Productivity Tip: Work According to Your Natural Rhythms

We all have natural daily rhythms, ebbs and flows of energy and motivation that fluctuates throughout the day. Some of us are morning people, while others are stuck in a sort of brain fog until at least lunchtime. To be the most productive and work efficiently, it can be a big help if you can recognize your daily rhythm and try and work with it, instead of trying to fight it.

Most likely, you have at least some sense of when your “peak performance” periods are. If not, make it a point to pay attention to your work habits for a few days and pinpoint any patterns as to when you tend to get more stuff done.

Next, try to figure out ways in which you can schedule your tasks to accommodate your natural schedule. For example, if you are a morning person, tackle your most challenging tasks right off the bat (this has the added benefit of taking the “worst first” tactic—getting the toughest thing off your to-do list so the rest all seem easy in comparison).

Save the “busy work” or easier tasks for times when you tend to be sluggish and less motivated. Obviously, this strategy won’t always be practical, especially if your natural rhythms don’t really mesh well with your work schedule. For example, if you are a night owl who feels most energetic at 2 a.m. but you work 9 to 5, you may need to see if there are ways that you can try and create a similarly energetic mood during your work hours.

How do you take advantage of your natural energy rhythms at work? Share tips in the comments.

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