There is so much personal growth and improvement material that focuses on how to live your best life, how to start your day with the most focus and energy, and essentially promoting the idea a person can build habits which enables them to live and work at 100% all day, every day. Nothing is further from the truth. Even more truthful is, there is no growth without a challenge which does mean you have to overcome difficulties including yourself.
A different view may be that most people live below, often well below, their 100% capability or energy. Doesn’t mean it isn’t a good day. In fact achieving your daily goals when functioning at less than optimal is rewarding and energizing in its own way.
I suggest that many people, maybe most, only reached their 100% energy and motivation levels a few hours a week. The highest performers may be achieving 100% levels a few hours a day. I very much doubt even the best of us live at 100% every hour of every day, otherwise they may very well crash and burn, i.e. burnout.
Even more importantly, driving to complete planned tasks or goals in a day or in a week is even more important when you’re functioning at 50% of your best self. Knowing you’ve done what you intended when you really didn’t feel up to it actually rewarding and enabling. The more you’re able to do that, the more higher energy hours and days you may have. Focusing on building your personal capacity results in more, higher level energy hours. Exercising when your energy is low, reading to continue learning, taking care of your home, and so on even if you don’t feel up to it will strengthen your personal capacity and enable more high energy hours and days.
If you can get a few hours a day at or near 100% motivation and energy then you’re way ahead. Learning which hours of the day are your 100% hours will let you focus your most difficult tasks during that time.
Another way to create energy is to start with small, easy to do tasks. There is sound advice in some teachings about tackling your hardest problems when you’re at your best. The other end of that thought is when you lack focus and energy pick some small tasks which are easy to do. Planning your week, organizing your files, clearing your morning emails, or just straightening your desk lets you feel accomplishment. Stacking these few simple tasks can build momentum and energy, enabling you to focus on the harder and more challenging things on your list.
Remember, don’t expect to be at your best most of the time and know you can increase those 100% moments with thoughtful focus and effort.