Think about your typical workday. Before it officially begins, emails are already coming in… and you’re already feeling behind.
You sit down and start knocking out responses. Just as you’re ready to tackle that project that needs your full concentration, an urgent call comes in. By the time you’ve handled it, more emails have piled up. Might as well clear those out, too.
Now it’s 11 a.m. Things have finally quieted down. You open the project. But you feel drained. Are you doing your most important work when you have the energy for it?
Different Work Takes Different Energy
You’ve probably noticed that different kinds of work ask different things of you. Routine emails and administrative tasks may be manageable when you’re feeling a little sluggish. A sensitive conversation takes attention, patience, and the energy to really listen. Researching and creating an important presentation? That requires sustained concentration.
But let’s be real. Most of us don’t have the luxury of matching every task to the perfect moment. Clients call. Meetings are scheduled. Little people need us. Still, I bet most of us could make a few more intentional choices about what we schedule when.
Get to know your flow zones
Start by getting curious about your own “flow zones”, or the periods when certain types of work seem to come more easily. When do you feel clearest and most able to concentrate? When are you ready for conversation and collaboration? When does your energy dip, making familiar, routine tasks a better fit?
Try this simple exercise
For three workdays, jot down your energy level (high, medium, or low) in the morning, midday, and afternoon, along with what you’re working on. Then use what you notice to move one demanding task into a time when you typically feel more focused.
Maybe that means giving a proposal your first 30 minutes of full concentration before opening email, if your role allows it. Or saving routine paperwork and emails for your afternoon lull.
You won’t control every interruption or meeting request. But you can start noticing where your best energy goes, and whether your most important work gets any of it. One thoughtful change to your schedule is a practical place to begin.