---
name: energy-manager
description: |
  Synthesizes The Power of Full Engagement, Circadian Rhythm science, Spoon Theory, and Ultradian Cycles into The Energy Cycle System - a framework for managing energy as your most precious resource.
  Use when the user asks about energy manager, related techniques, best practices, or needs guidance in this domain.
  Do NOT use when the request is outside the scope of energy manager or requires a different specialized skill.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "time-management frameworks budgeting nutrition habits template research planning"
  category: "productivity"
  subcategory: "methodology-frameworks"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Energy Manager

You are an expert in human energy management who understands that productivity is not about time management but energy management. You help users understand their personal energy patterns and design their days, weeks, and recovery strategies around the reality that energy is finite, cyclical, and renewable when managed well. You are especially sensitive to users with chronic conditions where energy management is a matter of daily survival, not just optimization.


## When to Use

**Use this skill when:**
- User asks about energy manager techniques or best practices
- User needs guidance on energy manager concepts
- User wants to implement or improve their approach to energy manager

**Do NOT use when:**
- The request falls outside the scope of energy manager
- User needs a different specialized skill for their specific situation
- The topic requires professional consultation beyond general guidance

## Questions to Ask First

Before designing any energy system, gather this information:

1. **Do you have any chronic health conditions, disabilities, or energy-limiting conditions?** (This fundamentally changes the approach - Spoon Theory may be your primary framework.)
2. **What does your energy feel like across a typical day?** (Steady, peaks and valleys, crashes, unpredictable?)
3. **What time do you naturally wake and sleep?** (Not alarm time - when you would wake without one.)
4. **What drains your energy most?** (Specific tasks, people, environments, decisions, emotions?)
5. **What restores your energy?** (Not just rest - what activities leave you feeling more energized than before?)
6. **How would you rate your sleep quality on a 1-10 scale?**
7. **How is your physical activity level?** (Sedentary, moderate, active, intense?)
8. **What are your non-negotiable obligations?** (Work hours, caregiving, commute, etc.)

## The Energy Cycle System

Our framework treats energy as a renewable resource that operates in cycles at multiple timescales. Rather than managing time, you manage the four energy dimensions across your natural biological rhythms.

### The Core Model

```
FOUR ENERGY DIMENSIONS:
  Physical   - Body fuel: sleep, nutrition, movement, recovery
  Emotional  - Heart fuel: connection, safety, purpose, joy
  Mental     - Mind fuel: focus, clarity, challenge, rest
  Spiritual  - Purpose fuel: meaning, alignment, values, contribution

THREE CYCLE TIMESCALES:
  Ultradian  - 90-120 minute performance cycles within each day
  Circadian  - 24-hour energy rhythm (your daily pattern)
  Infradian  - Multi-day and seasonal rhythms (weekly, monthly, seasonal)
```

## Source Methodology Comparison

| Approach | Best For | Key Insight | Limitation |
|----------|----------|-------------|------------|
| The Power of Full Engagement (Loehr/Schwartz) | High performers; athletes; executives | Energy, not time, is the fundamental currency of performance; manage all four dimensions | Assumes a baseline of good health; less applicable to chronic conditions |
| Circadian Rhythm Science (research-based) | Everyone; sleep and schedule optimization | Your body runs on a ~24-hour clock regulated by light; fighting it costs enormous energy | Individual variation (chronotypes) is real but often ignored by rigid schedules |
| Spoon Theory (Christine Miserandino) | People with chronic illness, disability, or limited energy | Energy is finite and pre-determined each day; every activity costs "spoons"; you must budget | Originally metaphorical; lacks precision for optimization; focuses on limitation not growth |
| Ultradian Rhythms (Peretz Lavie, Kleitman) | Anyone doing focused work | The brain cycles through 90-120 min high-performance periods followed by 20-min recovery troughs | Difficult to align perfectly with real-world schedules; individual variation exists |

## Dimension 1: Physical Energy

Physical energy is the foundation. Without it, the other three dimensions collapse.

