marklio - Morning Productivity

Friday, November 05, 2004

I am not a morning person. Anyone who's ever spent any time with me in the morning knows that. I've been tracking my productivity more closely lately (in terms of tangible, work-related results anyway), and I've found that I am far more productive after lunch than I am before lunch. This doesn't mean I don't do anything in the morning, I just don't seem to have the same kinds of satisfaction with how I've spent my time.

I originally thought that I was being productive in a different way in the morning. For instance, in the late afternoon and evening, I enter a fairly reflective state. In this state, I question the design decisions I've made or the implementation I've chosen. This is when I do alot of measurement in the form of tests or profiling. That's plenty productive and useful activity, but in a different way. I thought maybe the morning was perhaps an analogous, forward-looking phase, readying me for the tangible productivity ahead. But, no, I'm just not very productive in the morning.

I'd like to find some activity or state of mind I could concentrate on in the morning in order to accomplish more in the morning. Any ideas? Does anyone else feel like their mind is more dormant at points during the day? What do you do about it?

Fun | Software Development

posted on Friday, November 05, 2004 10:39:20 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

Saturday, November 06, 2004 12:05:46 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I find that my mornings end up more productive if I get up early (7:00) and work out. I guess the more time I put between waking up and actually working, the more productive the work is.

Pete | Pete

Sunday, November 07, 2004 6:58:10 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

How about prayer for that morning time? Since I get up and immediately start to work, I pray while I work. I ask God to direct my day, to choose the proper direction of my efforts. I ask for protection from satan's pull toward the unproductive. I ask for discernment to separate the interruptions from God's opportunities. I pray for those with whom I have a relationship. I remember those Christians all over the world who can't work a normal day because they are in prison for preaching the Word or who are hiding because militant Muslims are seeking to kill them. I ask God to strengthen us, give us clear minds, help us to recognize an opportunity to direct people to God and to the salvation offered through His Son. This is not an exercise to be checked off on a chart, but an acknowledgment while I am working that nothing truly productive will happen in my day apart from the Holy Spirit, that I am not smart enough to find my own way or to avoid pitfalls and that I am completely open to His protection, direction and use of me. (I sometimes use post-it notes to write down things the Spirit reminds me to do.) A morning of work and prayer is usually followed by a very productive day!) Mom

Mom | millerkaAT NOSPAMvvm dot com

Monday, November 08, 2004 3:23:45 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I too am not a morning person. I started doing three things that seem to help out.

1. Before I leave work, I write down a list of 'ToDos' for the next morning. That way, when I arrive and my brain is still getting into first gear, I have a guide to get me going on productive tasks.

2. Eat breakfest. Now, I don't eat at home...if I eat too soon after waking up, I just get sick. So I keep a stash of granola bars and a piece of fruit or two in my desk drawer. I usually munch on that about 30 minutes to an hour after arriving at work. I think it gives a boost to my brain and kicks it into the next gear.

3. Drink *lots* of water. I got into this habit out of necessity when I was pregnant and have continued it since. I have found that if I do not drink lots of water through out the day, I start feeling sluggish by about 3pm.

Before I had my daughter, I solved the problem by working 10AM - 7PM. That way I wasn't working most of the morning. :-) But life has changed and the above is what I have found works for me.

Good luck!

shelley | shelley+marklioAT NOSPAMpeterandshelley dot net

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