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Here’s a question: How often do you allow your mobile phone to go flat?

If you’re like me, the answer is almost never probably because you’re never too far from your charger – at home, in the car and, oh, the tragedy of forgetting to pack the charger when you’re travelling, right?!!

So now consider that you are actually not dissimilar to your mobile phone. Highly sophisticated multi-tasking capabilities, indispensible and absolutely unable to function effectively unless regularly recharged. Yet most of us don’t think to manage our energy levels as astutely as we manage our phone’s! It’s quite astounding how much we take ourselves for granted.

The need for a personal energy management plan is something I learned early on in my sporting career. High performance athletes have to learn to master their energy in order to bring the best of out themselves when it really counts. There are many habits that helped me do this and they can work for you, too.

Start by observing yourself over the course of a week and see if you can identify a pattern in your energy levels. Most of us can relate to Wednesday hump day or that mid-afternoon slump but see what comes up for you. Start to work out times or days when there’s a natural drop in your energy when you can schedule in an energy booster.

The fact is that when you’re tired or worn out, it can affect the clarity of your thinking, you can make bad decisions, reacting instead of responding thoughtfully and in a way that’s aligned with your values and long-term goals. Not the best operating system!

Then think about what re-energises you physically and mentally. Maybe it’s going for a walk, getting some fresh air, reading something you are passionate about, a 5 minute meditation, yoga or simple stretching, a chat or laugh with friends, a power nap, perhaps a creative pursuit or if time is limiting a few minutes of controlled deep breathing. Something other than that instant but fleeting hit that sugar or caffeine offers.

Now structure these energy enhancers into your day or working week. Yes, literally schedule in meetings with yourself in your diary to block out time for recharging and hold yourself to these just as you would with other meetings. Aim for 100 minutes a week, which accounts for just 1% of our time. That can be three 35 minute walks, short 15 minute meditations each day or a couple of walking meetings, lunch classes, or as simple as thanking some one for the great job they are doing, whatever works for you, each week.

In the same way, if you’ve got something big coming up you can structure in an energy booster to make sure you’re powering your personal best for that.

Learning to maintain energy at the optimum level played a major role in me winning Paralympic gold and you’ll be stunned at the difference this practise will make for you.

Find out more about Katrina Webb

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