Calendar Audit Activity

Welcome to the Calendar Audit Activity! In this exercise, you'll have the opportunity to take a close look at your daily schedule and evaluate which activities give you energy and which ones drain it. This hands-on session is designed to help you identify patterns, understand your priorities, and develop actionable strategies to create a more balanced and satisfying calendar.

Activity Objectives

• Identify activities that energize you versus those that deplete your energy.
• Reflect on how your current calendar aligns (or misaligns) with your personal and professional goals.
• Develop strategies to adjust your schedule for enhanced productivity and well-being.

Activity Outline

Step 1: Self-Audit (15 minutes)

1. Gather your calendar (digital or paper) from the past week.
   
   
   
2. Divide a sheet of paper (or use a digital note) into two columns: Energizers and Energy Drainers.
   
   
   
3. List each activity or event from your calendar in one of the two columns. Consider both work and personal engagements.
   
   
   
4. Take a moment to review and note any surprises or patterns you observe.

Step 2: Reflection and Discussion (15 minutes)

1. Pair up with another participant or join a small group discussion.
   
   
   
2. Share your findings. Discuss:
   
   • Were you surprised by any of the activities in either column?
     
   • How often do you find yourself engaging in energy-draining activities?
     
     
     
3. Reflect on the impact these patterns have on your daily productivity and overall well-being.

Step 3: Action Planning (15 minutes)

1. Individually, note down strategies to manage energy-draining tasks and to incorporate more energizing activities into your calendar. Consider questions like:
   
   
   
   • What changes can you make to reduce or eliminate energy-draining meetings or tasks?
     
   • How can you intentionally schedule time for tasks that recharge you?
     
     
     
2. Write a short action plan outlining at least 2 specific changes you'll implement in the coming week.
   
   
   
3. If comfortable, share your action plan with the group for feedback and support.

Follow-Up and Reflection

• Group Share: At the end of the session, take a few moments to share one key insight or strategy from your action plan. This collective sharing can provide additional ideas and motivate further changes.
  
  
  
• Reflection Question: How might a balanced schedule influence your long-term productivity and personal satisfaction?
  
  
  

For additional background and context, please refer to our Lesson Plan and Slide Deck. These materials provide deeper insight into the strategies mentioned today.

Good luck, and enjoy the process of re-energizing your calendar!

Energy Audit Worksheet

This worksheet is designed to help you reflect on how your current schedule affects your energy levels. Use this time to identify activities that give you energy and those that drain it, and consider ways you might adjust your schedule for better balance and productivity.

Step 1: List Your Daily Activities

Write down all the activities you typically engage in during your day. Include both professional tasks and personal responsibilities.

Step 2: Identify Energy-Boosting Activities

Review your list from Step 1 and highlight the activities that make you feel energized or motivated. Consider why these activities have a positive impact.

Step 3: Identify Energy-Draining Activities

Now, look at your list again and identify activities that leave you feeling tired or depleted. Reflect on what might be contributing to this drain.

Step 4: Reflection Questions

1. What patterns do you notice between your energy-boosting and energy-draining activities?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. How might you reorganize your calendar to increase your energy-boosting activities and minimize the energy drain?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Consider any changes you can make immediately and any long-term adjustments that might benefit your overall well-being.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Step 5: Plan Adjustments

Create a simple plan that outlines one or two changes you will make to your calendar to better align with your energy needs. Write your plan below.

Remember, the goal is to create a balanced schedule that not only enhances your productivity but also supports your well-being.

Energy Balance Discussion

Welcome to the Energy Balance Discussion! In today’s session, we’ll explore how your daily activities influence your overall energy levels and discuss strategies to manage your time more effectively while keeping your well-being a priority.

Discussion Guidelines

1. Share Openly: Feel free to share your personal experiences with activities that energize you versus those that drain you. There are no right or wrong answers.

2. Listen Actively: As others share their insights, listen carefully and reflect on how their experiences might relate to your own schedule.

3. Be Respectful: Respect the opinions and perspectives of your colleagues. Our goal is to learn from each other in a supportive environment.

Discussion Prompts

1. Reflect on Your Calendar

• Question: What activities on your calendar have you found to give you energy, and which ones tend to drain you?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-Up: Consider why certain activities boost your energy. Is it the nature of the work, the people involved, or perhaps the timing?
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Strategies for Balance

• Question: What strategies could you implement to reduce energy-draining activities and increase those that energize you?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-Up: Have you tried any time management techniques, such as time blocking or prioritization, that have worked well for you?
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Real-Life Examples

• Question: Can you share a recent example where re-prioritizing or reorganizing your calendar led to noticeable improvements in your energy levels and productivity?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-Up: What challenges did you encounter in making these changes, and how did you overcome them?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Group Activity Suggestion

Before our discussion, it might be helpful to complete the Calendar Audit Activity and fill out the Energy Audit Worksheet. These materials can guide your thoughts and provide concrete examples to bring up during our conversation.

Closing Thoughts

Reflect on the discussion and consider one action step you can take to create a more balanced schedule that helps you maintain high levels of energy throughout your day. Share this action step with the group if you feel comfortable.

Let's work together to energize our calendars and make meaningful changes in our professional lives!