Continuing the momentum this week on the topic of personal energy, today I wanted to connect to a Gallup podcast where there was a discussion about getting in “flow” at work.
The primary conversation was how to recognize which of your CliftonStrengths are being leveraged during moments of flow when time just slips away.
However, during the conversation, there was a small section where they discussed doing different types of work in different locations. Maybe a chair for reading, a closed office with a desk for mentally taxing activities, a coffee shop for connecting with a friend, and an open space for answering email.
The got me thinking. What if we were to consider our different energy types during the day and think about where we are happiest and at our best doing each of the activities? For those working in hybrid locations, you could consider the space for each activity both at home and at the office.
My Story – Personal Energy Spaces
Below are the seven categories of the day and my personal thoughts on the best locations for me.
- Charge – My “charge” locations are a comfortable chair for meditation and reading, outdoors for walks, and in any room organizing something on my own.
- Create – The location with the best energy for me is the desk in my home office. I have found that the commute to an office can shorten and/or interrupt this most valuable and productive part of my day. So, even on in-office days, whenever possible this one happens in my home office.
- Craft – For me, this work has many different locations that have the right energy for the task. Alternatives include, my desk, open office spaces, kitchen areas (at home and the office), a coffee shop, and occasionally in a comfortable chair.
- Connect – In the situations where I connect with others, the “best” energy and location depends on the purpose of the connection. Are we brainstorming and need inspiration? Are we having a confidential project conversation? Would the connection be best if we were in the same location vs. Zoom? The location will be tailored to the person and purpose.
- Consume – The spaces that have the best energy for me to consume content include a cozy chair (in any room) for reading, outdoors on a walk for podcasts, and at my desk for email newsletters.
- Care – My care moments are less frequent these days. They tend to happen more from a need in a specific location vs. the energy of the space.
- Chill – All my chill time is at home and the best spaces at home are the family room, kitchen, and sunroom. In the summer, the deck is added to the list. At the office, I would tend to say I was in the connect phase, not chill, when with others.
Your Turn
When you think about the seven categories of your day, what spaces give the right energy?
Does this post make you think differently about the location for the task at hand?