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Powering through different tasks and commitments can be quite draining. When this happens, there’s an unlikely source of inspiration that you can turn to: Your phone battery.

According to happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, going into “low power mode” can help us conserve energy and get important things done while also maintaining balance in our lives.

“Energy is precious,” Rubin told HuffPost UK. “Whenever we can conserve it, we can use it in another area of our lives—an area that’s more valuable to us.”

While on low power mode, Rubin recommended performing only critical functions and delaying others until you are fully “recharged”.

These critical functions might vary depending on the person’s needs. Think about what activities you can eliminate or reduce from your day-to-day life to give you headspace. For example, if you are caring for a sick partner or preparing to move to a new place, you might want to postpone that dinner party plan or return phone calls at a designated hour on the day instead of immediately.

The focus on these critical functions is not only to reduce intensity and pressure, but also to help you identify priorities and distractions.

To get the most out of your low power mode, announce it to the people around you. “Tell people that you’re in LPM so that they know what to expect from you,” advised Rubin. Once you are back on full power, you can let your friends and family members know that you are ready to return to your regular engagements and plans.

Have you tried this “low power mode” strategy?

This artical originally appeared on Over60.