Calendar Energy Audits


Most people manage their calendar by time. Very few manage it by energy and that’s a missed opportunity.

Your calendar more than a tool to tell you want to do next, it’s also a record of meetings and tasks that can be used as a map to determine what fuels you and quietly drains you.

That’s where the weekly calendar energy audit comes in.

At the end of each week, look back at your calendar and answer one simple question about each item on it: Did this give me energy or take it away?

Every calendar entry gets one of two marks:

  • if it gave you energy (+)
  • if it drained you (-)

So go ahead and block 10-15 minutes at the end of your week. Friday afternoons work well for me. Then open your calendar for the week and review each entry. How did you feel after them? If energized and clear, add a +. If drained, frustrated, bored, or tense, add a -.

Next, step back and observe it. Look for patterns. Ask yourself:

  • How can I do less of the things that drain me?
  • How can I do more of the things that give me energy?
  • What can be delegated, shortened, batched, or eliminated?
  • What deserves more space on my calendar next week?

Try it this week and let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear!

PS: At The Outlier Team, we host workshops that help build work systems that give energy instead of taking it. For more information, reply to this email.

Perry Myers
The Outlier Team

The Outlier Team

We help small businesses with technology, strategy, and leadership and have a passion for sharing what we have learned. Subscribe to our newsletter to get helpful weekly content.

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