Time management. It’s such a dirty word for most of us. Seems like there’s never enough time, with far too much to do in the little bit that you have.
Unfortunately, business isn’t exactly known for sitting back and letting you take your time. Neither is marketing. And nobody really wants to work around the clock. If you’re going to keep your head above water (and your company in the black) you’re going to need to learn to turn your workday into a powerhouse of productivity.
This is the first of a ten part series on productivity and making the most of your workday, starting with:
Power-Up Your Morning
Are you a morning person? I’m not a morning person. If my day could start at noon every day of the week I’d be a happy woman. But studies show that getting a late start to your day could actually put a crimp in your productivity.
Yes, even when it means getting a good 8 hours of rest.
The numbers don’t lie. Early risers have an easier time getting things done.
How do you explain this phenomenon of productivity? I look at it like this. Your morning sets the tone for your entire day. If you get right out of bed in the morning, get on your to-do list and start knocking things out of the park, your brain’s already in gear and ready to power through your day.
On the other hand, if you’re sluggish and slow, constantly reaching for five more minutes of sleep or that extra cup of coffee, that’s how your brain’s going to think. That mindset’s going to put a crimp in your step for the rest of the day.
More gets done, more efficiently, with greater accuracy, early in the morning.
Here’s another fun, astonishing fact. The quality and efficiency with which you work is at its best first thing in the morning.
If you’re dawdling your way through a creative day, you might be able to get away with a late start. When I’m hammering out ideas, sometimes it’s better if I get a slow start, take a run, enjoy a leisurely shower and a long breakfast. That way my mind’s relaxed and ready to start dipping into previously untouched territory when I sit down to work.
On the other hand, if you have a to-do list a mile long that needed to be done yesterday, wasting that kind of time is a luxury you can’t afford. You need your mind at attention and firing on all cylinders, and to do that you need to set that alarm and get out of bed!
Are you a morning person? A night person who’s converted into a morning person? How did you make it happen? Tune in to Part 2 to hear what people say about transforming yourself into an early riser!