My dogs have what I like to call selective hearing.
When I say, “Come here!” they sometimes pretend they don’t hear me. If they’re comfy on the couch or halfway through a backyard perimeter defense mission, they don’t even look my way.
But the second I say “walk” or “treat”? They teleport to me.
Suddenly, their ears work just fine. They respond instantly. With enthusiasm.
And honestly … we’re not so different.
We humans also have selective hearing — especially when it comes to our own energy.
We often ignore the cues our bodies are sending us — like when they’re telling us to slow down, take a break, or shift gears. Instead, we push through. We overcommit. We chase productivity at the expense of presence.
But what if we tuned in more often — not just to our to-do list, but to our internal rhythms?
Let’s talk about how aligning your tasks with your natural energy flow — especially during the heat and unpredictability of summer — can help you be more productive and get more done with less stress.
What Your Energy Is Really Telling You
Your energy isn’t random. It’s information.
It’s your body and brain saying, “This is when I focus best,” or “This is when I need to unplug,” or “This is your magic window for creative work — don’t waste it on email.”
But we’ve been taught to ignore that information in favor of a fixed schedule or an arbitrary standard of productivity.
So, we write our to-do lists in a vacuum, cramming creative work into an already-drained afternoon, or saving focused writing for Friday when we’re wiped out.
And then we wonder why we’re exhausted and stuck in cycles of burnout.
Productivity Isn’t Just About Time — It’s About Energy
You’ve probably heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder.” But in real life? That doesn’t just mean batching tasks or using automation tools.
It means learning when you work best — and then structuring your day to reflect that. To capitalize on it.
Because here’s what I’ve found to be true:
You could have 5 uninterrupted hours on your calendar … but if you’re trying to do your most demanding task during your lowest-energy time, you’ll struggle the whole way through.
On the flip side?
You might only have 90 minutes of true high-energy focus in a day … but if you align your most important work with that window, you’ll make real progress.
That’s the difference energy-aligned productivity can make.
How to Align Your Tasks with Your Energy (The Secret to Getting More Done)
The secret to getting more done in your work-from-home day is to be more intentional about when you do specific things. And the good news is that it isn’t hard, once you know the steps to take.
Step 1: Identify Your Power Hours
Your “power hours” are the times of day when you feel most alert, focused, and energized.
Everyone’s different. Some of us peak in the morning. Others hit their stride in the afternoon or evening.
The trick is to notice when you naturally feel your best — not just when your calendar says you should be working.
To find your power hours, track this for 3–5 days:
- When do you feel most focused and clear-headed?
- When do you get into a state of flow?
- When does your energy dip or crash?
- What time of day do you tend to procrastinate or spin your wheels?
You can use this month’s Tenacious WFH Productivity Planner Page (free for Insiders and VIPs!) to log your energy levels and spot patterns.
Step 2: Match Tasks to Energy Levels
Once you know when you have your highest and lowest energy levels, you can start assigning the right tasks to the right windows. This is putting energy-aligned, practical productivity to work for you.
First, identify the energy level needed to perform the tasks you perform throughout the day/week.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what that might look like:
- High Energy Tasks: writing, creating, decision-making, client sessions, planning
- Moderate Energy Tasks: editing, emailing, problem-solving, colleague/team check-ins
- Low Energy Tasks: admin work, file organizing, simple errands, social media engagement
Then, assign tasks to time blocks of your work day when your energy matches the energy required of the tasks.
For example:
If your brain is sharpest from 8:30–10:30 a.m., block that time for strategic or creative work — not laundry, inbox cleanout, or endless Zoom calls.
If you hit a slump around 2:00 p.m., use that time for light tasks, a walk, or a screen break instead of trying to muscle through a mentally taxing project.
This small shift — mapping task types to your energy — is one of the most powerful ways to work more effectively without adding more hours.
Step 3: Build Flexibility into Your Summer Schedule
Energy alignment is especially helpful in summer, when everything feels more fluid.
Vacations, family schedules, hotter weather, and changing routines can throw your old rhythms off. But instead of fighting it, adapt.
Maybe you need earlier start times to beat the heat. Or more midday movement. Or “work sprints” in the morning so you can unplug in the afternoon and float in the pool.
When you honor your energy in this season, you stay consistent and you stay cool — literally and figuratively.
Step 4: Listen to Your Energy Like It’s Saying “Treat!”
Let’s go back to my dogs for a minute.
When they hear a word that excites them — like “walk” or “treat” — they act. No hesitation. No overthinking. They listen and move.
What would it look like for you to respond to your energy that way?
To hear the cue — “Hey, this feels good right now” — and trust it?
To follow your flow when it shows up, and honor your limits when they hit?
That’s what energy-aligned practical productivity is all about.
So start listening. And then act on the information you’re giving yourself.
Use the Tenacious WFH Productivity Planner Page
This month’s Tenacious WFH Entrepreneur Mini Power Tool (exclusively available to Tenacious WFH Insiders and VIPs) helps you do all of the above with less guesswork and more clarity.
Use it to:
- Set your intention each day
- Track your energy and task alignment
- Adjust based on what’s really working
- See how invisible work factors into your flow
It’s your summer-ready lens for staying focused, cool, and confident — even when life heats up.
Action Step this Week: Map Your Power Hours and Assign One Task
Now that you know the secret to getting more done is to intentionally align your tasks with your energy when you plan your day, I invite you to try it for yourself.
First, take a day or two this week to track your energy and identify your high-focus window.
Then choose one important, high-energy task you’ll work on during that time — and protect it. Don’t let low-energy tasks rob you of this valuable high-energy time to get more done.
Try this for 3 days and notice the difference. If you’re like me, you’ll feel less resistance and more reward.
Because productivity isn’t about squeezing more into your day. It’s about listening to your energy — and using it wisely.
You’ve got this. 😎
✨ Want the Productivity Planner Page to help you stay focused without burning out?
Tenacious WFH Insiders and VIPs can find it in the July folder of your Mini Power Tools Dropbox.
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