The 17% Battery Phenomenon
Think about it friend, have you ever noticed that when your phone battery reaches 17%, then you become a master of extreme productivity? You immediately close all the apps, turn off the Wi-Fi, stop watching videos. Only one thing comes to mind – this last battery should run for as long as possible.
Now think, if we apply this “low battery mindset” in our life – with time, energy and money. Just think how big a difference it can make.
A Personal Introduction
My name is Ghulam Mohiuddin and for the past 5+ years I have been building blogs and online businesses from Pakistan. The biggest learning I have got is that life changes when we are not in pursuit of getting more, but learn to use the things we already have in the right way. It is not a matter of fear, it is a matter of clarity.
What is the “Limited Resources” Mindset?
In simple words, it means treating your time, energy and focus like the last 17% battery of your phone – meaning limited and precious. This is the opposite mindset of the thinking that says “I have a lot of time.” Instead, you have to think: “If I had only a little bit left, how would I have used it in the best way?”
We do this naturally. For example, suppose there is only 1 liter of petrol left and we have to reach the next pump. So obviously you will not rev the engine unnecessarily. You will run smoothly and efficiently. This mindset forces you to select only those things for yourself which are really important and cut off the extra noise.
How Life Changes When You Consider Resources to Be Limited
When you live with healthy scarcity, clarity comes immediately. Distractions are cut out and you take action on only those things that really matter. Your thinking shifts from “I will do it someday” to “I have to do it now.”
When it seems that everything is unlimited, procrastination seems easy. “I will start a business sometime.” “I will spend time with the family later.” “I will learn a skill when I get free.”
But when a limited resource mindset comes in, the brain shifts into absolute focus mode. You stop waiting because you know that time is slipping away. Days, conversations, goals – everything becomes intentional. Scarcity becomes the same filter that removes unnecessary things and brings forward only the necessary things.
How to Start Adopting This Mindset from Today (Practical Tips)
The easiest way is to do a simple weekly audit of your time and energy, and then set boundaries for them. You don’t have to change your life completely, just take small and consistent steps. Here’s how I do it:
1. The 3-Month Test for Big Decisions
Ask yourself: “If I only had 3 months to achieve this one goal, what would I do today?” This question puts an end to procrastination. It doesn’t mean you have to rush everything, but you have to take the first step, like starting an online course, making the first phone call, or writing the first paragraph. Whatever the first step comes to mind, do it now.
2. Energy Budgeting, Just Like Money Budget
Just like you budget money, budget energy in the same way. Mental and physical energy are both limited. I learned this lesson after getting burnt out while managing multiple websites. Now I do high-energy tasks (like writing content) in the morning when the battery is 100%, and leave low-energy tasks (checking emails) for the afternoon.
3. Digital Minimalism: Think of Your Phone as a Tool, Not a Master
Apply the 17% battery lesson daily. Turn off non-essential notifications, use app timers. Before scrolling, think: “Is this the best use of my limited attention?” Just this one habit has made me spend hours every week.
4. One Thing Focus
When time is limited, it is not possible to do everything. Choose one thing every day that will take you ahead of everyone, and complete it before everything else. This is the real secret of productivity. Completing one big important project is more powerful than starting 10 small useless projects.
Is This Mindset Depressing? Scarcity vs Abundance
Absolutely not. This is not a mindset to live in fear, it is a way of purposeful living. This is a practical approach that creates real abundance.
Many people consider the abundance mindset to be wrong. They think abundance means treating resources as unlimited. But in reality, abundance means getting what really matters—like peace, happiness, and fulfillment.
When you treat your resources as limited, you make better decisions. The result? More time for family, more money, and more energy for your passions. This is the paradox—accepting limits brings freedom.
An Example From My Journey
When I started affiliate marketing, I was honestly absolutely overwhelmed. There was so much to learn—SEO, content writing, website development. I was wasting weeks jumping from one tutorial to another without making any real progress.
One day I thought: “If I only had 90 days to earn my first $100, what would I do?”
Clarity came instantly. I didn’t need to master everything. I just had to:
Create a simple website
Publish 10 solid articles
Seek a little SEO so that those articles would show up
I stopped consuming endless tutorials and started creating. That focus earned me my first affiliate commission. It wasn’t a huge amount, but there was enough proof that the method works.
Quick FAQ Section
Q: Will this keep me anxious forever?
A: It might feel a little weird in the beginning, but it actually reduces the anxiety. When you realize that you are using your time purposefully, the tension of wasted days vanishes.
Q: Is this just for work and productivity?
A: Absolutely not! This applies everywhere. It will help you be more present with your family, make you intentional in spending time, and help you feel grateful for small moments.
Q: Isn’t this like being stingy?
A: Absolutely not. This is not a mindset of being stingy, it is about being strategic. It means investing your resources where your values align. This is not a mindset of storing money or energy and never using it, but a mindset of using it wisely.
Your Next Step: A Charge of Reality
Friend, we often live as if we always have time, energy and loved ones. But the truth is, nothing happens forever. This thought is not sad, it is empowering.
This means that today, this moment, is very valuable.
You should not wait for New Year resolution or any big crisis to live intentionally. Start small. Look at your to-do list today and ask yourself: “If my battery was at last 17% today, which one task would I definitely complete?”
Do that task first.
And yes, I would love to hear how your experience was. Did you find a new focus? Did you finally start that project you were waiting for? Share your story in the comments or send me a message. Let’s get together and make the best use of what we have.
