By Susan Mackay

We’ve been sold a myth: that productivity should look like a straight line.

Consistent. Controlled. Clock in at 9, out at 5.

But for many of us – especially those with brains wired for curiosity, intensity, or creativity – energy doesn’t flow that way.

It moves like the sea.

Some days, you’re riding a high tide – ideas crashing in like exhilarating breakers, to-do lists falling like dominoes.

Other days, you feel like a tidepool – quieter, slower, still beautiful, but not built for motion.

We’re not machines.

We are ecosystems.

And our energy deserves to be treated with the same care and reverence as any living thing.

Reclaim Your Rhythm

So what if we stopped fighting our natural energy cycles – and started tuning in to them?

What if productivity wasn’t about trying to squeeze out more from less, but learning how to tune in?

Try asking:

– When does my energy naturally rise and fall?

– What time of day do I feel most clear, most focused and most creative?

– What drains me – and what fills me back up?

Could you start to notice?

Don’t judge – just notice.

Aqua-marine Zones, Grey Zones, Purple Zones and Everything In Between

One tool I sometimes use in coaching is a simple colour-based energy map.

It helps you become more aware of your capacity – not just your commitments.

– Aqua-marine zone = Energised, focused, clear-thinking. The sweet spot.

This zone is great for creative work, problem-solving and having deep conversations.

– Grey zone = Low battery. Foggy, flat, or even overstimulated.

Good for gentle tasks, quiet reflection, or – yes, a radical idea – rest!

– Purple zone = Mixed energy. You’re okay, but pushing through might cost you.

This can be useful for tasks like admin, light meetings, or adjusting your pace.

What I’ve discovered is that if you start mapping your energy instead of your tasks, you can plan around your capacity, not just your calendar.

Permission to Pause

Let’s be clear: rest is not weakness. It’s how we renew.

Pushing through the ‘grey zone’ rarely gets you ‘aqua-marine zone’ results.

Give yourself permission to:

– Take breaks before you’re exhausted.

– Redefine “productive” as “aligned”.

– Honour the ebb as much as the flow.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for your energy is to stop fighting it.

Try This: Your Own Energy Audit

Take a diary or planner and for the next 5 days, notice and jot down:

– When you feel most energised

– What you’re doing at those times

– What tends to drain or restore you

Then reflect:

– How could I structure my week to work best with this?

– What patterns am I ignoring because I feel I “should” be more consistent?

You might be surprised at how small changes – shifting a meeting, blocking out your “aqua-marine hours,” or turning off notifications in your “grey zone” – can start unlocking big shifts.

From Force to Flow

Remember – there’s no prize for powering through.

But there is deep, sustainable growth in learning your natural rhythm – and respecting it.

Let’s stop pretending that output = your worth.

Let’s start designing our days around who we are rather than imagined perfection.

Because when we ride our energy waves instead of resisting them, we’re not just more effective.

We’re more us.

So here’s your invitation:

What could change if you stopped forcing it… and started flowing with it?