How to Navigate Personal Work Modes

🚀 Mastering Productivity: It's About Knowing Yourself and Leading Wisely We often hear about the "hustle culture"—pushing through long hours, constant grind, driven by the belief that more hours worked or being in a specific location equals more success. But true productivity and high performance are more about wisdom than sheer effort, although, yes, the amount of hours does matter. Here's how I guide myself and my teams toward peak efficiency: 1️⃣ Define Desired Outcomes: Clearly outline what you aim to achieve and in what time frames. Without a target, it's all just busy work. 2️⃣ Focus on Impact Over Activity: Measure success by results, not hours clocked at specific times. 3️⃣ Establish Your Operating Rhythm: Understand when and how you are most productive. This isn't about conforming to the standard nine-to-five; it's about finding your unique peak hours and when those take place. Knowing your operating rhythm and monitoring it lets you identify productivity triggers and even manipulate them to your advantage—but the key is first knowing yourself. This morning, after an early start at 6AM and several intense work sessions, my energy dipped sharply around 9:45AM. In traditional settings, I might have powered through to diminishing returns. Instead, I recognized my rhythm and chose a different path—I went for a walk with my kids. This is a picture of part of our 3/4 mile walk. We're staying at our mountain property, and the change of scenery and movement reignited my mental engines. Not only did this refresh me, but it also sparked a potentially great insight into a growth strategy we're developing to reach consumers. 🌿 Breaks as Strategic Tools: The prevailing hustle mantra overlooks the power of well-timed breaks and capitalizing on operating rhythms. 🕒 Personal Productivity Techniques: I vary my methods based on my needs—sometimes it's the Pomodoro method, other times I dive into hours of flow time, or use timers to force me to simply plow into a difficult project. Understanding and respecting my mental state and energy levels allows me to work smarter. 👤 Self-Leadership: Each of us has the responsibility to lead ourselves effectively. By understanding and harnessing our rhythms, we can improve not just our own productivity but set a powerful example for others. 👥 Leading Teams with Insight: When you're in a leadership position, it's your duty to help your team embrace these principles. It's not about enforcing a rigid work schedule but about encouraging an environment where results, productivity, and outcomes are understood.. ==> Reflect on this: How well do you know your productive rhythms? How do you manage these across your team? #Leadership #ProductivityTips #ServantLeadership #SelfManagement #TeamSuccess

Last week, I hit a wall. 7pm. Still at my desk. Staring at my perfectly organized to-do list. My calendar was full, but my energy was empty. My team needed me, but I was running on fumes. Sound familiar? Here's what I learned the hard way: Being a "productivity ninja" isn't the flex we think it is. (Trust me, I tried ALL the apps 😅) The real breakthrough came when I stopped obsessing over time and started respecting energy. Three shifts that changed everything: 1. The "Deep Work Shield" 🛡️ → First 90 mins = pure focus time → Phone on DND, notifications off → ONE priority that moves the needle Result: Completed 3 major projects in one week (vs. my usual one) 2. The "Energy-First Meetings" ⚡ → Default to 30 mins (saved 6 hours/week!) → Walking 1:1s for creativity → Stand-ups for updates, sit-downs for decisions Result: Team engagement up 40%, meeting time down 50% 3. The "Impact Zones" 🎯 HIGH ENERGY = Vision work & coaching (9-11am) MEDIUM FLOW = Problem-solving & reviews (1-3pm) RECHARGE MODE = Quick wins & admin (4-5pm) The truth? Your energy is your edge. Time management alone is like trying to fill a leaky bucket. Design your day around your natural energy peaks, and watch how everything shifts. Ready to upgrade your energy game? Drop a ⚡ below and share your best tip!

