Doing the Right Work at the Right Time

We can all point to specific periods of the day when we have great energy, times when we feel sharpest or are most productive .Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep that high energy level consistent, all day? Of course it would. But is it realistic? Read more…

We can all point to specific periods of the day when we have great energy, times when we feel sharpest or are most productive. How often have you heard comments like, “I’m a morning person – I can get more done in the first two hours of the day than all the remaining hours combined, or “I’m a night owl – I do my best work after dark”? You might have even been the one saying it.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could keep that high energy level consistent, all day? Of course it would. But is it realistic? Unfortunately not.

The reality is that our bodies work in cycles. Studies have verified that our bodies behave in biochemical, physiological, and behavioral cycles called circadian rhythms. “Circadia,” literally translated, comes from the Latin meaning “around the day.”

So if our bodies do work in cycles, how can we make the best of them, rather than ignore or fight them? The challenge is to harness those windows of time to do and be our best. This is where self-knowledge becomes our greatest ally. The key to managing ourselves, our work, and our lives is to truly know our styles and understand what works for us, our strengths, and yes, our work cycles.

Self-knowledge is the first step. Once we understand and acknowledge our daily rhythms, we’ve got to do something with that knowledge.

I’ve seen too many bright entrepreneurs schedule mundane meetings during their peak work times. I’ve heard people schedule sales calls for their “slow” times of the day. I’ve witnessed people working through lunch or not eating lunch, impacting their energy levels in their afternoons.

Why business leaders either ignore or fail to acknowledge these cycles as a way of being more productive is a conundrum to me.

Anyone who has spent more than a few years in the workforce should be able to identify their energy cycles. They know that it is unrealistic to expect to have consistent high energy levels throughout their workdays. Yet, their actions and decisions about how they manage their days don’t reflect an understanding of their rhythms.

Instead of ignoring these cycles, let’s use them to do our best work. The identification of your work energy levels should not be rocket science; the biggest challenge is for you to actually recognize and acknowledge them.

A simple chart is all you need. Create two vertical columns, the first being “Energy Level,” the second being “Activities.” Then create rows for each hour of the day. Rate your energy level from 1-5, and list your activities in those hourly time slots. Do this assessment for several days.

Energy Level (1:Low – 5:High)	Activities
7am
8am
….
2pm
4pm

Your energy peaks and valleys should become apparent, and they will most likely have a consistent pattern. While you may already be in touch with your higher and lower energy cycles, many times people are surprised with the list of activities that correspond to those energy levels. With this knowledge, you can translate your self-awareness into actions that will bring profitable returns.

Take a hard look at your results. Are you using your maximum energy periods for your most important work? If not, you’ll benefit from shifting activities to match your energy cycles.

We cannot tell you what the most important use of your time is, or what your most critical actions should be– that is for you to decide. But once you’ve made that determination, make sure that you organize your day to devote your best thinking times to your most important tasks.

If your high-energy cycle is first thing in the morning, avoid the routine task of cleaning out your inbox at that time. Instead, use that time for the task that requires your most critical thinking, or the task that will bring the greatest return for your company. Use your lower energy times to do the less challenging, but necessary tasks.

As you shift the way you organize your days to maximize your productivity cycles, don’t keep it a secret. Letting those around you know your productivity patterns can help them work with you. Conversely, when you know your co-workers’ energy patterns, you will be better suited to benefitting from their best thinking or productivity by honoring their best productivity times.

Let’s proactively use these cycles to do our best work. Entrepreneurial excellence is not only about getting work done, but about getting the right work done at the right times. What is right for you?