What Gives You Energy and What Quietly Drains It, the 7 Day Energy Audit

Learn how to notice what genuinely gives you energy, recognize the quiet drains you may have stopped seeing, and use a simple 7-Day Energy Audit to make more intentional choices about where your energy goes.

TOP 3 TAKEAWAYS

• 1. Your Energy Leaves Clues

Pay attention to the moments when you light up, become absorbed, feel interested, or lose track of time—and also to the moments when you feel resistance, boredom, tension, or repeatedly think:

• 2. Go Underneath the Activity to Discover What Really Energizes You

Don't stop with: “I like doing this.” Ask: “What is it about this that gives me energy?”

• 3. Not All Tired Is the Same—and Not Every Drain Means “Stop”

Hard work does not automatically mean something is wrong. Growth can be uncomfortable.  The goal is not to avoid anything difficult. The goal is to become curious about recurring patterns.  Ask: Am I stretched but fulfilled, or am I repeatedly depleted?

KEY QUOTES

• “Our energy leaves clues for us.”
• “Sometimes our feelings are giving us an answer before we've actually figured out how to explain it.”
• “The clock doesn't necessarily tell us the energy cost of the things we're doing.”
• “Being tired is not automatically the same thing as being drained.”
• “Do you use yourself very well?”
• “Energy leaves clues.”
• “Assessments give us a place to look. They're not here to tell you who you are. You bring meaning to the assessment.”
• “Something doesn't have to be bad for it to stop being right for you.”
• “The thing that energizes you can eventually drain you if you don't pay attention to how you're using it.”
• “Energy isn't an excuse to avoid discomfort. It's information.”
• “What kind of tired am I? Am I stretched but fulfilled, or am I repeatedly depleted?”
• “The goal isn't simply to have more energy. It's to use your energy on what matters.”

 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

• TRY THE 7 DAY ENERGY AUDIT At the end of each day, start with two simple questions: What gave me energy today?  What quietly drained me? That's the heart of the exercise.  Download the free companion worksheet: pricelessprofessional.com/energyaudit

• A WHOLE-PERSON VIEW OF ENERGY  Suzie shares an energy-management exercise she previously used in a leadership program with executive chefs from Relais & Châteaux

• TRIMETRIX, MOTIVATORS & ACUMEN TriMetrix offers another way to become more curious about where energy comes from and where it may be going. The question remains: What's going on here? Where is my energy going?

• KNOW YOURSELF Suzie also shares one of the ideas that has stayed with her from the work of Robert S. Hartman: Know yourself. Choose yourself. Grow yourself. Give yourself to something greater than yourself.
• WHEN YOUR STRENGTH BECOMES A DRAIN Sometimes the things that energize us can become draining when we overuse them. The goal is not to suppress your strengths. It's to use them intentionally.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• 7-Day Energy Audit Download the free companion worksheet for this episode: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/energyaudit
• The Opportunity Filter This episode continues a question introduced in Episode 158: What happens to my energy when I picture myself actually doing this? Show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/opportunityfilter
• Essentialism How Brand Strategist Catherine Blakemore and Suzie Price are using Essentialism in their personal and professional lives. Show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/energyaudit
  
  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less — Greg McKeown Suzie credits Essentialism with helping her put language around an important realization: You don't have to do everything you are capable of doing. You get to decide what matters. Learn about the book: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/
• Day One Journal App Suzie currently uses Day One for journaling, including morning and evening appreciation lists and working through thoughts when she wants greater clarity. https://dayoneapp.com/
• Abraham-Hicks Suzie references Abraham-Hicks as a long-time resource for meditation, appreciation, focus, and energy alignment. https://www.abraham-hicks.com/
• TriMetrix TriMetrix combines several areas of insight, including Behaviors/DISC, Motivators, and Acumen. Learn more through Priceless Professional Development: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/
• Robert S. Hartman Institute The Robert S. Hartman Institute advances the study and application of formal axiology and the work of Dr. Robert S. Hartman. https://www.hartmaninstitute.org
• Relais & Châteaux Suzie references leadership development work she conducted with executive chefs from Relais & Châteaux. https://www.relaischateaux.com/
• HALT A simple reminder to notice your state before taking action or having an important conversation: H — Hungry A — Angry L — Lonely  T — Tired Sometimes the best next step isn't to push through. It's to get yourself into a better state first.

KEEP EXPLORING — RELATED WAKE UP EAGER EPISODES

#134 — Feel Your Way Forward with Douglas White Learn how emotions can become information instead of something to avoid—and how greater emotional awareness can help you move forward with more clarity and self-trust. Listen and see show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/emotionalawareness.html

#123 — How Emotional Well-Being Is the Key to Performance with Douglas White Explore emotional awareness, our relationship with everyday tasks, and how paying attention to subtle emotional reactions can improve performance, well-being, and self understanding. Listen and see show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/emotionalwellbeing.html

#125 — Awaken Your Soul Through Personal Interests & Motivators Go deeper into the interests and motivators that naturally fuel your energy and engagement—and learn how understanding what pulls you forward can help you create more Wake Up Eager days. Listen and see show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/motivatorslife.html

#68 — Daily Tune In Time Discover practical ways to pause, reflect, realign your focus, and intentionally shift your energy through simple daily practices. Listen and see show notes: https://www.pricelessprofessional.com/tune-in-time.html

Connect with Suzie Price:

• LinkedIn: Suzie Price        Priceless  Professional  Development     Wake Up Eager Podcast
• Learn how TriMetrix helps you understand how you’re wired as a leader:     www.pricelessprofessional.com/whatistrimetrix
• Already have a TriMetrix assessment? Access your debrief tools here:   www.pricelessprofessional.com/myassessment

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