I have always struggled with working a 9-5 work schedule. Whether I was working full time for an employer or working for myself, trying to maintain a ‘traditional’ work schedule has never worked well for me. It has left me exhausted as my energy levels fluctuate, not only throughout the day, but also throughout the week and month.
Fluctuating energy levels isn’t something that many people talk about. I am pretty sure this is part of my AuDHD make up. My energy can be impacted by external factors, such as how much I need to mask and my social battery, and internal factors such as hormones. Things such as barometric changes can impact things too.
One thing I want to do is learn how to work with my energy levels. This could include things such as having space in the day to take a nap, as well as planning my work tasks to fit around my energy, such as not scheduling too much in a day, and not limiting myself to working in traditional hours, at the same time not overdoing things.
Working to my energy levels is going to be a challenge as I have some tasks that dictate working during regular office hours… part of what I want to be doing is less of those tasks and more of the ones that are more flexible.
This is also a huge mindset shift as I’ve been told to work during ‘business hours’… even from business coaches the message is the same… work to hours. The idea of working to energy levels seems to be something that they either haven’t heard about or it is a concept that they think isn’t worth thinking about.
I have decided that, where possible, I will work to my energy levels. If I have the energy to work on the weekend or evening, I’m going to run with it. If I need a nap on a weekday, then I’ll do it.
This is all part of learning to work with my brain instead of against it… wish me luck.
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