Productivity Coach's Corner: Wake-Up Call May 11, 2007
By Jason W. Womack
How do you start your day?
In a recent online poll I conducted, about 50 percent of respondents claim they start their workday by checking e-mail. The number of people who start by making a prioritized to-do list was low, not even 10 percent.
What is your morning routine? As you begin your day, consider the things you do that set the stage for success. While some people find the first few hours to be productive, others find them to be stressful and chaotic. What makes the difference?
Habits form over time. You may consider reviewing the following ideas and asking yourself if any might would be valuable to the beginning of your workday.
Mark Gulitz of www.sendoutcards.com writes several cards each morning. He says it sets a tone for a good day and matches his words to actions. "Givers gain," he says.
Chief Learning Officer Kevin Wilde begins by sitting for about five minutes while he plans through the end of his day. An interpretation of Stephen Covey’s principle to "begin with the end in mind," he focuses clearly on what the end of the day will be like if he is as productive as he plans to be.
I suggest my clients modify the "opening screen" of their personal management system. Outlook, Entourage, Lotus Notes, and other programs make it possible to see your calendar first and then check e-mail. This could be an effective way of identifying the priorities of the day before moving into response-and-react mode.
As you sit down at your workstation, take a moment and consider all the ways you could start your workday. You might experiment with something new to see how it affects your engagement, focus, and productivity.
Jason W. Womack, M.A., M.Ed., creates leadership approaches that support personal and professional development. He speaks and consults on the topics of maximizing productivity and achieving a balanced lifestyle. Visit his web site at www.jasonwomack.com and share your questions and comments via e-mail: Jason@jasonwomack.com.
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