This past Sunday marked the end of Daylight Savings Time in most states. For some, this means mourning the loss of the extra hour of daylight in the evening. For others, this means the celebration of light in the morning hours and a return to the internal clock (or circadian rhythm) that our evolutionary biology is attuned to. And yet for others who truly don’t care what the clock says, it just marks the artificial change in the time that leads to more heart attacks, strokes, and adverse health conditions for the population (despite where you may land on this issue, the science is clear; standard time is healthier for our bodies, and it’s not just about the changing of the clocks - sorry, DST lovers).
So now that we are back on Standard Time and our bodies are able to adjust to the natural circadian rhythm and amount of light this time of year, Wharton’s newest Nano Tool for Leaders has impeccable timing. This brief but powerful article teaches leaders how to harnesses the power of our internal clocks to become more productive in ways that make sense to our bodies.
Most of us go about our days largely on autopilot: check emails in the morning, schedule some meetings, check ins, followed by a mad dash to tie up any loose ends from the day. After years of following this model, these habits are hard to break. Time to reexamine these habits to see if they are leading to the most efficient work environment! Assuming a work day is eight hours long, this tool recommends dividing the day into four 2-hour segments to tackle different categories of work. These categories are:
High Intensity/High Impact: solitary tasks that require a large amount of energy, brain power, and effort. Preparing a presentation, board details, etc. fall into this category.
High Intensity/Low Impact: mentally demanding tasks that usually impact someone else’s day. This could be team check-ins, running a meeting, etc.
Low Intensity/Low Impact: easy tasks that affect your workload and that of others; answering emails, or other things that are mainly done on autopilot.
Low Intensity/High Impact: easy tasks that have a bigger impact on the day, such as planning and maintenance.
The creators of this Nano-Tool recommend sitting down and writing out all the tasks you are responsible for each week and dividing them into one of these four categories. Next, examine your energy levels throughout the day. Are you someone who likes to start the day slowly, with less demanding tasks scheduled for the morning while you sip your caffeine? Or are you an early bird go-getter who likes to manage the difficult tasks first so you can relax later? Depending on how your mental and physical energy levels wax and wane throughout the day, decide which order of things is best for you.
Each of us has our own particular cycles of energy throughout the day, depending on our sleep habits, what we eat, and the general demands of our lives outside of the office. This tool allows each leader to decide the pattern that best fits. Give the full article a read here for more information and real world examples of leaders putting this tool to use.