Timing is Everything

This week NPR interviewed Author, Daniel Pink, on his new book, When: the Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Pink's research shows that most people follow a pattern where their peak time during the day is in the morning. They then fall into a slump or "trough" around the middle of the day and then come back up in a recovery period in the afternoon and evening.

What this means in terms of workflow is that we should do the work that demands focus, like grant writing, early in the day because that is when we are best able to do that sort of work. We should save work that is more administrative for the "trough" period, particularly right after lunch when, if you're like me, you're ready to take a nap under your desk, ala George Costanza from Seinfeld. In the afternoon you can return to some of the work that requires more focus or maybe schedule meetings.

Yet, even though these morning peak times are the norm, many people work on the wrong things at the wrong time. Many folks, including me, when they first get to their desk in the morning, turn on their computer and check their email. Given that many faculty members receive a large load of email, this can easily take up your whole morning, and thus your peak time.

Instead, if you rearrange your schedule to do your most important work or work that demands the most focus, and writing in particular, at the times that you're most effective, you'll be able to get more done and do it better.

Resources:
Daniel Pink's 'When' Shows the Importance of Timing Throughout Life - NPR
Science says you should do your most important work first thing in the morning - Drake Baer