“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” – Zig Ziglar
The secret to time management isn’t more time management hacks at all.
Here are 3 keys I’ve found:
- Manage energy not time.
- Make room for your big rocks.
- Use anticipation to drive versus react.
I often here the argument, “if I had more time for this or that, I could …”
Well, unfortunately, having more time doesn’t always mean getting more done.
It doesn’t guarantee getting the right things done either.
Sometimes I get more done in an hour than I can sometimes get done in a week.
Why is that?
For me, it’s actually about energy.
There are only so many hours in a day.
While I can’t make more hours in a day, I can use my energy better.
Sure, there are lots of interesting little time savers, but there’s plenty of time wasters too.
I find the force that makes the most measurable difference is the energy and engagement I bring to the table.
Assuming I have all my energy ready to tackle my day, I need to distinguish between urgent and important.
If I’m only reacting to urgent, then I’m missing out on opportunity to deal with important, whether that’s job impact or personal growth.
The moral of the story is, if I don’t make time for the big rocks, the fillers in my day won’t leave room.
I like Steven Covey’s perspective on urgent vs. important in his First Thing’s First book.
Anticipation is a actually a skill that I haven’t worked on as much as I should.
I actually plan to do a 30 Day Sprint, when the time is right.
It’s funny how many recurring things happen each year, that take me by surprise. Birthdays. Holidays. Reviews. Events. Geeze! You’d think I’d see the patterns
Well, I do.
I’ve seen the pattern of me reacting to events I don’t anticipate.
While the corporate ninja expects the unexpected, I also find that with a little anticipation, a stitch in time saves nine.
If I make project plans, and there’s a major event I didn’t account for, I shouldn’t be surprised when suddenly nobody’s around.
At the same time, I’m sure I can find a way to leverage the sudden spurt of energy some folks have right after mid-year discussion.
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Clear Your Inbox
Dear JD Meier,
Your article on the secret of time management touched my soul and left me feeling inspired.
The wisdom you shared about setting clear intentions, focusing on high-value activities, and embracing disciplined execution struck a chord with me as a fellow blog writer in the Time Management niche.
As a value addition, incorporating the practice of self-reflection and regular goal reassessment can further enhance readers’ ability to unlock their full potential.
Thank you for illuminating the path to effective time management and empowering the readers to make every moment count.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Amit
How do you assess and adjust your energy levels throughout the day to maximize your output?
Great question. I learned to treat energy like a daily renewable resource—you manage it, not just time.
Here’s how I assess and adjust my energy throughout the day:
1. Check in by Mind, Body, Emotions, and Spirit
I quickly scan how I’m doing in each area:
Mind: Am I sharp or foggy? Am I in reactive or creative mode?
Body: Am I feeling tense, tired, or energized?
Emotions: Am I calm, curious, frustrated, or fired up?
Spirit: Am I doing meaningful work—or just checking boxes?
That gives me a fast diagnostic. One quick question I love:
“Am I operating at my best right now?”
If not, I adjust.
2. Use Energy Breaks, Not Just Time Breaks
Every 90–120 minutes, I do one of these:
Walk or stretch (body)
Breathe or reset with music (emotions)
Watch a 2-minute clip that inspires me (spirit)
Jot a few wins or progress points (mindset)
This keeps my energy rhythm strong, not flatlining by mid-day.
3. Design for Peak Performance Blocks
I reserve 3 peak energy slots during the day:
Morning (creative thinking, strategy)
Midday (collaboration, coaching)
Late afternoon (cleanup, review)
I match my energy to the task type. Don’t waste peak energy on email.
4. End Strong with Reflection & Reset
At the end of the day, I ask:
What drained me?
What fueled me?
What would I change?
Then I plan a better rhythm tomorrow.
Maximizing energy isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about tuning your internal operating system so you can show up your best—on demand.