Prioritize by Energy, Not by Time

We obsess over managing time, but time is not the scarce resource we think it is. Energy is. You can have four free hours and accomplish nothing because you are mentally drained. Or you can have forty focused minutes and produce your best work of the week.

Before you plan your to-do list, check in with your energy. If you are running low, do not force a creative task — handle something mechanical instead. If you are sharp, do not waste it on emails. Matching effort to capacity is not laziness. It is the smartest form of productivity.