The Energy Menu: To Stay Energised Personally and Professionally

You don’t have to guess how to recharge. You can design it.

In coaching, I often use the Self-Care Battery to help leaders see what recharges them and what drains them. I also use a Not-To-Do List to stop energy leaks.

The Energy Menu is my own twist on those ideas. It’s a way to intentionally plan energising experiences into your days, weeks, months, and years, while being clear about the time and cost investment each one needs.

I split mine into:

• Starters: small, regular boosts (1–4 hrs, weekly or monthly)
• Mains: deeper recharges (full days, quarterly or biannual)
• Tasting Menu: big, immersive experiences (multi-day, biennial or annual)
• Not-To-Do List: the drains I avoid

I treat my Energy Menu the same way a great restaurant updates theirs. It changes with the seasons, my priorities, and what I need most right now. It’s a living document that evolves with me.

I split mine into personal and professional items, because both matter. Some activities recharge me outside of work. Others energise me at work so I can lead better.

Your menu will look different from mine. The point is to make it visible, tangible, and deliberate. So you’re not relying on scraps of free time to recover.

Do you want the template, so you can design your own? Get it for free by signing up here. I'd be curious to hear what you put on yours.

Example: Liam's Energy Menu