If you’ve ever ended your day feeling completely wiped out, despite spending most of it sitting at your desk, you’re not alone. For many professionals, especially those living with a chronic illness, the real challenge isn’t time management. It’s managing energy at work.

But here’s the thing: most of us are managing it wrong. Not because we’re unmotivated, but because we’ve been trained to prioritise hustle over health and busyness over balance.

Let’s change that.

Below are five surprisingly common mistakes professionals make when managing energy at work and what to do instead for better focus, better flow and way less burnout.

1. Mistaking Busyness for Productivity

The drain:

You tick off a dozen tasks, but none of them move the needle. This kind of “busy work” eats up mental bandwidth but gives you very little back.

What to do instead:

Start your day by identifying your energy-worthwhile task: the one thing that, if done well, will make everything else easier. If you’ve only got one good hour in you today, spend it there.

2. Powering Through Fatigue

The drain:

You feel the slump, but push through anyway. By the time you stop, you’re not just tired, you’re wrecked.

What to do instead:

Take micro-breaks before fatigue hits. These short pauses protect your energy reserves and keep your mind sharp.

👉 Want to avoid the crash?

Download my free guide: 5 Powerful Strategies to Reduce Fatigue at Work. It’s full of practical, feel-good tools that work with your energy, not against it.

3. Over-checking Emails and Messages

The drain:

Constant checking = constant context switching = fragmented focus.

What to do instead:

Check your inbox 2–3 times daily and mute non-urgent notifications. Let your team know how to reach you for true urgencies.

4. Seeing Rest as Unproductive

The drain:

You fill downtime with admin because rest feels like laziness. Spoiler: it’s not.

What to do instead:

Block out white space in your calendar. Even just 10 minutes of true pause can help you reset and return with more clarity. Think of it as fuel, not fluff.

Want to understand more about why rest matters?

Want to understand more about why rest matters?

Take a look at Mind UK’s guide to workplace wellbeing, which covers how breaks, boundaries and balance are key to avoiding burnout and supporting long-term health.

5. Comparing Your Capacity to Others’ Output

The drain:

You try to keep pace with others, even when your body’s saying no.

What to do instead:

Honour your energy curve. Your capacity is allowed to shift. Build your schedule around that truth, not someone else’s timeline.

What Managing Energy at Work Really Looks Like

Managing energy at work isn’t about squeezing more out of yourself. It’s about working with your capacity instead of against it. It’s about knowing the difference between productivity and depletion and having the tools to choose the former.

To recap:

• Focus on impact, not activity
• Rest before you hit the wall
• Limit digital interruptions
• Reframe rest as a power move
• Respect your capacity

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’ve just outgrown the one-size-fits-none version of productivity.

Disclaimer:

The content in this blog is based on my personal experience of living with chronic illness and is shared for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your GP or healthcare professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, work routine, or health management. The tips and strategies shared here can be used alongside medical advice to support your well-being.