Other people swear by the similar 1-3-5 rule for an empowering to-do list. This ties back to a psychological principle called “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two.” Try whittling down to your priorities – Gratias recommends choosing between five and nine tasks you want to make progress on that day. “If we pull out a task list of 25 things to do, we’re guaranteed that we’re going to be disappointed in our progress at the end of the day.” “The critical behavior that I advise people not to fall into is setting yourself up for failure before the day even begins,” Gratias says. Plan your deep, complex, or creative work for your golden hours (you can even block off your calendar) and save menial tasks for the times when you feel a little more drained. With that information, you can allocate your work more effectively. You’ll have an easier time spotting your biological prime time – the times you’re most “in the zone.” Keep a journal for at least a week or two (one day isn’t long enough to identify trends) and note how you feel. So rather than doubling down on your caffeine intake, the smarter move is to pay close attention to the times of day when you feel most energized. These peaks and valleys in your focus and motivation are naturally occurring in your body, driven by your ultradian rhythms. Melissa Gratias, a workplace productivity coach and speaker. “People naturally have ebbs and flows in their work processes or in how well they can focus,” explains Dr. Organize the chaos: 5 steps to effective change management More in Strategyġ. How understanding the concept of value exchange can strengthen your workplace relationships Translating principles to practice: Our No-BS Guide to Responsible Tech Reviews How to create a 90-day plan for new hires More in Productivity Why learning styles don’t work – and proven ways to learn more effectivelyĪI is changing work for the better – here’s howħ sneaky ways friction is making your work life harder Toxic positivity at work: how to spot it and squash it More in Communication How to honor what makes you unique with your career More in LeadershipĤ communication styles and how to navigate them in the workplaceĥ ways to foster inclusive communication in the workplaceġ0 lessons to unlearn for better communication at work How to deliver and receive constructive criticism Is situational leadership the best leadership style?Ħ types of meetings that are worth your time (and 3 that aren’t)īetter together: 8 essential teamwork skills to master More in Teamworkįour things I learned as an interim engineering manager How we’ve built successful DEI partnerships at Atlassian Here’s what remote workers need to be productive More in Distributed Work

New research: How to make time for the work that matters Lessons learned: 1,000 days of distributed at Atlassian Office attendance doesn’t drive team connection.

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