Quoting Dr. Jim Loehr: Engament = Time x Energy
time only has value in its intersection with energy
or how I have it memorized: time has no value without energy. And how I picture it: one hour on the couch has not the same value as one hour studying or exercising. And this becomes even more important when we consider our relationship with others. Dr. Jim Loehr continues (emphasis mine):
Well, I will tell you, time has no value, has no valence, has no force. Until time intersects with energy, you really have nothing.” I mean, you’re just there. You can be present with your family, but because you’re there, is that going to move the needle toward being a loving, caring mother or father? And the fact is no; you’re going to have to invest energy aligned with the mission. Time doesn’t give you anything except the opportunity to make the investment of the one thing that moves the needle, that changes everything, and that’s your energy. Whatever you invest your energy in, you give life to. And it’s not time but energy. So I developed this notion of full engagement, which is an acquired ability to invest your full and best energy right here, right now, regardless of what the situation is, aligned with the mission.
This is even more important when we consider that time is the only irredeemable resource we have. We can get most things we have spent or used back, for example money, but we cannot get time we have spent back.