Three dispositions for energy leaks within 48 hours

For each identified energy leak, apply exactly one of three strategies within 48 hours: resolve it through action, release it through explicit acknowledgment, or capture it in a trusted external system with a concrete next action.

When This Fires

After identifying energy leaks through any audit (Log energy (1-5) three times daily with sleep, meals…, Map activities on two dimensions, Sort energy leaks by fix-effort ÷ cognitive-cost ratio…)
When accumulated "things I should deal with" are creating background cognitive drain
When the list of open items feels overwhelming — the three-strategy framework simplifies each to one decision
Complements Every deferred priority gets one of three dispositions (deferral dispositions for priorities) with the energy-leak-specific version

Common Failure Mode

Leaving leaks in undefined status: "I'll deal with that eventually." "Eventually" is not a disposition — it's an open loop that continues draining. The 48-hour deadline and three-strategy framework force each leak into a closed state.

The Protocol

(1) For each identified energy leak, within 48 hours, assign one disposition: Resolve: can I take action now to close this? If the fix takes less than the effort threshold → do it immediately. The loop closes through completion. Release: is this something I can't change or shouldn't invest in? If yes → explicitly acknowledge it: "This happened. I can't change it. I'm releasing the energy I've been spending on it." Write the release statement. Capture: does this need future action but can't be resolved now? Write the specific next physical action in your trusted system with a date for when you'll do it. (2) Every leak gets exactly one of these three. No "I'll think about which one later." The thinking IS the decision you're making now. (3) After all leaks are dispositioned → the cognitive drain from open loops drops to near zero.