Can you increase productivity at work without increasing your hours?
How can you increase productivity at work without increasing your hours?
Do you relate more to the Energizer Bunny or the Eager Beaver?
Your Kinetic Energy Level may be to blame for your answer! And knowing more about your Kinetic energy level, as well as your co-workers’ may be the key to staying productive and in harmony with each other.
Kinetic Energy measures your mental, physical, and emotional energy.
This is rated on a scale from 1 to 7.
Think of it as your battery pack.
With a K-energy level of 3, for instance, you are in the average range, have enough energy to get through your daily responsibilities, and are probably best to focus on one thing at a time.
If you’re upwards of 6-7, you may seem to have endless energy, need plenty to keep you busy, or you get bored and may have a tough time staying focused.
Regardless of your Kinetic Energy level, you’ll need to take occasional breaks to recharge.
Those of us with K-levels at four or below need more frequent short breaks but can focus and produce when we’re on task.
Others of us with scores of 5 or above don’t need as many leaves, but when we are out of juice, we need longer to recover or recharge our big battery!
Knowing what works for you and your co-workers is the key. And then, of course, you have to practice what works! Understanding each other’s energy levels also helps foster excellent working relationships.
If you are the Energizer Bunny, remember your co-worker, the Eager Beaver, needs a few more breaks than you do.
They may just be exhausted by your intense energy that darts from task to task and pings all over the place!
If you’re the Eager Beaver, be patient with your Energizer Bunny neighbor and kindly remind them to focus. Don’t be surprised when they crash and need a nap!
One excellent time management method we’ve tried works for both sprinters and marathoners, for different reasons, of course.
If you’re a sprinter, you’re probably a level 5 or above and have a greater chance of staying focused if you set a timer for 20-30 minutes, stay focused and on task, then take a 5-minute break—get up and move around, and start again.
If you can string four sprints together, you’ve got a relay and 80 minutes of productivity! This method also works for marathoners who need to remember to take breaks or go all day without looking up.
Just remember, Breaks are best when we permit ourselves to take them.
Otherwise, we may feel guilty for not staying on task and focused.
The truth is that studies show we are more alert and productive in less time when we do take short breaks.
Not to be confused with being interrupted or getting distracted, that’s an entirely different discussion for next time!
Want to learn what your Kinetic Energy Levels are for your Team?
Reach out today to get in contact with one of our associates to learn more.
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