Do you ever feel like you’re never quite getting everything done no matter how hard you try to be productive?
It could be because you’re doing tasks at the wrong times of the day.
Everyone has three stages of productivity and energy throughout their day, says best-selling author Dan Pink. We don’t all hit those stages at the same time, but the stages themselves are consistent.
Working on the right tasks during the right stages each day can dramatically increase your productivity.
Your peak is when you have the most energy and feel like you can accomplish anything. This is the time to work on tough tasks and big projects that take lots of mental energy.
Your trough is when you feel sluggish and have low energy. This is the stage to work on administrative tasks and repetitive tasks that don’t require much cognitive effort.
Recovery happens when your mood is up, but you aren’t at your sharpest. For most people, this occurs in the late afternoons or evenings. This is the time for tasks that require insight and creativity, like brainstorming or planning.
To level up your productivity, first identify the times of day you are in each stage. Then assign the right task for each stage.
I’m not a morning person, so I don’t hit my peak until about 10 am. I take time in the morning to exercise and get my brain ready so I can jump into those deep tasks during my peak. By mid-afternoon, I’m in my trough. That’s when I shift to administrative tasks like checking emails or approving content. And during recovery in the evening, I plan content and let myself be creative.
When you’re in your stages is likely different from your co-workers or friends. And that’s ok. The key is to track your stages, structure your tasks accordingly, and increase your productivity.
When is your peak, trough, and recovery?
I put together a video which talks about this in more detail. Please check it out below and if you want more content like this you can subscribe to my Youtube channel.
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This episode is sponsored by SAP Concur.
As a new cohort of workers enters the hybrid workforce, they wield immense power in shaping the next era of work during a time of ongoing change. SAP Concur solutions help companies reinvent travel, expense, and invoice management by simplifying everyday processes and creating better experiences across organizations. Learn more about SAP Concur travel, expense, and invoice solutions at www.concur.com.
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