How to Find Your Peak Productivity Time

Have you ever noticed how you can jam through your to do list in record time some days, yet struggle to get anything done on others? I used to think it just meant one day was more productive than another, a random turn of events having to do with stars aligning and caffeine intake. But a few years ago, I began to see a pattern emerge that clued me in to my own productivity sweet spot.

When I was in college, I could spend hours in the library. If asked, I’d say studying, but, more honestly, I was just sitting around daydreaming, chewing gum, and thinking about what else I could be doing. Those hours were truly a waste of time because I didn’t get much done. When it came time for big exams or projects, I did my best work in the early mornings and late evenings, usually under the pressure of a deadline.

While I knew this about myself, I couldn’t always pay heed to that knowledge. Shift bids in the office and newborn babies just don’t ask “when do you do your best work?” So I did what I could in an ad hoc fashion. I was the girl doing 5am laundry because the baby woke me up and I was feeling motivated.
I try to be a little more intentional about my days now. With young children and the endless sea of stuff that goes into getting things done around the house, I can’t afford to squander time like I could when I was younger. So I deliberately build my day around my peak productivity times. And I schedule lulls when I know I’m not going to do much except procrastinate.

Do you know when your peak productivity time is? Here’s a few ways to figure it out and use it wisely.

1. When you think of your most productive moments, when did they happen? Was it always after the kids were in bed? After your morning coffee and school drop off? Was it your lunch hour? Was it early morning, late night, or afternoon nap time? Think about the times when you could really focus on tasks, get things done, and feel accomplished. Times when the house was either quiet or the family was occupied and you could work on your projects uninterrupted.
2. If there’s no rhyme or reason, experiment. If you can think of instances at all different points in the day, it could be that you can be productive anytime (I’m not jealous, really). Or it could mean that the time isn’t as important as the environment. It could be that an empty house for a few hours is all you need to kill your to do list, no matter what time it is. Or that with a venti anything, you can take on the world. But you can still experiment with different times of day to see which ones help you accomplish more.
3. Play to your strength. If you find that mornings are your most productive time of day, then use that time to its fullest. See if you can wake up a little earlier to squeeze a few chores in with your morning cuppa. Try to schedule meetings and appointments in the AM hours when you’re at your sharpest. Put your toughest tasks early when you’ve got the energy to take them on. I get most of my stuff done in the mornings and after the kids are asleep at night.

4. 

   Accept your weakness. Remember those 5-Hour Energy Drink commercials? When you’ve got that 2:30 feeling.. That’s me. Around mid-afternoon, I start to flag big time. I dread afternoon school pick up and love the days when my husband will go and I’ll stay home and nap with the baby. Because that’s pretty much all I’m good for. If you have a point in your day when procrastination is high and motivation is low, don’t force the issue. For me, the mornings and evenings are pretty full but afternoons are mostly open.

5. Schedule accordingly. Now that you know when you are most productive, plan your day around it. You’ll get more done in less time if you do it when you are naturally more focused rather than pushing yourself to work when your body and mind just aren’t into it.

 

By figuring out when your productivity is at its peak, you can harness that drive to get more things done. Instead of being frustrated over a lost day or wasted time, you can feel accomplished. And instead of beating yourself up for that 2:30 feeling (whether yours is at 10:30am or 8:30pm), you can give yourself some grace and know that it’s just not your best hour.

I hope that these suggestions help you have a more productive day. Life can get so busy that it’s important to make good use of our most productive hours so we can get our must dos done. That way we have plenty of time to spend with the ones we love and the things we enjoy.

 

What’s your peak productivity time? Is it the time or the environment that leads you to accomplish more? Let me know in the comments.

 

Need to turn inspiration into action? Ready, Set, Go!

1. Jot down on a piece of paper what times you feel you get the most done and have the most energy.

2. Now write down your weakest times when distraction is a guarantee and you usually spend it spinning your wheels.

3. Schedule out the things you need to do tomorrow based on these productivity times.

4. Give it a whirl tomorrow and tweak it as necessary. This basic timetable should help you get more done and can be honed as you use it. Good luck!