TIPS #3

THREE. Do your hard work early.

• Why it matters: According to scientific research, the brain’s peak performance happens 2-4 hours after we wake up. Early work allows the brain to focus fully on the problem at hand, with fewer distractions, less inputs from our environment, and with fresh energy that we've gained from a restful night.

• How to use it daily: Adjust your morning schedule so that you don't waste your peak hours doing things that don't require your complete focus: stay away from checking emails before noon, schedule or request that your meetings are moved to the mid to late afternoon, make phone calls after lunch, listen to the news later in the day (while driving, for example) instead of first thing when you wake up. This will free up your peak time to do your deep work first - anything that requires the most concentration, such as reading, writing, and problem solving.