Reactive rather than proactive living.
- Incompetence both in you and others.
- Uncommitted teams.
- Unmotivated individuals.
- Being taken for granted.
- Backstabbers and gossips.
- Bitterness and resentment.
- Ungratefulness.
- Regret.
29 ways to energize tired dogs:
- Take breaks. Work no longer than 90 minutes at one stretch.
- Find a “vent” partner.
- Ask, “Does this matter?” Do more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.
- Tell a happy story from your youth. I remember…
- Find a brag buddy and share your successes and accomplishments. Brag buddies celebrate; they don’t diminish or out do.
- Send thank you notes or call someone to say thank you.
- Stop something without starting something new. Create a not to-do list.
- Reconnect with your purpose.
- Forget work for awhile. Listen to music for example.
- Stop multitasking.
- Turn off electronics.
- Lift your head up and breathe slowly and deeply for one minute.
- Keep a journal of progress, accomplishments, and tasks completed.
- Throw something away. Better yet, give something away.
- Develop the team around you and then delegate tasks.
- Trust someone.
- Humble yourself to a trusted adviser or coach.
- Build friendships outside your organization.
- Finish a task.
- Spend time in self-reflection.
- Change a routine.
- Pray.
- Create gratitude lists.
- Forgive.
- Sleep.
- Exercise.
- Get away from your desk for lunch.
- Take a short morning and afternoon walk.
- Reconnect with a friend.
Treat yourself like you matter.
What leadership behaviors re-energize others?
What fills your energy tank?
…very nice, and salient compendium of ideas from recent weeks! Thanks for the simplicity of that great compilation!
Thanks Gerry.
Hi Dan,
I just wanted to say thanks for a another wonderful post. What is interesting in your posts is the possibility of this energy being transferred or better yet; amplified in others…
Thank Donald. I agree on the idea of energizing others. This is what leaders do….I think there are some ideas on how to do this tucked away in this post.
Well you say managing, I see Lucy and the conveyer belt.
Better for me, surrender to my Higher Powers Wiil and do my best.
As far as energy goes….this startled me at first glance….if I feel drained, I ain’t doing it right!!!! Doing it right one might ask…telling the right story to myself, then repeating it till I believe that crummy, sucky, lousy story!!!!
I when I catch myself telling myself that kinda story pause, ask myself to gently forgive myself for the mark I missed and start over with a great epic fantastic glorious loving warm sincere incredible story.
Lack of energy is like a fish in the big ole ocean telling me she/he is lacking water. Big ole duh, dumb fishy!!! If one understands physics and energy, there ain’t ever no lack o energy, silly wabbit. If there is a SEEMING lack it is in what I am telling myself is going on.
I want different experience with this so called energy??? Start telling me a different story is all. Then I feel different about said energy!!!
Ok then to feel the energy, motion creates emotion……so after I start this new story, ACT, do some stuff to help this epic unfold!!! What if it turns outvto be a trilogy of epic proportions??? Cool storytelling in my own head without action, you know…..dead. So gotta follow thoughts in story with actions!!
Been learning a lot recently from a great dude, Brendon Bruchard. He tells me to ask myself three things at least at days end….why not through the day, I always say!!! Ok just said that for the first time but it sounds way cool, right? Hehe
Did I live?
Did I love?
Did I matter?
Being able to give myself cool answers to those question every night causes me to take actions on my clearly defined goals.
Doing a cool thing with those clearly defined goals. Repeating them to myself each morning and night in a bimodal method. Kinda cool anyone curious about that let me know. Brain retains more info when using two senses in the learning process.
Using that theory to get goals deep deep deeply set in the grey matter. Great idea, right! Thank you very much came up with the idea myself I did!!!!
Ok thanks Dan,
Back to hearing and reading goals!!! Bimodal learning rocks!!!
SP
Thanks Scott. Love those three questions!
That’s heads-up thinking Scott! Changing the story you are telling yourself is highly effective. Awesome questions too!
