Stop eating pizza, and start doing this...

“Build systems!”

“Don’t rely on motivation!”

“Stop procrastinating, and just act!”

Good advice.

Having a bias for action definitely sounds cool, and is motivating.

But it is really tough to cultivate.

Why?

Because, it is one thing to have systems in place for when you have no motivation but it is almost impossible to be effective when you have no energy. 

Definitely build systems, but prioritize energy first.

All of the gurus and self-improvement guys don’t really talk about this. It really is foundational though.

You can have the best mindset in the world, but if you have no horsepower to drive the action you know you have to do, and you even WANT to do, it’s downright impossible.

Like trying to push a wagon with a piece of string.

Here’s some tips for cultivating energy, that work for me:

1. Meditate. Quieting the mind with meditation is the best daily habit I’ve ever started. It’s literally saved my life and had multiple physical benefits. Once you start, the energy levels compound over time. Bonus points for meditating in a sauna.

2. Do something physically strenuous. There’s no bad mood a good weight lifting session can’t cure. Running and walking work too. All of the highest energy people I know work out every single day.

3. Get some sunlight. 20-40 minutes of sunshine directly on my skin makes everything better. It’s nuts.

4. Eat the right foods. I love pizza. But I feel like garbage after I eat it. Eating whole foods like chicken, broccoli, and carrots never make me feel like garbage. There’s a lesson in there.

5. Hang around high energy people. There are some people you meet and there’s an instant connection. The vibe is strong. Energy like this is hard to find. And it acts as a multiplier to your own. Keep people like this close. You’ll elevate each other exponentially. Stay away from energy vampires.

6. Do the stuff that inherently increases your energy. If you don’t know inherently what that stuff is, start journaling. Anytime you have a good day, or good couple of hours, note down what you were doing. After a few weeks you’ll have a list of things that: elevates your energy, puts you into a flow state, and is something you can stick to for years. Endurance + energy = optimal.

7. Prime your brain. Consume content that gets your motor running. The best creators transfer their energy to you. Podcasts, books, videos, etc. Whatever format you prefer, consume 15 minutes of it before you start any deep work. It works.

Once you are in a high energy state:

• Ideas come quicker

• You’ll be 100x more productive AND creative

• High energy people will be attracted to you and want to work with you

Do anything you can to get into this state.

Are there any tips you have for getting there? If so let me know!

Swanagan