[00:00:00] Have you ever looked back at the end of your day and thought. I could have used my time better. I imagine that we've all done. This. More than we would've liked to. And even when we have days where we have used our time, well, have you started a task that requires a lot of focus, deep thinking or creativity. But you are tired.
[00:00:24] So how do we structure our time?
[00:00:27] And more importantly, how do we manage our energy? Because our energy, not only has a significant impact on the quantity that we can produce. But more so on the quality of the work that we produce each day.
[00:00:42] For authors, this is especially important to understand why? Because you may be wasting your time and energy on insignificant tasks because you do not understand your own cycle of peak trough and recovery.
[00:00:56] I'm Zach Kristensen, and this is [00:01:00] Beyond the book presented by Juxta book.
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[00:01:10] So I'm referring to ideas highlighted in Daniel Pink's book, _When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing_
[00:01:20] Dan pink presents and really intriguing approach to structuring your day. Rather than looking at the different times of when you have to do things and slotting it in wherever you feel like. Dan pink says we should divide our day into three stages based on our energy levels, which are peak, trough, and recovery.
[00:01:41] Our peak time throughout the day, as you may have guessed, it is when are we are most focused and we do our best work. The trough is when our energy dips and recovery is when our energy starts to bounce back.
[00:01:55] Now these stages are influenced by our natural circadian rhythms. [00:02:00] Which can be adjusted but are also inherited based on our genetics and how we've lived our life. From these are circadian rhythms. You may label yourself or have been labeled. An early riser, late riser, a night owl, or maybe somewhere in between. So understanding the stages for yourself can help you identify your own rhythm.
[00:02:24] For me, I tend to get my best work done first in the morning after I've gotten up, had breakfast, sit down and have that energy and that focus and creative mind going. Where in the afternoon after I eat lunch, especially I hit my trough and get into a dip.
[00:02:43] And then towards the end of the day, start to recover from that and have more energy in towards the evening times.
[00:02:49] For instance, your peak might be when your mood rises in the morning, and maybe this is the best time for tasks requiring creativity or intense focus for you. I know that the [00:03:00] author, Donald Miller talks about how he blocks off several hours during the morning to write.
[00:03:06] As your mood declines throughout the day or your energy declines throughout the day, you're going to be in a trough.
[00:03:13] And usually this hits for most people. In the early to mid afternoon. And so you might want to shift to less demanding tasks, maybe more admin, maybe sending invoices, sending emails, or doing things that are not as hard to get done.
[00:03:31] Then as you hit your recovery stage in the early evening, your mood and your energy starts to climb up again, which could be a good time for a different type of work, maybe finishing up or reviewing different tasks that you've accomplished during the day and thinking about how you might review and revise what you've created.
[00:03:51] So for you as an author, think about the various tasks that you have to do as an author.
[00:03:55] You might have analytical tasks, research tasks. You might have times where you [00:04:00] need to be very insightful and do deep thinking.
[00:04:03] So by understanding your tasks and these three stages, you can pinpoint the best time to tackle each task. This will take self-disciplined and requires you to set boundaries but you can have support from fellow authors or for others in your support group to keep you accountable.
[00:04:24] So in essence, in summary, understanding your chronotype. And aligning your tasks with your peak trough and recovery stages could help you become more effective and productive as an author.
[00:04:35] So Your action item and task for today is to identify when do you have the most energy, the least energy, and when are you recovering.
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[00:04:49] To get help, understanding how you can get the most out of each day.
[00:04:54] Visit juxtabook.com. To set up your author coaching session today.[00:05:00]
[00:05:00] If you have any questions about a recent episode, I'd love to hear from you. Visit juxtabook.com/beyondthebook and click the appropriate button to leave your question and we will include it in our weekly Q&A episode.
[00:05:16] Your book is just one chapter in your author journey. Think beyond the book as you craft your path. Thank you for your questions and thank you for listening.