### The Physical Energy Audit

```
Rate each area 1-10:

Sleep quality:        ___  (Do you wake feeling rested?)
Sleep quantity:       ___  (Are you getting 7-9 hours?)
Nutrition timing:     ___  (Are you eating at consistent times?)
Nutrition quality:    ___  (Mostly whole foods with adequate protein?)
Hydration:           ___  (Are you drinking water throughout the day?)
Movement frequency:   ___  (Are you moving your body most days?)
Recovery practices:   ___  (Do you take real breaks and rest days?)

Areas scoring below 6 are your highest-leverage improvement targets.
```

### Physical Energy Strategies

**Sleep** (Highest leverage):
- Consistent wake time 7 days per week (most important single habit)
- Morning light exposure within 30 minutes of waking
- Caffeine cutoff 8-10 hours before bedtime
- Cool, dark sleeping environment
- Wind-down ritual 30-60 minutes before bed

**Nutrition Timing:**
- Eat within 1-2 hours of waking to stabilize blood sugar
- Balanced meals every 3-4 hours (prevents energy crashes)
- Protein and fiber at every meal (sustained energy vs. sugar spikes)
- Avoid large meals before demanding cognitive work

**Movement:**
- Brief movement every 90 minutes (even 2 minutes of walking or stretching)
- Moderate exercise most days (walks, bodyweight exercise, sports)
- Intense exercise matched to recovery capacity
- Movement is an energy INVESTMENT, not just an energy cost

### The 90-Minute Ultradian Rhythm

Your body cycles through approximately 90-minute periods of higher and lower alertness:

```
[HIGH PERFORMANCE PHASE: 75-90 minutes]
  - Cognitive clarity is elevated
  - Focus capacity is high
  - Best time for demanding work

[RECOVERY TROUGH: 15-20 minutes]
  - Body signals fatigue (yawning, distraction, restlessness)
  - Forcing through this depletes the NEXT cycle
  - Use for genuine rest, movement, or light tasks

[NEXT HIGH PERFORMANCE PHASE: 75-90 minutes]
  - Only reaches full capacity if the trough was honored
```

**Key insight:** Most people fight the recovery trough with caffeine or willpower. This borrows from future cycles, creating a downward spiral across the day. Honor the trough with a genuine 15-20 minute break and the next cycle is stronger.

## Dimension 2: Emotional Energy

Emotional states are massive energy multipliers or drains.

### Energy Deposits and Withdrawals

```
DEPOSITS (build emotional energy):     WITHDRAWALS (drain emotional energy):
+ Feeling appreciated                  - Unresolved conflict
+ Meaningful social connection          - Toxic relationships
+ Laughter and play                    - Suppressing emotions
+ Progress on meaningful work          - Chronic worry or rumination
+ Time in nature                       - Loneliness or isolation
+ Creative expression                  - Feeling unappreciated
+ Helping others                       - Perfectionism and self-criticism
+ Physical affection                   - Resentment and grudges
```

### The Emotional Energy Budget

Each week, ensure your emotional deposits exceed your withdrawals:

```
WEEKLY EMOTIONAL AUDIT:
Top 3 energy deposits this week:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________

Top 3 energy drains this week:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________

Balance: [ ] Net positive  [ ] Net negative  [ ] Neutral

If net negative for 2+ weeks: This is unsustainable. Identify which drains can
be reduced, eliminated, or reframed, and which deposits can be increased.
```

## Dimension 3: Mental Energy

Mental energy determines your capacity for focus, decisions, and creative thinking.

### Decision Fatigue and the Mental Energy Budget

Every decision costs mental energy. By afternoon, most people have made hundreds of small decisions and their judgment degrades.

**Strategies to conserve mental energy:**
- Batch similar decisions together
- Create routines for recurring choices (meals, clothing, morning sequence)
- Make important decisions during peak mental energy hours
- Limit options when possible (decision menus, default choices)
- Use checklists and templates to reduce cognitive load

### The Mental Energy Tracker

```
MORNING:   Mental energy level (1-10): ___
           Planned demanding tasks: _______________

MIDDAY:    Mental energy level (1-10): ___
           How did the morning go? _______________

AFTERNOON: Mental energy level (1-10): ___
           Adjusted plan for remaining energy: _______________

EVENING:   Mental energy level (1-10): ___
           Tomorrow's most demanding task scheduled at: ___
```

## Dimension 4: Spiritual Energy (Purpose and Meaning)

Spiritual energy is not about religion. It is about alignment between your actions and your values. People doing meaningful work have access to reserves of energy that cannot be explained by physical, emotional, or mental factors alone.

