#001 - Energy Management is a REAL Thing

In today's episode, I wanted to talk about energy management. This is something that I personally have been looking at and trying to understand for myself in a greater way the last few years. Welcome back. My name is Shelli Hits. I'm so glad you're here for the Hit splits and today. Today's topic, I think just will apply to many of you, especially these last few few years since COVID Right. There is just a different level of energy management that we're all facing since March of 2020. However, this applied even before then. And we all have a bucket of energy now. Some of us are extroverts, which means you thrive and you get energy with being with other people. Some of us, myself and CJ included, are introverts. And we get drained to when we're with people, even live videos, zoom calls, whatever it might be. And then we need to recharge and have some alone time. So energy management is really key, I believe when you're writing, publishing and marketing your book. One thing I noticed for myself is I started to dread live videos. And I think what happened was over the years, God began to heal me on a deeper level. And the old Shelly, the younger Shelly used to run on adrenaline. And so doing live videos and zoom calls and all the things, it would push my adrenaline. And it just felt like I could do it all day. But as I have been healed deeper and deeper levels, I'm realizing I'm actually an introvert. And it actually really drains me of energy. Doing too many live calls, doing too many zooms, doing too many of those things back to back. And so I began to look at my schedule and really rearrange it for my energy. And what I have personally decided to do is really try to keep most of my zoom calls on Thursdays. Now, this isn't always the case, but. But I really do try to keep most of them. And then usually I try not to have more than two or three on a specific day. And so this way I know Thursdays are my. On days like I don't sometimes on a Wednesday, I may never get out of my workout clothes or my PJs or anything else. And I'm just relaxing and it's just, it takes the pressure off. And I like that feeling, you know, of not having to be on every day. Now, your job may require it or you may be different, but I just encourage you, like, as you're going through this next week, start to pay attention to when your energy dips and when it peaks. Like, when is it just it feels like you could do something forever. I heard someone recently say that could be like your zone of ease. The things that really light you up and start to pay attention to those things. Because what happens is so often we're not aware, but then we're not moving forward in the call God has on our lives to write, publish and market our books. And we don't understand why we're stuck. And it just may be a simple thing as maybe rearranging your schedule a little bit to manage your energy better. Or maybe you need to choose different formats. So for me, I shared about this in yesterday's episode. I really decided, hey, I love audio. It's easy for me. I can talk for a long time, friends, and I won't, I won't keep these episodes very long, but I can talk. And talking honestly for me is easier than writing. Which I told CJ today, I said, this seems ludicrous here I am a writer, I'm a mentor to writers. My life revolves around so much writing. And yet the way God made me is that I actually flow more in a zone of ease when I'm speaking. And so instead of fighting that and feeling like I have to write all these emails or write all these things or do all of that, it's like, let me see how I can actually plug into that a little bit better. For you, it may be the exact opposite and you may feel like you could write all day. And if that's the case, then choose marketing activities and choose things that are more involved with writing, like blogging, emails, you know, connecting in, collaborations through email or messages. You don't have to do things a certain way. We all have different things that light us up, that give us energy, or that take energy from us. And so it's just something I want you to think about today. I want you to just pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and then just think back to this last week. When did you really feel that drained? When did your energy dip and when did it peak? And if you can't really think about it, then I just want you to keep a little notebook or a little sticky note or something and then just write that down and try to be aware. This next week, you don't have to do it forever, but just for a week or two and just start to be aware of your day to day activities, especially related to your writing, publishing and marketing, and try to see what is really, really draining me. And I know a lot of you are going to say technology, I will say that you cannot avoid all technology. Sometimes we just need to press through. And sometimes we need to know when to rest or when to quit. Right. Or to pivot or to do something else. But I'm not saying you. You can give up all technology, because I know you. I know most of you are going to say that. Shelly, Technology drains me, so I don't have to do any of that, right? No, but there probably are levels. If technology is an issue for you, what specific technology drains you the most? And maybe that's something that you can get help with. Maybe you can barter with another writer, or you can hire someone or something else, but begin paying attention. That is the first step. And then you can start making changes according to what you are, how you are just normally just gifted in the way that God has created you to be. You don't have to fight it. And so I just encourage you to embrace who God has made you to be, who he's created you to be, and go with what he is leading you to do as you pay attention to what gives you energy and what drains you of energy. All right, friends, I cannot wait to. To share with you again in the next episode.