It doesn't take hacks to boost your #productivity, just a little #focus. Years ago, Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Association hosted a discussion on "Deep Work" by Cal Newport (https://lnkd.in/gNw4iQ5D). The conversations have changed the way I think about my own work style. I am interrupt-driven and absolutely *thrive* on multitasking. My colleagues will report that I can lead a meeting, transcribe its notes and action items, and be working on a dashboard in the background. However, I don't suggest this as a method of achieving your output. It left me frazzled and worn out at the end of every day. As my husband would say, I had binary operating modes: vertical and horizontal, when I would crash and fall asleep. Deep Work taught me that what I needed was focus. I needed time to get into that productivity tunnel that could yield more output in a few hours than in a few days. Here's how I have gotten it: 1. I followed the precedent of an anecdote in the book, where someone books roundtrip flights solely to get work done in isolation. I was on a plane on Friday and took my email from 400+ Inbox to 53 (just those pending actions next week) and over 40 Outbox (pictured). You can use Airplane Mode to tune out all distractions (if/when I do this during the work week, I let my colleagues know and ask for any pressing needs in advance) 2. Silence notifications. During work hours, my phone actually stops pinging me. The only breakthroughs are my family and I try to catch up their messages at lunchtime or when I grab water. 3. Use time-blocking. I've mentioned this in my one owner-action item-due date post. I know I have to change out a deprecated column in an analysis next week, so I've blocked time to do it this week. I can then provide an ETA to my collaborators. 4. Set the stage. Clear your desk, close your apps, and enlist the ambient beats through Lofi Girl. I'm way late to discover this, but millions have done their best studying or work to the sounds on this YouTube channel. I'm typically adamant about avoiding music or sound when I work, but this gets me in the right headspace: https://lnkd.in/guZwT38m 5. Ensure you're using your biorhythms for productivity. Mornings are great for brainstorming, as Subhayu ( Archie ) Dey will tell you - people are fresh and ready to ideate. I try not to do creative but rote work after lunch, when my body dedicates itself to digestion. I wind down in the evening by reading newsletters and planning the next day. If your times don't wind up with a workday, schedule the work like I did - I wrote this on Sunday night and scheduled it for Monday morning. You can do the same for work emails (to avoid disrupting your colleagues during off-hours, though they should silence those email notifications). Happy working!

Ever lose motivation to work as the day drags on? (fight the afternoon slump using the 4-quarters method) If you’re anything like me, afternoons are the hardest time to concentrate. I would struggle to complete any complex tasks the moment lunch ended. Little did I know, it was my approach that was causing the issues. - - - - - Enter the 4 quarters method. The idea is simple enough, design your workday around your energy level. This is done by splitting the day into 4 chunks: 1. Morning: Energy level is high (7am - 10am) ↳ Focus on creative/complex work ↳ Examples: strategic planning & complex problem solving 2. Late-Morning: Energy level is medium (10am - 1pm)   ↳ Focus on collaborative/communication tasks  ↳ Examples: brainstorming, high importance emails, meetings 3. Afternoon: Energy level is low (1pm - 4pm) ↳ Focus on low intensity work ↳ Examples: routine emails, scheduling, busy work 4. Evening: Energy level is lowest (4pm - 7pm) ↳ Focus on planning and review ↳ Examples: finishing small projects & task list for tomorrow  - - - - - And there you have it! A simple strategy for matching your work to your energy levels. A quick note for those looking to implement. These times work for me but feel free to play around to fit your schedule I look forward to hearing about your results! - - - - - ♻️ If you found this helpful, repost so your network can benefit too. 📌 Follow me (Samuel Sheridan) for daily career advice you can actually use. Thanks for reading and have a marvelous Monday!

