Boost your energy and thrive: 10 Strategies for a successful year

As we enter the new year, many of us have crafted lists of resolutions and goals, and we’re enthusiastic about diving in and checking them off. Yet, with over 300 days ahead, it’s important to pace ourselves.

With that in mind, here are 10 practical strategies leaders can adopt during their workday to better manage energy and well-being:

1. Prioritize and plan

I like to start the day with a clear plan, identifying top priorities and setting realistic goals. Rather than just jumping into emails, meetings and responding to clients and colleagues, create a 15-30-minute morning ritual – it may include coffee! – that gets you aligned and focused for your day.

2. Set time boundaries

Block time on your calendar for non-negotiable focused work and breaks. Limit back-to-back meetings to prevent mental fatigue. Avoid checking emails or answering messages after work hours unless they’re urgent. When you set boundaries and give yourself time for deep focusing, you’ll be amazed by the quality and depth of the work you can get done.

3.Take micro-breaks

Pause between tasks to stretch, move, or breathe. This helps reset your mind and prevents burnout. These breaks don’t have to be long; they can last anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes.

Regular exercise will help reduce fatigue, boost focus, and improve overall productivity.

4. Stay physically active

Incorporate light exercise, such as a short walk or standing while working. Need to share information with a colleague? Walk down the hall instead of sending an email. If you’ve got a short meeting planned in someone’s office for 15 minutes, suggest a walk and talk instead. We know that movement improves blood flow and circulation, which helps with mental clarity and avoiding fatigue.

5. Hydrate and eat well

Make sure you’re drinking water consistently throughout the day. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, try to limit your caffeine intake. A cup or two in the morning is OK, but if you depend on it as your energy source, your performance will suffer if you are overstimulated, and you will also likely have energy crashes.

Try eating nutrient-dense foods during the workday. If you’re sitting at your desk, carb-heavy food will make you feel sluggish. It’s hard when there’s a deadline looming or unexpected fire, but just try to be mindful of what you’re putting into your body.

6. Practice mindfulness

Use short mindfulness exercises like deep breathing, meditation, or gratitude journaling to reduce stress and stay present. These short mental breaks may seem like they are costing you time, but the ROI is super high in terms of productivity, focus, better mood, and better energy.

7. Delegate and empower

Delegating tasks can help you avoid overloading yourself. There are things that you’re doing that you don’t need to be doing. You may like doing them. You may be good at them. You may have always done them, but it doesn’t mean that your team couldn’t benefit from you delegating to them.

Every task you don’t have to do frees you up to tackle something that’s more important.

Following the first six things on this list will make delegating easier because you bring better clarity, energy, and mental focus. Trust your team.

8. Manage digital overload

Limit notifications, email checking, and screen time. Set designated times to respond to emails and messages instead of multitasking. Be mindful as you design your work day; as you go through it, consider how you can limit the number of times you’re staring at your phone or computer screen. That way, you can focus on what’s in front of you.

9. Connect with others

Build relationships by having genuine conversations with colleagues. Social connections boost morale and reduce stress. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, we are socially driven beings, and having meaningful connections with the people you work with correlates strongly with your satisfaction and your mental and emotional well-being.

That doesn’t mean spending your whole day chit-chatting and visiting. It’s ensuring that every work day, you have at least one meaningful connection with someone, which could be a 10-minute walk or sitting down for a coffee.

10.- Reflect and Recharge

End the day by reflecting on wins, lessons, and progress. Then, take time to transition mentally from work to personal life for proper recovery. A commute is a great time to transition. Or it might be through listening to music, stopping at your gym for a quick workout, or going for a walk. Just be really intentional about it.

None of these strategies are super arduous or take a lot of time. Even if you pick five of them and start, you will end up with much better focus, energy, and productivity throughout the day.