Your Capacity Is Trainable

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. For many of us, it also means it is time to refocus, ramp up, and finish the year strong.

That is easier to do when we remember one thing: our capacity is not fixed.

Earlier this week, I listened to a podcast interview with Dr. Lizette Warner, who described capacity as your nervous system’s bandwidth. In other words, how much you can handle can change.

You have probably experienced this from one season of life to another. There are times when you are thinking clearly, making decisions quickly, and staying ahead of what is coming. You seem to have a little extra pep in your step and more confidence in your approach.

Other times, you feel like you are giving everything you have, yet it still does not feel like enough.

The workload between those two seasons might not have differed that much. Your capacity may have.

Sleep, exercise, stress, family responsibilities, work demands, and other pressures all affect how much energy and focus you have available.

Dr. Warner describes the capacity gap as the space between the effort you put in and the impact that effort creates. The wider the gap, the more efficient and effective you are at work.

Build your capacity

Capacity can be trained. The way you recover between periods of effort affects how much you have available for the next one.

Recovery is multidimensional. Your body may need something different from your mind or emotions, so pay attention to what each part of you needs to feel restored.

Physically, that might mean a couple of extra hours of sleep, a workout, or time in the sauna. Mentally, it could mean stepping away from screens, reading, or giving yourself quiet time. Emotionally, you may feel recharged by dinner with friends, meaningful conversation, or time with people who energize you. You may also get a lift from something that sparks curiosity or creativity, like a concert or a cultural event.

Consider activities that get you out of your own head entirely, like volunteering, paying it forward, or other opportunities that connect you to a broader sense of purpose. These can be surprisingly restorative.

More capacity also gives you the space to lift out of your to-do list and get clear about where to direct your attention. When you know what you are working toward, you can put more of your energy into the decisions, conversations, and work that will have the greatest impact. That is how you widen the gap even further.

If you are getting ready to ramp up this fall, use the long weekend to recharge.

Wishing you a safe and restorative Labor Day weekend.