Jeff you Rock!!! Hehe
Would love to find out more about what u do Jeff. My email is us the signature thingy. Love to hear from u.
Could not resist the last name thingy!!
We can try all the different behaviors we want to.
Nothing changes till the thinking changes.
Geraldine said it, “what you see is what you get”!!!
What she failed to say is what you see depends on what you think. Why? We edit and filter for SANITY!!! If we saw everything around us we would implode. So we edit the content around us and tell ourselves stories about what it means Alfie!!!
There is no separation.
Think act feel.
Act before thinking, in other words trying to effect change in ones life through behaviors just shows you might be a knuckle dragging mouth breathing dimwit!!!!! Just my opinion nothing wrong if others see it different!! Not good or bad just different is all.
Change your life? Change your thoughts.
Thanks Jeff
SP
Speaking of fish Scott, on a somewhat parallel track, there is brief video of the Pike’s Market fishmongers called ‘The Fish Video’…they too speak to the issue of fatigue, routine, and personal choice…choose your tude is one of the points made. Have watched it 20+ times, still a kick. Worth a view.
Doc, many thanks will watch and let you know what I think.
By the way do you make copies of disc’s? Gonna be needing some shortly.
If that is what your name here means let me know.
Thanks
Scott
Did I live?
Did I love?
Did I matter?
I will keep these 3 questions in mind. It sure keeps you motivated !
Niki would luv to take credit!!! It just would not be right so….
Brendan Bruchard
He is a pretty pretty effective dude.
His book I think the name is The Golden Ticket.
He is just an amazing guy. I am very very inspired by effective people, not so much gum flapping theorists.
Brendon has this thingy called Experts Academy. You can google it. Lots of free videos on youtube.
One last thing Niki, read and listen at the same time to whatever you want to learn. Comprehension could go up to 50%.
Take care….effectiveness counts.
SP
Hi Dan -Thanks for another another simple and great post. (Yes, I am a regular reader – for the past couple of months – and don’t miss any of your blogs).
It’s a superb list of 29! If I might add one more that energizes me…finding a serious hobby or something engaging outside of work. I love my work, but after years (a couple of decades) of working through good times and not so good (the list of 16 you’ve got on top), finding a passion outside of work is very energizing. It opens up a vista of talents one never knew existed or could bring so much joy.
Thanks Vandana. Your kind words are an encouragement.
Great add. A hobby is one way to forget about other stuff. I think forgetting is one way to be energized when we remember again.
SOOO timely….My team will benefit from reading!!!
In Fact, it has given me an idea to create an exercise from it…for my upcoming regional team training!!! WAHOO!!! will keep you posted Dan…
Love ya!! and your Christmas Tree!!!
Thanks Dena. Glad you see some team applications in this post. I was reluctant to take that approach but really believe that organizations should take energy management seriously by instituting things like 10 minute walks at 10 or ….
I guess you’ve seen my personal facebook page. YUP..the tree is still standing tall and proud.
Dear Dan,
The last line impacts the most- treat yourself like you matter. It is very important to create a feeling of self-respect or dignity. It creates an impression that others can not take you lightly. Many times, we tend to cross our boundary and treat others differently that is not expected. It is important to understand that others equally matter. So, before expecting others to treat us with dignity, it is important to treat others with same feeling and respect. And I think, this behavior is really powerful energizer. This helps to boost confidence and fills energy tank.
Relationship plays greater role than task in hand. In order to achieve something we tend to energize our effort but this energy could have limitations. As long as we do not achieve the task in hand, we get energized but sooner we achieve, we tend to impede our effort.
However, relationship has no limitation in creating energy. It has inspiring motivation that is driven by values, belief and trust. And when these attributes are in place, I am sure that they will go long way to create, maintain and enhance energy in any person.
Thanks Ajay. You got me thinking about how we treat others with more respect than we treat ourselves. Challenging.
As I wrote today’s post, I started realizing how important relationships are to energy. We have power to pour energy into others or to drain it. Sadly, I see a lot of energy draining.
