The other morning, while going through my usual coffee walk, I started thinking about how easy it is to confuse "being busy" with "being effective." I’ve had days—heck, even weeks—where my calendar was packed but I ended each day feeling stuck. Drained, unfocused, frustrated.

The truth is, most high performers don’t have a time problem.They have an energy allocation problem.

According to research from Atlassian, the average worker spends only2 hours and 53 minuteseach day doing productive work. The rest gets eaten up by distractions, meetings, and low-value tasks.

If you want to break free, here’s where to start:

5 Steps to Reclaim Control:

1. Audit Your Energy:Notice when you feel most focused—and when you don't. Protect your peak hours.

2. Eliminate Time Thieves:Ruthlessly cut out tasks and distractions that don’t move you forward.

3. Simplify Your System:Ditch the complicated planning apps. Use simple, reliable tools you actually trust.

4. Set Clear Boundaries:Learn to say "no" with the same energy you say "yes."

5. Prioritize Recovery:Breaks, movement, sleep—they’re not luxuries. They’re performance essentials.

It's not about doing more. It's about doingwhat matters most, withthe energy that moves mountains.

Key Takeaways:

• Energy management > time management.

• Protect your peak energy periods and eliminate distractions.

• Recovery fuels momentum.