Unleash more success each day by simply reordering tasks

Do you ever feel like there's not enough time in a day?

This concept technically and mathematically doesn't make any sense. It's like saying the government's $4 trillion yearly allowance isn't enough money to complete its tasks and do its job. Time is the same, there’s plenty, it's an allocation and a waste issue, not a resource issue.

The answer is not to hyper-schedule every minute or diligently prioritizing projects, an easier and more effective solution is to switch the order of tasks daily.

First, let’s look closer at time. If you focus and get in the zone, you can get a lot done in an hour, we’ve all had this experience.. Then imagine, each day, you get twenty-four of those blocks. Now you get seven of those each week, followed by an incredible 52 weeks each year. Again, twenty-four hours every day, seven days per week, and 52 weeks per year. That's a lot of time to get things done! Maybe even enough. (And for the record, "hey government, $4 trillion is enough too!").

The overlooked magic is each hour in a day is not equal 

Each day has two distinct energy and productivity periods. The missing piece isn't the amount of time or time allocation per se, it’s a misuse of energy and peak productivity periods. Everyone has energy patterns or times of the day when their energy is highest, creativity is flowing, and problem-solving skills are peaking. During these periods, output and productivity are substantially higher. For most people, these times repeat or pattern and, therefore, can be anticipated and leveraged.  

For me, my peak energy is about four hours every morning. From the time I'm halfway through my second cup of coffee to about 12:00 pm, or from 8:00am to noon. I've noticed over the years during this period of the day problem-solving comes quickly, and it's when I generate all my new ideas, best business strategies, and tactics. Because I know this, I purposefully use this time to write, plan company strategies, problem-solve, and make all my most significant decisions.

Each person's daily peak times can differ. My best friend and business partner's peak-energy and focus is at night. He recently wrote a very data-heavy book that required a lot of research and deep thought. He sat down religiously from 9:00 pm to midnight daily to write and work. He wrote a 500-page best-selling book!

He and I have discussed this, and we can't imagine doing serious and high-energy things during each other's peak-energy periods. My energy hits a low by 2:00 pm each day; by 9:00 pm, I know my day is done. This is when my friend hits his stride and gets his best work done.

Hold on to the idea that we have two daily periods, "peak-energy" and "low-energy."

There are two kinds of tasks.

At a macro level, we have two kinds of tasks: high-level, high-impact things that move the needle in our businesses, life, and relationships. These tasks require substantial brain power, thoughtful due diligence, and creative thinking. These are often strategic and can impact our lives and business for years. An example would be, "Should we acquire another company?", "How can we dramatically expand our revenue?", "How can I improve my health in the long term?".

The other type of task is the menial, low-impact things that need to be done but take less thought and creativity and don't require in-depth problem-solving. Examples of these tasks are replying to ten basic emails, organizing next week's calendar, or giving the final touches on a presentation.

The magic comes when you align peak-energy times with high-impact tasks

We need to complete both high-level and low tasks. Align your peak-energy periods with your high-level, high-impact tasks. Then use your low-energy periods for more menial simple tasks. This small change will significantly impact being more effective on your essential tasks, which has a dramatic and significant impact on your overall success. It requires discipline to avoid doing the easy stuff during these peak periods, but it is worth the payoff. Answering low-level emails during peak times is like using a 50 mm sniper rifle for hunting squirrels. It’s overkill… literally. It's a big mistake many people make.

Everyone feels sluggish and unfocused sometimes, and that's ok, but doing nothing or trying to accomplish more significant, more sophisticated tasks during these times is equally a mistake. Instead, use these times to reorganize your calendar and answer twenty simple emails.

Successful and wealthy people have figured out that high performance on a small set of high-impact, high-return tasks ultimately determines one's success and wealth accomuloation. It's the classic 80/20 rule. Choosing when your mind and energy are at their highest-level and aligning your most essential tasks is a game changer.