Harnessing the Personal Efficiency Wave

I feel so alive in the mornings! Give me a breaking dawn with a cuppa Nescafe, the rest of the world asleep, a yawning sun, and birds rubbing their eyes anytime. This is the time when I am at my best, and usually work at efficiencies that amaze me!

And then, meet me after lunch- after a good, scrumptious lunch. You’ll probably not leave with any good impression. I’m not only lazy- but also wholly uninterested in the complete world, with the exception of a bed. I love the countries like Oman, which have made the afternoon siesta official. According to me, it is almost inhuman to work with satiated stomach and drooping eyes.

Have you experienced such ‘efficiency fluctuations’ too? Does your body cycle dictate, to some extent, your energy cycles as well? Your peak periods might be different from mine- but it is extremely common to have clearly defined periods of work efficiency and dullness.

A little effort can help you harness this natural cycle to your advantage.

I keep the most important of works for my mornings. Pareto principle says 20% of our efforts generate 80% of the impact. I guard my mornings fiercely – making sure that only the most deserving of works get that coveted slot. Mornings are my time to plan, to write and to brainstorm. Higher efficiency periods are precious. This is the time when you can deliver your best. Make sure you don’t fritter away this time in mundane stuff.

Mundane stuff demands a lesser amount of you. You can do these routine chores even when you are bored, tired, exhausted, or like me, full! I keep my ironing for such times. Recognizing the highs and lows of your personal efficiency wave is a very useful way to increase your competence levels.

Allocating work schedules, not just on the basis of priorities only, but also on the basis of your own, personal efficiency levels is an important tool in the pursuit of peak performance.