Using Peak Performance Time to Structure Your Day
How productive can you be in one hour? At the start of the day, it may be enough time to get a head start on an upcoming presentation, but later that same day all you can do is muster enough energy to respond to Teams messages and scroll through LinkedIn.
Ideally, we could put pen to paper and be productive whenever we want, but one researcher believes when you're most productive depends on what you're doing in a given moment and, in certain cases, the type of person you are.
In his book “When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing,” Daniel Pink reveals how timing shapes our behaviors through in-depth research to discover how we can be more productive during work hours. According to Pink, the secret to becoming more productive lies in knowing your peak performance time.
Peak Performance Time
In his research, Pink explains we all follow hidden patterns of daily life that affect our mood and, consequently, our performance and productivity during work hours. The average person goes through three stages in a single day:
Peak: The burst of energy you get when you start your day.
Trough: The afternoon slump you feel after returning from lunch.
Recovery: The mood boost you feel in the evening after work.
Inspired by HackMyTime.co
Naturally, we’re our most productive when we’re in a peak stage, but Pink shares the order you experience each stage depends on your chronotype, or your individual circadian rhythm that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Your chronotype also determines if you’re a morning person (lark), an evening person (owl), or in between (third-bird).
You can easily discover your chronotype at home:
On a day you don’t have to use an alarm clock, determine the midpoint in your sleep cycle (the time between falling asleep and waking up).
If your midpoint is 3:30 AM or earlier, you’re likely a lark.
If your midpoint is 5:30 AM or later, you’re likely an owl.
If your midpoint is in the middle, you’re likely a third-bird.
Maximizing Your Productivity
Pink shares the standard 9:00 to 5:00 benefits people who identify as third-birds or larks, whereas owls don’t work well on this schedule. Regardless of work schedule or hours, you can maximize your productivity simply understanding if you’re a lark, third-bird, or owl. The key is being able to identify when you’ll be in a peak.
Here are a few ways to boost your productivity at work:
Understand When You’re in a Trough
While timing your peak performance is important, it’s equally important to recognize when you’re in a trough. According to Pink, troughs are bad times to be productive for owls, larks, and third-birds alike and can negatively affect your productivity at work. It’s best to focus on repetitive or mundane tasks when in a slump, such as replying to emails and pulling details for reports.
Give Yourself Breaks to Recharge
Have you ever felt too busy to work on what’s truly important? It’s not necessary to stay busy every minute of every day. One way to increase productivity is to take breaks when you’re in a trough and allow yourself to step away. Additionally, taking clarity breaks each week can further benefit your mental well-being.
Managers can help improve productivity in the workplace by encouraging employees to take lunch breaks, exercise, and to stop working at a reasonable time each day.
Take Advantage of Your Peaks
We all go through periods of peaks, troughs, and recoveries throughout our day, but everyone experiences each stage at different times. The most efficient way to boost your productivity is by taking advantage of your peaks. For example, larks should start their day with analytical, detailed tasks that require close attention. If you’re an owl, use your evening commute to reflect on your day and plan for tomorrow.
Conclusion
Peak performance times allow you to strategize when you’ll be more productive in your work rather than finding ways to accomplish more work in the day. By discovering and utilizing these hidden patterns in your daily life, you can learn how to use your peaks resourcefully to focus on methodical tasks and allow yourself to recharge by stepping away or working on less-detailed work during troughs.
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