Balance your energy by saying no to the rest

Our modern lives are filled with possibilities—side projects, fitness goals, lifelong passions. But time and energy are finite. In economics, every choice has an opportunity cost: saying “yes” to one pursuit inevitably means saying “no” to another. If we commit to too many goals, we scatter our focus and exhaust our reserves, leading straight to burnout.

The energy investment portfolio borrows from financial portfolio theory: just as you’d diversify investments within your risk tolerance, you must allocate your mental and emotional energy among a limited set of goals. First, list every dream you hope to accomplish someday—your “potential investments.” Then catalogue what you actively invest in this week. Compare the two and trim your active list to only 3–5 front-burner projects that align most closely with your priorities.

Review your portfolio weekly, adjusting for changing demands. This system isn’t about coldly maximizing efficiency; it’s about honoring your deepest values while preventing overcommitment. By consciously selecting where to invest your precious energy, you protect your focus and safeguard your well-being against exhaustion.

Ultimately, if you can say “no” to 90% of good ideas, you gain the bandwidth to deeply pursue the few that matter most.

Begin by capturing every priority you’d love to pursue if time were infinite, then list what you’re actively doing this week. Compare and pause any active pursuits beyond your top three to five. Schedule weekly check-ins to rebalance—drop what drags you down, add what energizes you. With a clear energy portfolio, you’ll protect your focus and keep burnout at bay—start this ritual on Monday.