Nicely done and essential – Thank you. In regards to #4: Responsibility without authority, Max du Pree offers a form of antidote in his book “Leading without Power” that I have found valuable in situations where responsibility without authority was unavoidable.
Thanks Randy. Now you got me thinking… so can you give us a tip or two?
I love “create a ‘not to do’ list!” I will have to be careful what I put on it though… 🙂
Thanks Katie. Maybe your not to do list should start with stop making to do lists.. 🙂
Help someone in need…
Nice add Marc. Thanks
As leaders, it’s so important that we assess and encourage the energy level of those on our teams. I was in a skip level meeting yesterday and one of the frontline leaders shared this about his director (one of my direct reports).
“I was so tired and having a really bad day…due to some personal drama… and my phone rang. It was my director. He was sitting at the airport and called me just to say how much he appreciated all the work I was doing and the overall contribution I was making to the vision. That was it… he didn’t want anything else. Suddenly my energy was back and I felt great. The next call was from my mom, and I said… you won’t believe what just happened. It set an energized tone for the rest of what I had to deal with.”
As this Director’s leader, I was also energized by the story… so glad this kind of leadership was happening in my organziation. Great leadership energizes 360 degrees.
KaPow!!! Thanks for sharing the story!!
Hi Dan, The only way I can manage my energy drains is to recognize when I am on auto-pilot and have slipped into a reactive mode. When I choose to be fully engaged and awake, I can see what is happening and use my high-order thinking to decide what corrective action I wish to take. Your lists are both incredibly helpful for making that happen. I appreciate all the work you do to consistently bring us your thoughts, ideas, and wisdom.
Thanks Jeff. It’s odd how autopilot drains us. Thanks for bringing that up. Sleepwalking is tiring.
Good morning Dan;
Over the past couple of weeks your blog has posted several very helpful list that every leader should keep for periodic reflection and self-evaluation. Today’s ‘Managing energy’, the ‘Whats next’ list for the newly promoted, and my favorite, how to spot an ‘untrustworthy leader’. Today workforce demands a new paradigm of leadership. Old school leaders who conduct their business with intimidation, criticisms, the threat of discipline while remaining distant and entitled do little or nothing to inspire those who work for them. Our country needs an infusion of REAL, HUMBLE, Character-Based Leaders
Cheers my friend!
Thanks SGT. You remind me of how easily we drain people and how destructive that is.
Thanks for the good word. You give me energy.
BTW arrogance takes more energy than humility! 🙂
In tandem with the ‘not to do’ list…say ‘no’ more often, you will be setting healthier boundaries.
Riffing on #9, if part of your time is spent living cubeville, listen to music while you work…definitely kicks up SP’s ‘oxys’ and people wonder why you are dancing in your cubicle.
Thanks Doc. Love the “no” idea. It’s so hard for sincere people who are trying to make a difference to say no. Perhaps if we see “NO” as a way to make our “YES” mean more it will help.
I’m off to dance!
One way to fill my energy tank is listening to an honest leader (preferably someone who has been following this blog) on where we are now and where we can go. Sometimes it easy to get bogged down in the daily grind, I find it motivating to be taken out of the moment to envision the future.
Thanks Alex… Great idea. I find people are energized by honest conversations about where we are and where we’d like to go. It adds focus. Great add.
Dammit Dan, I’m getting tired of you creating content that I feel compelled to print out and stick on my wall! Do my wall a favor and put out a poopy blog tomorrow.
Hey James…we have to stop killing trees!! 🙂
Dan, I agree with J. McKey: Your excellent posts are messing with me! BUT, I’ll get involved this one last time. What feeds and energizes me is to get out among people and go with the flow.
Great and useful list ! Glad I found your blog 😀
Exercise!! I was given the gift of a little extra time off work this month and I took advantage of it to reinvigorate a good exercise routine. I can’t believe how much good physical activity impacts/energizes almost everything else in my life.
I really like these thoughts and how to get new life into tired dogs, be it people in my teamor myself. One question is how do you reconnect with your purpose?