Sharing time! What is one thing you do at the start of each work day to make sure it’s a productive one? 

Before I even get to work, I use my commute to get my head in the game. I have a “Commute Hype” playlist full of empowering songs and an hour in which to shift my mindset from Yawning to Conquering.

I typically arrive 30 minutes early unless there is a major traffic issue. I clear my desk to have a nice clean slate, get my coffee and water, adjust my seat for maximum comfort, and set up for the day.

Once I’m on the clock:

• Read, answer and catalogue emails
• Gather, record and chart data from the previous business day - check for patterns and deviations
• Clean up leftover tickets that were resolved but not closed
• Search systems for signs of problems that may impact the day - escalate and resolve
• Open Microsoft Planner and get to work on the day’s projects, in order of urgency

I tried Focus Time and for me personally, it was detrimental. I tend to be more productive when I am pulled away frequently enough to prevent my task from becoming tedious, so I maintain an open door policy and pause tasks at natural stopping points as needed.

If there are no distractions to break the monotony, then semi-regular breaks are also very helpful. When I get up for more coffee, for instance, I spend about 5 minutes just walking to clear my head and get the blood flowing. I might pause a task and move onto another one prematurely, then come back later.

(Your Mileage May Vary)

Collect all the wins from the team in the past week and post them every Monday in the first half in a way that it doesn’t makes you feel good, but makes the team feel appreciated and all boosted for the week too!