# Energy Management > Maps energy levels to task types for optimized daily scheduling with peak performance time blocks and recovery periods. - Skill: `reaperinvest/energy-management` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/energy-management` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/energy-management/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/energy-management --- # Energy Management ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Map personal energy patterns to optimize when you do which tasks - Design a daily schedule based on energy levels rather than arbitrary time slots - Identify energy drains and build recovery rituals into the workday - Maximize output without burnout by working WITH your biology **DO NOT** use this skill for morning routines (use morning-routine-builder), task prioritization, or health/wellness planning. This is for aligning work tasks with natural energy cycles. --- ## Core Principle TIME MANAGEMENT IS A LIE — YOU CANNOT MANAGE TIME, ONLY ENERGY. MATCHING HIGH-ENERGY TASKS TO HIGH-ENERGY WINDOWS MULTIPLIES OUTPUT WITHOUT ADDING HOURS. --- ## Phase 1: Energy Audit Map the user's natural energy patterns. ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Wake time** | "What time do you typically wake up?" | 6:30 AM | | **Work hours** | "What are your typical work hours?" | 8 AM - 6 PM | | **Peak time** | "When do you feel most alert and focused?" | Mid-morning | | **Crash time** | "When do you hit an energy low?" | After lunch | | **Task types** | "List your main work activities (creative, analytical, admin, calls, etc.)" | No default | | **Current pain** | "When do you feel least productive?" | Afternoon | ### Energy Mapping Exercise Ask the user to rate energy levels 1-5 for each 2-hour block: ``` ## Energy Map | Time Block | Energy (1-5) | Current Task Type | Ideal Task Type | |-----------|-------------|------------------|-----------------| | 6-8 AM | [X] | [What they do now] | [What they should do] | | 8-10 AM | [X] | [Current] | [Ideal] | | 10 AM-12 PM | [X] | [Current] | [Ideal] | | 12-2 PM | [X] | [Current] | [Ideal] | | 2-4 PM | [X] | [Current] | [Ideal] | | 4-6 PM | [X] | [Current] | [Ideal] | ``` **GATE: Confirm energy map before designing the optimized schedule.** --- ## Phase 2: Task-Energy Matching Categorize tasks by energy requirement and match to energy windows. ### Task Energy Categories ``` ## Task Classification ### Peak Energy Tasks (Energy 4-5 required) - Strategic thinking and planning - Creative work (writing, designing, building) - Complex problem solving - Important client conversations - Learning new skills ### Moderate Energy Tasks (Energy 2-3 required) - Client calls and meetings - Collaboration and feedback - Research and analysis - Project management - Decision-making ### Low Energy Tasks (Energy 1-2 sufficient) - Email and inbox processing - Administrative tasks - Data entry and filing - Social media scheduling - Routine follow-ups ``` ### Optimized Schedule Template ``` ## Energy-Optimized Daily Schedule | Time | Energy Level | Task Category | Specific Tasks | |------|-------------|--------------|----------------| | [Peak window] | HIGH (4-5) | Creative / Strategic | [User's highest-value tasks] | | [Moderate window] | MODERATE (3) | Collaborative / Analytical | [Meetings, calls, reviews] | | [Low window] | LOW (1-2) | Administrative / Routine | [Email, admin, scheduling] | | [Recovery window] | RECHARGE | Break / Movement | [Walk, rest, nourishment] | ``` **GATE: Present the optimized schedule for feedback.** --- ## Phase 3: Energy Protection Build systems to protect peak energy and manage dips. ### Energy Drains to Eliminate Help the user identify and address common energy killers: ``` ## Energy Drain Audit | Drain | Impact (1-5) | Solution | |-------|-------------|----------| | Checking email first thing | [X] | Delay email until after peak work block | | Back-to-back meetings | [X] | Insert 15-min buffers between meetings | | Decision fatigue | [X] | Batch decisions, create defaults for recurring choices | | Context switching | [X] | Batch similar tasks, use time blocks | | Poor nutrition/hydration | [X] | Prep snacks, set water reminders | | No breaks | [X] | Schedule 10-min breaks every 90 minutes | ``` ### Recovery Rituals Design 3-5 minute recovery activities between energy blocks: - 5-minute walk (physical reset) - Breathing exercise (nervous system reset) - Hydration + snack (fuel reset) - Music or silence (sensory reset) ### Peak Protection Rules - No meetings during peak energy windows - Phone on do-not-disturb during creative blocks - Email and Slack closed during deep work - "Office hours" for questions — do not be available all day --- ## Phase 4: Sustain Build long-term energy management habits. ### Weekly Energy Review 5 questions to ask every Sunday: 1. Which days did I feel most productive? What was different? 2. Did I protect my peak energy windows this week? 3. What drained my energy the most? 4. Did I take enough recovery breaks? 5. What adjustment do I need for next week? ### Seasonal Adjustments Energy patterns shift with seasons, workload, and life changes: - Re-map energy levels quarterly - Adjust schedules during high-stress periods (launch weeks, tax season) - Accept that some weeks will be low-energy — reduce expectations, do not push through ### Energy Score Tracker ``` ## Weekly Energy Score | Day | Morning | Midday | Afternoon | Evening | Overall | |-----|---------|--------|-----------|---------|---------| | Mon | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Avg] | ``` Track for 2 weeks to validate the energy map and refine the schedule. --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Scheduling creative work during energy lows** — you cannot force creativity at 3 PM if your brain peaks at 9 AM. - **No recovery time** — running at peak energy all day leads to burnout. Build in recharge blocks. - **Fighting your biology** — if you are not a morning person, do not force a 5 AM creative block. Work with your rhythm. - **Ignoring energy data** — tracking energy for a week gives you actionable data. Guessing gives you a bad schedule. - **Packing every minute** — the best schedule has white space. Over-optimization creates rigidity. --- ## Recovery - **User's energy is low all day:** Check sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress levels first. No schedule optimization fixes chronic exhaustion. - **User cannot protect peak time (meetings scheduled by others):** Block peak hours on the calendar as "Focus Time" before others can book them. - **User's energy pattern is unpredictable:** Use a flexible system — do the highest-energy task available whenever a high-energy window opens, rather than a fixed schedule. - **User pushes through energy dips:** Reframe breaks as productivity tools, not laziness. A 10-minute break at 2 PM produces better output at 2:30 than powering through. - **User does not believe in energy management:** Track for 5 days. The data will show productivity differences between peak and low windows.