I talk to some colleagues about our diminishing energy as we age. In the mid-forties, you suddenly don’t have the same energy you once had. Or we’re all just getting sick (as we do on a college campus!) Or, we just need more sleep. Whatever the reason, the fact stands: we’re tired.
I’ve noticed how certain people know how to prioritize the day based on available energy. They do less. They only do what matters. And they don’t punish themselves for napping, putting on pajamas at 7:00 PM, for stopping work altogether to take a day off.
There’s a blessing in having less energy because it forces a particular focus. It allow what matters to rise to the top of our to-do list. We make wiser choices. We ironically find ourselves more productive we understand our limits and protect them.