MAKE THE MOST OF EACH DAY By Paul H. Burton
Te workday is frenetic. It is filled with meetings, calls, assignments, and constant requests. Running a productive day requires a delicate touch to balance others’ needs against the work that must be done.
Our days are hectic. Here are some ideas for better productivity.
Consider these suggestions to remain productive throughout a busy day.
1. Reduce Meeting Lengths by
Twenty-Five Percent Tere are only two bad answers as to why one-hour meetings exist: One, that’s the way it’s always been done, or two, Outlook said so. Consider cutting all meetings by twenty-five percent.
2. Schedule Time Between Meetings Running from meeting to call to meeting to call is more than exhausting; it is ineffective. Much is lost in the transitions—good ideas, takeaways, prep time, etc. Carve a few minutes out between each appointment to debrief from the last appointment, prepare for the next one, or to check in with teammates. Do this by inserting a short “Unavailable” event on the calendar after every actual appointment.
3. Take Short Breaks Te mind is productivity’s engine. It requires periods of rest in order to perform optimally. Find ways to take short breaks during the day to recharge the mind.
4. Regularly Survey All You
Command One key to staying on top of things is to periodically stop and take stock of what is happening. Counterintuitively, slowing down can be faster. Taking a short break to match time availability with workload often results in doing more because this small planning effort better utilizes the time available to produce a work product.
5. Expect Emergencies Optimism can undermine productivity. An 8-to-5 workday does not result in eight hours of time to work on what is already on our list. Te exigent needs of each day fill much of that day’s available time. To the extent possible, plan for several hours of unscheduled time each day to deal with urgent matters that arise.
6. Slice the Day into Targeted Wedges
Studies have found that most people have a natural productivity rhythm. We usually possess the greatest mental energy in the morning, less at midday, and the least towards the end of the day. What if we targeted our efforts into the wedges of the day best suited for the work that needs doing? Consider these wedges:
• Morning – 8:00 am to 11:00 am: Do the hard, individual-effort tasks, the ones that take the most mental energy. Avoid scheduling meetings and calls during this period. Focus this wedge of time on doing.
• Mid-Day – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm: Do the collaborative work during the middle of the day. Tis is where meetings and phone calls are best scheduled. We can share our available energy among the participants.
• Late Day – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Do the administrative work during this wedge, the items that must get done but require less energy to complete.
Te times listed above are estimates and not everything can be scheduled into its best wedge. However, attempts to match the work with the available mental energy will produce a better overall result.
Get Started Start using one or more of these suggestions to make each workday highly productive.
Tanks, as always, for your time.
Paul H. Burton is a recovering corporate finance attorney who helps people regain command of their day. As a nationally recognized time management expert, he regularly speaks to professional audiences about getting more done and enjoying greater personal and professional satisfaction. Paul is the author of six books on individual and leadership productivity. You can learn more about Paul and his practice at
www.quietspacing.com.
124 TPI Turf News November/December 2023
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