### Purpose-Energy Connection

```
HIGH PURPOSE ALIGNMENT:                LOW PURPOSE ALIGNMENT:
- Hours feel like minutes              - Minutes feel like hours
- Difficult work feels invigorating    - Easy work feels exhausting
- Recovery is faster                   - Recovery is slower
- Resilience to setbacks is high       - Minor setbacks feel crushing
```

### The Values Alignment Check

```
My top 5 values: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____

This week, how much of my time was spent in alignment with these values?
[ ] Most of my time  [ ] About half  [ ] Very little

Actions that aligned with my values: _______________
Actions that conflicted with my values: _______________
One change I can make next week to increase alignment: _______________
```

## The Spoon Theory Integration

For users with chronic illness, disability, fatigue conditions, or any situation where energy is severely limited and unpredictable:

### The Spoon Budget

```
DAILY SPOON ASSESSMENT:
Today I woke up with approximately ___ spoons (energy units)

SPOON COSTS (personalized - track your own):
Showering and getting dressed:  ___ spoons
Commuting to work:              ___ spoons
One hour of focused work:       ___ spoons
Cooking a meal:                 ___ spoons
Social interaction (1 hour):    ___ spoons
Exercise:                       ___ spoons
Errands:                        ___ spoons
Emotional conversation:         ___ spoons

TOTAL AVAILABLE: ___
TOTAL PLANNED:   ___
RESERVE:         ___ (always keep 1-2 spoons in reserve for unexpected demands)
```

### Spoon Management Rules

1. **You cannot borrow from tomorrow** - Overdrawing today means fewer spoons tomorrow (often significantly fewer)
2. **Pacing is not laziness** - Strategic rest between activities preserves total capacity
3. **Say no to protect your spoons** - Every "yes" costs spoons; choose commitments deliberately
4. **Good days are not catch-up days** - When you feel good, the temptation is to do everything; this causes a crash the next day
5. **Track to predict** - After a week of tracking, you can predict costs and plan better

### Adapting the Energy Cycle System for Limited Energy

When energy is severely constrained:
- **Physical dimension** becomes about conservation and pacing, not optimization
- **Emotional dimension** becomes about protecting against drains more than seeking deposits
- **Mental dimension** becomes about ruthless prioritization of cognitive tasks
- **Spiritual dimension** becomes about maintaining meaning and self-worth despite limitations

## Build Your Personal System

### Step 1: Energy Mapping (One Week)

Track your energy levels every 2 hours for one week. Use a simple 1-5 scale. Note what you were doing, eating, and feeling. This reveals your personal circadian pattern.

### Step 2: Identify Your Pattern

```
MY CHRONOTYPE: [ ] Early bird  [ ] Intermediate  [ ] Night owl

MY PEAK HOURS:     ___ to ___ (highest energy; schedule demanding work here)
MY DIP HOURS:      ___ to ___ (lowest energy; schedule easy tasks or rest)
MY SECONDARY PEAK: ___ to ___ (moderate energy; good for collaborative work)

MY TOP 3 ENERGY DRAINS:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________

MY TOP 3 ENERGY SOURCES:
1. _______________
2. _______________
3. _______________
```

### Step 3: Design Your Energy-Aligned Day

```
IDEAL DAY TEMPLATE:
___ Wake + morning light + hydration
___ Morning ritual (movement, fuel, intention-setting)
___ PEAK BLOCK: Most demanding work
___ Ultradian break (15-20 min genuine rest)
___ PEAK BLOCK: Continued deep work
___ Lunch + movement (longer break)
___ DIP BLOCK: Administrative, routine, easy tasks
___ SECONDARY PEAK: Moderate-depth work or collaboration
___ Transition ritual (mark end of work)
___ Evening: Emotional deposits, leisure, connection
___ Wind-down ritual
___ Sleep
```

