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Everything requires time. It is the only truly universal condition.
All work takes place in time and uses up time.
Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable,
and necessary resource. Nothing else, perhaps,
distinguishes effective executives as much as
their tender loving care of time.
– Peter F. Drucker
How well do you know yourself? Have you ever figured out when your “prime time” is? You know that period during the day when you’re most alert and able to focus on the tough assignments with ease.
You see all of us have a “prime time” or the optimal time where our energy, concentration and productivity most effectively come together. If you haven’t identified this period for you—and it is different for everyone—you are leaking time.
Don’t know what your “prime time?” Answer this quick question, as you think back over the last week:
- When during the day did I feel the brightest, most capable of concentrating for a solid 90 minutes?
You’ve now identified your “prime time” when you are most energized, effective and productive. You’ll discover as Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz suggest in their book The Power of Full Engagement that “managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance and personal renewal.” The more you schedule the tough assignments, your highest leverage projects slated on your “to do” list for this period of the day, the faster and more effortless you will be.
Conversely, reserve work that is less complex for when your energy wanes into your “not-so-prime time.”
Don’t be surprised that once you’ve discovered your personal time cycle of effectiveness, your days will flow much better as you achieve your highest productive level.
