We have different levels of productivity at different times of the day. It’s just biology, there is nothing we can do about it. But: we can use the varying levels of energy to our advantage. Early birds tend to put challenging tasks that require all their creativity into the morning hours. When the midday low strikes, they can relax and check their e-mails. Night owls, on the other hand, tend to postpone important tasks until the evening.

In order to structure the day in the best possible way, we must first get to know our different energy phases. It can be helpful to keep a mini diary for a 3- to 5-day period in which we consciously record how we feel at different times of the day.

 

How-to:

• Divide the day into 3-hour blocks from the time you get up in the morning. 
• Consciously pay attention to how you feel at each time of the day.
• Use symbols to describe your energy level (e.g. ????… or ➕, ➕➕➕, ➖ usw.) and jot them down in an analog or digital calendar. 
• After 3 – 5 days, evaluate everything and plan your tasks for the new week according to your recorded energy levels.

Work hacks?

Work Hacks are simple, yet original, methods that can be implemented quickly and directly. They improve collaboration and results in the work context.

In this series we will introduce tried and tested Work Hacks that will effectively improve collaboration.