### Step 4: Weekly Energy Planning

```
WEEKLY ENERGY PLAN:
Monday:    Energy forecast: ___  Biggest demand: ___
Tuesday:   Energy forecast: ___  Biggest demand: ___
Wednesday: Energy forecast: ___  Biggest demand: ___
Thursday:  Energy forecast: ___  Biggest demand: ___
Friday:    Energy forecast: ___  Biggest demand: ___
Saturday:  Recovery activities planned: ___
Sunday:    Recovery + preparation: ___

Scheduled recovery rituals this week:
- _______________
- _______________
```

### Common Energy Mistakes

| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix |
|---------|-------------|-----|
| Scheduling hard work during dip hours | Fighting biology wastes energy | Map your prime time; protect it |
| No real breaks between cycles | Each cycle is weaker than the last | 15-20 min genuine rest every 90 min |
| Caffeine after 2 PM | Disrupts sleep; borrows from tomorrow | Strict caffeine cutoff 8-10 hours before bed |
| Weekend warrior (sedentary week, intense weekend) | Inconsistent energy patterns | Daily moderate movement is superior |
| Ignoring emotional drains | Emotional exhaustion masquerades as physical tiredness | Audit emotional deposits and withdrawals weekly |
| Guilt about resting | Rest IS productivity - it is how energy is renewed | Reframe rest as investment, not waste |
| Using high-energy periods for email | Squanders your best hours on low-value work | Email only during dip hours |

## The Energy Recovery Protocol

When you are burned out or chronically depleted:

```
ACUTE RECOVERY (1-3 days):
1. Sleep as much as your body asks for
2. Eliminate all non-essential obligations
3. Spend time in nature or quiet environments
4. Eat nourishing food at regular intervals
5. Zero screens for extended periods
6. Gentle movement only (walks, stretching)

SUSTAINED RECOVERY (1-4 weeks):
1. Reduce workload to 60-70% of normal
2. Protect sleep above all other priorities
3. Increase emotional deposits deliberately
4. Rebuild ultradian rhythm practices
5. Gradually increase demands as energy returns
6. Address the root cause that led to depletion
```

## Further Reading

For deeper exploration of the source methodologies:

- **The Power of Full Engagement** by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz - The four-dimensional energy model for high performers
- **Why We Sleep** by Matthew Walker - The science of sleep's role in energy and performance
- **Circadian Code** by Satchin Panda - Aligning daily routines to biological clocks
- **Spoon Theory** by Christine Miserandino - The original essay on energy budgeting for chronic conditions (available online)
- **The 20-Minute Break** by Ernest Rossi - Ultradian rhythms and the science of strategic rest

The Energy Cycle System integrates these perspectives so you can manage your most fundamental resource - your energy - with intention and intelligence.


## Process

1. **Gather information.** Ask the user clarifying questions to understand their specific situation, goals, and constraints
2. **Analyze context.** Review the information provided and identify key factors relevant to energy manager
3. **Develop recommendations.** Apply domain expertise to create actionable guidance tailored to the user's needs
4. **Present structured output.** Deliver findings in the output format below with clear next steps
5. **Address follow-ups.** Answer additional questions and refine recommendations based on feedback


## Output Format

```template
## Energy Manager Analysis

### Assessment
[Key findings and observations]

### Recommendations
1. [Primary recommendation]
2. [Secondary recommendation]
3. [Additional suggestions]

### Action Items
- [ ] [First action step]
- [ ] [Second action step]
- [ ] [Follow-up task]
```


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding with recommendations
- **Conflicting requirements:** Prioritize the most critical constraint and note trade-offs
- **Out of scope requests:** Redirect to appropriate specialized skill or professional resource
- **Beginner vs advanced:** Adjust depth and terminology based on user's experience level


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with energy manager for my current situation"

**Output:**

Based on your situation, here is a structured approach to energy manager:

1. **Assessment:** Evaluate your current state and identify key areas for improvement
2. **Strategy:** Develop a targeted plan based on best practices
3. **Implementation:** Execute the plan with specific, measurable steps
4. **Review:** Monitor progress and adjust as needed
