The Science Behind Energy & Productivity

You know how everyone’s obsessed with productivity hacks? Like, "wake up at 5 AM," "follow the 2-minute rule," "batch your tasks." Yeah, those are all great — but lately, I’ve been thinking: what if productivity isn't just about how we manage our time, but how we manage our energy?

I mean, you can have the perfect to-do list and still feel like a potato if your energy’s not right. As a Reiki Master, I spend a lot of time helping people understand energy in a more felt way, but there's also a ton of science behind this. So I thought — why not blend the two worlds and chat about it?

1. Energy Isn’t Just Physical (It's Everything)

When we say “energy,” most people think: "Oh, like being tired or needing coffee." But actually, our energy has layers — physical, mental, emotional, even spiritual.

For example:

• Physical energy = your body's fuel (food, sleep, hydration)

• Mental energy = your ability to focus and solve problems

• Emotional energy = how you handle stress and relationships

• Spiritual energy = your sense of purpose or connectedness

And here's the kicker: they’re all interconnected. If one dips, the others follow. (Like how one bad email in the morning can ruin your entire day even if you're well-rested.)

2. Mindfulness Actually Rewires Your Brain (Science Says So)

As a Reiki practitioner, meditation is like breathing to me. But even outside the woo-woo world, science backs it up: mindfulness practices literally restructure your brain.

Studies show meditation strengthens the prefrontal cortex (where focus and decision-making happen) and shrinks the amygdala (where fear and stress live). Translation: you stay calm and sharp, instead of spiraling when your inbox hits 120 unread emails.

And honestly? It doesn't have to be complicated. Even 5 minutes of deep breathing or quiet sitting can reset your mental energy better than scrolling TikTok (no judgment, I do it too sometimes).

3. Your Body is an Energy Bank

Here’s the underrated productivity tip no one talks about: Eat well. Move your body. Sleep enough.

Groundbreaking, right? 😂 But seriously, your body is like a power bank. If you feed it junk, overwork it, and barely charge it (read: no sleep), your "battery life" just tanks.

• Food: Aim for real, whole foods (your brain loves Omega-3s, by the way).

• Movement: Even a 10-minute walk boosts energy and creative thinking.

• Sleep: It’s not just about quantity — it’s about quality. Good sleep literally clears toxins from your brain (shoutout to the glymphatic system).

When you treat your body well, it’s shocking how much easier it becomes to stay productive.

4. Respect Your Natural Energy Waves

You know that feeling when you're super focused in the morning, but totally useless by 3 PM? That’s not laziness — that's biology.

Our bodies run on circadian rhythms — natural cycles that affect when we’re most alert, creative, sleepy, etc. Trying to work against that is like trying to surf without a wave. Exhausting.

Pro tip?

• Schedule deep work (writing, thinking) when you naturally feel sharp (for most, that’s mid-morning).

• Use low-energy times (after lunch) for admin tasks or breaks.

• If you're feeling rebellious: 20-minute naps are basically legal performance-enhancing drugs.

5. Rest is Not a Reward — It’s Part of the Process

This might be the hardest mindset shift: rest isn’t something you "earn" after hustling. It’s part of how you sustain hustle over the long term.

Think about athletes — they build rest days into their training because the body needs recovery to get stronger. Same with mental and emotional energy.

Reiki, meditation, even just an afternoon spent doing nothing productive... it's not wasted time. It’s you recharging your energy so you can come back sharper, more creative, and yes, more productive.

Final Thoughts (Before We Finish Our Coffee)

At the end of the day, it’s not about squeezing more hours out of yourself. It’s about protecting and amplifying your energy — because that’s what fuels everything else.

And when you get your energy right? Productivity stops feeling like a grind... and starts feeling like flow.