I never enjoyed working on Mondays. Even when I was at the CIA, and waking up at dawn was something I looked forward to, I would still feel a bit down by Sunday morning because Monday was just around the corner.
So as soon as I became my own boss, I started canceling Mondays. I slept until I naturally woke up (which was never later than 8 a.m.), dabbled in and out of work, and didn’t obsess over getting things done.
At first, it felt lazy, self-indulgent and wrong. But I soon realized that one of the biggest perks of working for myself is that I get to create my own schedule.
Now, I limit my expectations for the day and use Mondays as a warm-up for the rest of the week — and I’ve never been more productive.
Map your energy to boost your success
I try not to book anything energy intensive on Mondays — be that phone calls, meetings, events, speaking engagements or emails — unless I absolutely have to. If I do, I limit myself to doing just one important thing.
Not everyone can cancel their Mondays. But you can still find ways to modify your schedule using what I call a “Personal Energy Map” (PEM).
This is mine:
Think of your PEM as a way to understand your energy levels and frame of mind during a typical day, week or even year. It begins with paying attention and reflecting on the patterns that emerge when you ask yourself:
- When in the week do I feel most creative?
- When am I most productive?
- When do I have a head for detail?
- When do I get fed up with minutiae?
- When am I full of energy?
- When do I need a nap?
- What day, or time of day, do I enjoy interacting with others?
- What day, or time of day, do I find myself desperate to be alone?
- Are there monthly or seasonal variations in my energy levels for different types of activities?
- Are there monthly or seasonal patterns to what kinds of activities I naturally shift focus to?
You will never be able to work according to your preferences all the time. But knowing what it looks like when you lead with your…
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