ISSUE 20
Your energy is one of your most valuable resources.
Where you put it matters.
Every day, you decide what gets your time, attention, effort, and sometimes your emotions.
Some things deserve a lot of it.
Some things deserve a little.
And some things simply need enough to move forward.
Learning the difference is an important part of becoming a student—and a person—who knows how to keep moving forward.
Here's something I wish more students understood:
Not everything deserves your full energy.
Your Energy Is a Resource
You only have so much time, attention, and energy in a day.
Where you choose to put them matters.
Some things deserve your very best effort.
Some things need your attention, but not all of it.
Some things need to be completed so you can move on to what comes next.
And some things are worth letting go of altogether.
Over time, you get better at recognizing the difference.
You learn where the extra hour is worth it.
Where another revision will improve the work.
And where it's time to call it done and move forward.
That's part of learning how to use your energy well.
Not Everything Is a Five-Alarm Fire
You get a lower grade than you expected.
Someone makes a comment during critique that sticks with you.
You realize you made a mistake after submitting an assignment.
Your project isn't turning out exactly the way you pictured it.
In the moment, those things can feel enormous.
That's a good time to step back and ask:
How important is this, really?
Will it matter next week?
Will it affect the course outcome?
Is there something I can do about it?
Where would my energy be most useful right now?
Sometimes a little perspective changes everything.
100% Isn't Always the Goal
There are absolutely times when something deserves your very best.
An important project.
A big opportunity.
Something you're especially proud of.
Something that will make you better because you gave it the extra time.
And then there are times when:
It is good enough. Turn it in.
That can be a surprisingly hard thing to learn.
If you spend three extra hours perfecting something that was already working, those three hours have to come from somewhere.
Another class.
Sleep.
Your job.
Your family.
The next project.
Or the time you needed to recharge.
Part of doing your best work is learning when the extra effort will actually make a difference.
Save Some Energy for What Comes Next
College has a lot of finish lines.
Finish the assignment.
Finish the week.
Finish midterms.
Finish the semester.
And then something else begins.
That's why learning to manage your energy matters just as much as learning to manage your time.
Sometimes the best choice is to follow through and do what you said you would do.
Sometimes it's to step away long enough to get some perspective.
And sometimes it's to refill your cup so you're ready for what's next.
The skill is learning to recognize which one you need.
Final Thoughts
Your time, attention, and energy are valuable.
Use them with intention.
Give your best energy to what matters most.
Know when something is worth the extra effort and when it's ready to move forward.
Make space to step away, gain perspective, and recharge when you need it.
And save some energy for what comes next.
You get to decide where your best energy goes.
Choose what deserves the best of you.
In design truth,
Maggie
