Book Review: "The Power of Full Engagment" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

Great book on managing energy not time. The jist of the book is that you have four sources of energy: physical, mental, emtional, and spiritual. In each of these areas, you are meant to have rhythms of stress and then rest for rejuvenation. Most of us live with a linear output of energy - we're always going. Trying to go all the time causes your body to become inefficient and burnout.

They key is to push yourself in each of these areas and then rest. They've done a lot of research on world class athletes. Everyone who came looking for help was either overtraining or undertraining. The result of a well balanced energy output (with hardwork and rest) is maximum output. Sounds like having a sabbath rest. I wonder who came up with that idea? :-)

It's amazing how I see this in my own life. When I push too hard, I cannot concentrate well. I don't disengage, and my kids have a hard time getting my attention. I go to bed too wound up and don't sleep as well. When I'm in a good rhythm, then I can be fully engaged at work, with my family, exercising, and sleeping.

It's a timely book for me as I'm looking at a new job description and schedule for the fall.

- posted by Kendrick @ 9:45 PM