No one likes 9 am. It’s early, we’re tired and we still have hours of work ahead of us.
But we’re not the only ones who get off to a slow start. Everyone in the office — bosses included — is in their own world for the first 30 minutes of the workday. Rarely does anyone disturb us or give us a huge task that early in the morning.
No, those precious 30 minutes are all ours. And if we use them properly, we can gain an edge on the competition (who is probably still half asleep).
Here’s the checklist.
1. Read the news (20 min): Pick your favorite 2-3 websites and see what’s happening in the world, in America and in your local community. You’ll probably skim most of the articles but actually take time to read one or two all the way to the end.
Have several opinion columnists bookmarked and check to see if they have anything new. Or you can read an editorial from your local paper. If you want to stay up on politics, go to www.realclearpolitics.com. Great resource for opinion columns.
2. Review the past 24-hours of email (5 min): It’s so easy to lose track of an important e-mail conversation over the course of a day. Look back through your most recent e-mails, and follow up on anything you missed.
3. Make a quick checklist for the day ahead (5 min): Leave the list somewhere you can see it throughout the day. And then take great pride in crossing stuff out all day long.
So there you have it. Maximizing your productivity in the first 30 minutes of the day.
Reading the news makes us sharper, more competent professionals. It allows us to engage senior co-workers in weightier conversations, improves our vocabulary and exposes us to topics we might not deal with everyday at our own jobs.
Checking over email ensures we are on top of our game at all times. Nothing important slips through the cracks.
And a daily checklist reminds us of everything still to come.
All of that in just 30 minutes! (It sounds like an informercial, I know.)
So while everyone else in the office is rousing from sleep, you are off and running.
And 9 am never looked so good.
[...] The Best Way to Spend the First 30 Minutes of your Workday [News To Live By] [...]
Actually, I find going over my emails and making my to-do list for the next day just before I leave is more efficient. When I arrive I scan for important emails that may have come in over-night and then start working on my tasks. My catching up on news is on my drive in — I am fortunate to carpool and am seldom the driver so have all the news apps on my iPhone. It is of great help to start my day feeling prepared before I even step into the office!
[...] The Best Way to Spend the First 30 Minutes of your Workday | News To Live By [...]
[...] The Best Way to Spend the First 30 Minutes of your Workday | News To Live By [...]
“No one likes 9 am. It’s early, we’re tired and we still have hours of work ahead of us.”
Who wrote this? At 9am I am already >2 hours at work (knowledge work) and have many important Next Actions done (I am GTDer). Time to check the weather forecast – windsurfing or running in the early afternoon?
If you start work at 7 am, the advice still applies
[...] acordo com o pessoal do site News to live by, isso acontece com todo mundo — incluindo aqui chefes, professores e colegas, que estão tão [...]
I don’t agree with this piece of advice. I used to work like that and my productivity was at a much lower level than now. In fact I now start my day by doing an “important task”. Early in the morning you won’t have so many distractions such as telephone calls and urgent little tasks that need to be done on the fly. Moreover, if you are able to do one important task first thing in the morning, it will encourage you because you have the positive impression that you come forward.
Besides I don’t think there are many people capable of checking their mail inboxes in just 5 minutes. Therefore, that would mean 5 minutes wasted. I think it is better to check and answer your mails maybe three or four times (or five, according to the volume and urgency of e-mails you receive daily) a day. Always at the same scheduled times but never first thing in the morning.
I don’t agree either. By 9:00 am I have been at work since 6:15 and have found that I can get more accomplished without anyone in the office, no phones ringing, or someone needing something reserved or booked. I love the two hours and 45 minutes I have before everyone arrives.
OK so consider 9 am a general start time for work. If people start at 7 or 8 am, these tips are still a good use of the first 30 min.
Trish…how did you end up on my site? Which site referred you here? Thanks!
I think these are good tips. Personally, my first-morning emails often take longer than 5 minutes simply due to the nature of our business. I like this model, though. I would probably take a 15-minute approach to the news, spend 10 minutes on emails, and then 5 on my to-do list for the day. Thanks!
Thanks, April! Could you tell me the site you came from to read my post?
I don’t know about April , but I came here from a link in the International Association of Administrative Professionals newsletter.
This is a very helpful article and generally how I like to start my day.
Oh very interesting. Could you paste a link to the newsletter? I’d like to see it, if possible.
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