It's widely recognized by modern science that every individual has certain natural biorhythms that change through the day and night. In the Workshop, Jeffrey Moses shows how understanding these biorhythms, and adjusting your work schedule so that you're more in tune with them, can increase productivity and help minimize stress in the workplace.
Every individual has his or her own inner biorhythms, but in general the following peaks and valleys are experienced by everyone throughout the day:
1. Early morning -- 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Your energy is high, giving stamina and alertness. This is the ideal time to schedule important meetings, to plan and begin new projects, to return urgent phone calls, or to meet with important clients. Because this is such a peak time of day, it should not be wasted on mundane chores.
2. Late morning -- 10:30 to lunch. Your "go-getting" feeling may have "gotten up and gone." During this time period, a person's energy begins to lag, resulting in slightly less stamina and mental alertness. This is the time when many people take a coffee break. It's an ideal time for planning long-term strategies, for getting material ready for upcoming meetings, and for returning phone calls that are not urgent.
3. Early afternoon -- after lunch to 3:00 p.m. You've been refueled and are cruising at full altitude. Energy is again high. After eating, many people feel at their peak for the day. Momentum has been gained during the course of the morning, and both stamina and mental alertness may be at a high. This is an excellent time for tackling crucial work, for unraveling difficult decisions or meeting with clients, and for finalizing important plans.
4. Mid-afternoon -- 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The day's momentum is carrying you as you experience a normal biological drop in blood sugar levels. Around 4:00, most people start to feel a letdown in stamina and mental alertness. It's again time for the traditional coffee break, and even for a snack. This is the ideal time for putting attention on ongoing projects, for research, and for any other work that does not involve new planning.
5. Late afternoon -- after 4:00 p.m. Just when deadlines may be approaching, you feel like a supercharged Porsche that has turned into a Yugo. This can cause stress and anxiety when you have a lot to do in a short time, but a brief break and a quick walk around the block can clear the cobwebs.
6. Dinner time -- when working through the normal dinner hour, many people have to force themselves to push on. The hectic pace of today's business environment often demands that a person work well past dinner (sometimes without stopping to eat). To remain at peak productivity, you should take5-10 minutes to rest when feeling overly fatigued or mentally unclear, closing the eyes and relaxing. Even this short amount of relaxation can make a big difference in energy and mental alertness for the next several hours.
workshops.microbusiness.fri
7.28.00
Source: http://www.nfib.com/object/1584073.html
Every individual has his or her own inner biorhythms, but in general the following peaks and valleys are experienced by everyone throughout the day:
1. Early morning -- 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Your energy is high, giving stamina and alertness. This is the ideal time to schedule important meetings, to plan and begin new projects, to return urgent phone calls, or to meet with important clients. Because this is such a peak time of day, it should not be wasted on mundane chores.
2. Late morning -- 10:30 to lunch. Your "go-getting" feeling may have "gotten up and gone." During this time period, a person's energy begins to lag, resulting in slightly less stamina and mental alertness. This is the time when many people take a coffee break. It's an ideal time for planning long-term strategies, for getting material ready for upcoming meetings, and for returning phone calls that are not urgent.
3. Early afternoon -- after lunch to 3:00 p.m. You've been refueled and are cruising at full altitude. Energy is again high. After eating, many people feel at their peak for the day. Momentum has been gained during the course of the morning, and both stamina and mental alertness may be at a high. This is an excellent time for tackling crucial work, for unraveling difficult decisions or meeting with clients, and for finalizing important plans.
4. Mid-afternoon -- 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The day's momentum is carrying you as you experience a normal biological drop in blood sugar levels. Around 4:00, most people start to feel a letdown in stamina and mental alertness. It's again time for the traditional coffee break, and even for a snack. This is the ideal time for putting attention on ongoing projects, for research, and for any other work that does not involve new planning.
5. Late afternoon -- after 4:00 p.m. Just when deadlines may be approaching, you feel like a supercharged Porsche that has turned into a Yugo. This can cause stress and anxiety when you have a lot to do in a short time, but a brief break and a quick walk around the block can clear the cobwebs.
6. Dinner time -- when working through the normal dinner hour, many people have to force themselves to push on. The hectic pace of today's business environment often demands that a person work well past dinner (sometimes without stopping to eat). To remain at peak productivity, you should take5-10 minutes to rest when feeling overly fatigued or mentally unclear, closing the eyes and relaxing. Even this short amount of relaxation can make a big difference in energy and mental alertness for the next several hours.
workshops.microbusiness.fri
7.28.00
Source: http://www.nfib.com/object/1584073.html
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