I Manage My Energy, Not My Time

Burnout thought me how to work and live the way it's good to me.

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There are two types of time calculations in my life: before the child and after the child.

Before my son was born, I honestly didn’t care how I managed my time. I had a 9-5 job at an agency, and after work, I went shopping or enjoyed a drink with a friend. Weekends were about relaxing, meeting my parents, or having some plans with someone.

Now, I know that amount of free time would be enough to change the world.

Nine years ago, my son was born, and my life changed. I went freelance and realized I could do so many things in so little time.

I love working.

If I had a laptop, I’d be happy because I could do what I truly love: writing and creating content.

But the first few years of my freelance career weren’t about fun and joy.

I was desperate.

I didn’t have confidence and underpriced my work. The result was that I needed many clients to make good money, which meant I couldn’t give my best for each of them.

I was a new mom, new to freelancing, while writing daily social media posts for 10-12 clients.

It was a hamster wheel where I was afraid to lose clients, afraid to grow my rates, and constantly working to please everyone. That led me to my first burnout.

Burnout as a turning point

I knew I couldn’t continue in that way anymore…

I realized that managing my time—trying to cram everything into my schedule—wasn’t sustainable. Traditional time management failed me because it didn’t account for my energy or my limits. I wasn’t just exhausted; I felt like I was losing my spark.

That’s when I made a shift.

Instead of managing my time, I began managing my energy.

I realized it wasn’t about how much I could do in a day, but how I could structure my days around the natural highs and lows of my energy.

This mindset shift transformed how I work and live today.

Time Management vs. Energy Management

In the early days of freelancing, I managed my time like I saw others do: long to-do lists with everything marked as a “must-do.” My days revolved around my son’s sleep schedule. When he napped, I worked quickly. At night, once he was asleep, I’d work until midnight, trying to finish what I couldn’t do during the day.

But I was exhausted. The later it got, the slower I worked. Some nights, I couldn’t finish and had to wake up early. What took me 30 minutes the night before would only take 5 minutes in the morning when I was rested.

That’s when I realized: I wasn’t just managing my time poorly—I was ignoring my energy. More time didn’t equal more productivity.

Energy is everything as an entrepreneurs

I shifted my focus to managing energy instead of time. Here’s what I learned:

• Energy changes: I have more focus and creativity in the morning. By the afternoon, my energy dips, so I do lighter tasks then.

• Not all tasks are equal: Creative work, like writing, needs high energy. Tasks like emails or admin work can be done when I’m tired.

• Rest matters: Instead of forcing myself to work late, I now recharge in the evenings so I’m ready for the next day.

I run 2 businesses, I create content on Substack, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and work with clients as a ghostwriter and social media manager. On top of that, I coach entrepreneurs on building their personal brands.

I do all of this completely alone, so my energy is everything.

My tips for managing your energy

Here are a few practical tips that have helped me manage my energy more effectively:

• Track Your Energy: Notice when you feel most and least energized during the day. You can keep a journal or use an app. For example, I’m most creative in the morning, then my energy dips but picks up again around 5 p.m. Knowing this helps me plan my tasks better.

• Prioritize Self-Care: Pay attention to your body. Sleep, exercise, and healthy eating are key to keeping your energy up. Some days, I just don’t have the energy to do important work. When that happens, I let myself rest and do the task another day. It’s important to listen to that inner voice.

• Set Realistic Goals: Focus on what can realistically be achieved with the energy you have, rather than cramming your schedule. I now create simpler to-do lists: I write down 3 tasks for the day. The first is a must-do, and if I can complete all three, I celebrate it as a win. Anything beyond that is a bonus. This way, I end each day feeling accomplished, rather than overwhelmed or like I’ve fallen short.

The world is full of expectations and general rules about who you need to be in order to be successful and happy. But no two people are the same.

It's time to focus on your own needs and what works best for you. Work in a way that makes you most productive, not based on what others expect. When you're energized and happy, you'll do your best work—and that benefits everyone.

When I tell people my coffee is brewing by 4:30 a.m., they’re shocked. But this is how I naturally work. I wake up without an alarm and love writing my thoughts down, like I am now. Hello, 6:01 a.m. :)

P.S. I just added the Founding Member option to my publication! In addition to my eternal gratitude, you’ll receive a 30-minute coaching session with me to explore how to build your personal brand on Substack. See you soon!