My clients are the most energizing part of my work. They are people who want to shift or improve some part of their professional or personal lives, and know they have the power to create the change, even when the path may not be clear.

If you are want to create a change of your own, a great place to start looking for clues is energy - where we allocate it, what gives us a boost and what drains us.

Energy Allocated - Which activities do you spend your most energy on? Do the highest priority work, well-being and personal/relationship or community activities? Or are they simply a mater of routine or habit? Are they simply the activities that demand a majority of your energy?

Energy Gain - Which activities invigorate you, gives you energy? What makes you get out of bed early, puts a spring in your step and makes you more curious? What makes you feel stronger, happier, more vital?

Energy Drain - Which activities take a lot out of you? Which make you feel drained, tired, frustrated, even weak? Which make you feel like you are spinning your wheels or standing still.

It is not surprising that the activities that receive the most attention are often a facet of habit or demand rather than conscious decision (see Consciously Creating Our Commitments and How Gaps Grow). While we often tell ourselves that we “don’t have a choice” or “we have to” or “should” put our energy to these activities, the reality is that energy flows in the direction of least resistance.

Without resolve to create a change, we give into inertia. If we want greater success or a change in behavior, we must start by creating new habits. Habits are simply patterns created by energy flow and repetition. Consciously directing our energy allocations in new directions determined by our priorities and those activities that energize can establish new behaviors over time.

To get started, try this exercise:

1. Get a Noticing Notebook - Pick up a notebook and start carrying with you. Over the next week jot down the specific activities that give you energy and those that drain you. Notice the details - if you find a television program invigorating, determine if it is the content, the characters, the format. If it is a conversation - is it your conversation partner, the topic, the location, or something else about the situation. Perhaps a project at work gives you a boost - is it the people you are working with, the role you are playing, the kind of project or the output that is energizing you. Do the same for the activities that drain you.
2. Review and Analyze the Week - After the first week, take a look at the week and see what you notice. Are there particular themes that emerge? Are there activities missing that commanded a lot of your time and energy? How often were you drained? Are you surprised by what gave you energy
3. Allocate Your Energy — This month, jot down three or four overall priorities for the month and a few energy boosting activities you will add to your calendar each week. Continue to notice where you spend your energy and what builds or drains your energy. At the end of the month reconcile your allocation. Did your priorities receive a greater share of your energy? Did the energy building activities make it on to your schedule? If so, did they have an impact? If not, why? How about the draining activities?

Work with your noticing notebook for six months to a year. Patterns will emerge, giving you the power to direct your energy flow. After you become proficient with this exercise, add a power boost by also tracking your time and money allocations. You will be amazed by the impact of subtle adjustments to your allocations!

Reprinted from Revolution Me!