The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

October 12, 2015 Develop Smart Routines to Find Your Focus The more decisions you have to make in a day, the more drained you feel. To focus your attention and energy on the work that matters, it helps to apply a repeatable structure to your day. You can start by beginning your mornings an hour or so earlier. No matter the time you choose, you’ll feel more energized by how much more you check off your to-do list before noon. Then try working in 90-minute increments. This is the optimal amount of time for focus. Concentrate on one task, uninterrupted, for an hour and a half. Then take a break to refuel before switching to your next task. When you’re powering down at the end of the day, review your to-do list. Did you get everything done? Were your expectations realistic? Doing this every day will help you determine whether you’re assigning time and tasks appropriately. Adapted from Getting More Work Done (20-Minute Manager).

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