I watched a replay of a webinar conducted by Nuance, the makers of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, about their new products. One of the speakers was a productivity expert who suggested that we take some time to think about when we are at our best, meaning when we do our best work and under what conditions we have our best days. He suggested we remind ourselves of these conditions by posting a note on our mirror or our computer screen.
He said he’s at his best when he starts his day by first checking overnight correspondence, then going to the gym. At the top of my list I would say, “I’m at my best when I have coffee first thing in the morning.”
I’m also at my best when I work at my desk, not when I’m mobile. At my desk, I have a full sized keyboard and access to files and notes and everything else I need. I can make or take calls in quiet, without worrying about the phone signal or finding a quiet place to talk. I can also take notes more easily.
Sitting at my desk also puts me in the mood to work. When I’m away from my desk, not so much.
When I’m out, I always have something to read (Kindle books, blogs, etc.) and a way to record notes. When I have downtime, I keep busy. At the mall the other day, my wife went into a store and I read. (Okay, I also played chess on my phone.)
I’ve taken my computer to a coffee shop and the library a few times, and I was able to get work done. That was a nice change of pace. But for every day work, I prefer being in my home office.
When it comes to work, I know when I’m at my best, and when I’m not. How about you?