To keep growing, I make sure to constantly challenge my routines and habits. I’ve learned that, when it comes to routines, one size does not fit all and that understanding and leveraging our biological rhythms is key. Ever heard someone say they're an early bird or a night owl? We all have an internal clock that dictates our optimal periods of wakefulness and rest Recognizing and adapting to this natural rhythm can dramatically enhance productivity and overall well-being. Our internal clock divides our day into zones: the peak, the trough, and the recovery. The peak, often occurring in the morning or evening, is when we experience heightened cognition. Tasks requiring intense focus and critical thinking are best scheduled here. The trough, typically about eight hours after waking, represents a dip in alertness. This period is ideal for less demanding activities such as socializing, exercising, or even taking a nap. Contrary to common practice, powering through cognitively demanding tasks during the trough is counterproductive. Instead, use this time to recharge, preparing for a final burst of productivity in the late afternoon or evening. This strategy is particularly crucial when facing tight deadlines or heavy workloads. In such times, extending your active chronotype zone – waking up earlier or staying up later – can be a game-changer. An hour of work in your peak period can be as productive as four hours in the trough. To capitalize on this efficiency, it's non-negotiable to utilize every hour of your peak zone for critical tasks. The key is to align your work with your biological rhythm. Start by identifying your internal clock – are you an early bird, a night owl, or somewhere in between? Then, structure your day around this natural pattern. Reserve cognitively demanding tasks for your peak period and fill the trough with less intensive activities. Incorporating this understanding of optimal biology into your daily routine isn't just about working smarter; it's about fostering a sustainable work-life balance. By aligning with our natural rhythms, we not only boost productivity but also enhance our overall health and well-being. Give it a try! #productivity #routines #habitbuilding #personalgrowth #success

A few months ago, I was struggling to concentrate on big picture items and strategic planning. My mind would bounce from thought to thought and I could only concentrate in about 20 minute increments. Anybody else out there find it difficult to get in the zone? I did some reading about getting into the flow state. Then the revelation: I was trying to approach creation tasks the same way I'd approach more administrative type work. Maker time vs Manager time is different! Here's the secret: the maker’s schedule thrives on long, uninterrupted stretches of time. Research shows it can take up to 30 minutes to hit that sweet spot of flow. No distractions—just you, your coffee, and an empty screen. ☕️💻 Yet, the reality of our workday often looks different. Meetings, notifications, and interruptions can steal away your focus. The human brain can only handle 4-5 hours of deep work a day, so even one meeting can derail your productivity. On the flip side, managers have their own challenge: a schedule filled with meetings. From one-on-ones to status updates, managing a team means constant face time. But too many meetings can leave you drained and with little time to do the actual work. Balancing these two schedules is key. Protect your maker time fiercely and streamline your manager meetings effectively. Achieving this balance can lead to unprecedented productivity and satisfaction. #LeadershipTips #ProductivityTips #TimeManagement #WorkFlow

Over the years I've discovered that my most productive and energetic hours are in the morning. By 5:00 am, my mind is already buzzing with ideas and plans for the day. I cherish this time, dedicating the golden hours between 6 and 7:30 am to work on projects that are deeply meaningful to me, beyond my full-time job. This practice has become a cornerstone of my daily routine, especially as I've navigated significant life changes, including moving to different countries and starting anew multiple times. My mornings are not just about work; they are about cultivating a sense of normalcy and motivation. I start my day by visiting my favorite coffee shop, where the familiar sounds and sights, the aromatic coffee, and the warmth of shared smiles fuel my day. This ritual is my catalyst, setting the tone for a productive day ahead. I strategically schedule my day to capitalize on my fluctuating energy levels. Mornings are reserved for tasks requiring sharp, critical thinking, while afternoons are for less mentally demanding tasks. This rhythm allows me to maintain high productivity and ensure that I am investing my best hours into my most significant work. This is the power of morning routines and thoughtful daily planning to make every day fulfilling and productive. What's your routine? #MorningRoutine #Productivity #LifeChanges #DailyPlanning #coaching

✅ Here’s something that helps me prioritize my mental health and be more productive during my workday. 🔍 What I do: - Schedule focus blocks the first and last hour of my day. - Inform my team that I’d prefer not to meet or be contacted then. - Use the first hour to set my priorities for the day and start working on my most important task. - Use the last hour to track the current status of in-progress tasks and reflect on my day. The result? I’m not as rushed or stressed out during the day. These quiet moments at the beginning and end of my workday help me avoid burnout. And I actually get more work done this way. 📌 Try this if you want to boost your productivity and mental wellness.

Hey you...super nice rep who loves helping others, always replies to Slacks immediately, and loves your account team to death You need to be WAY more selfish Do these bullets apply to you? - You prioritize internal comms whenever someone needs you - You reply to Slacks/emails with extreme urgency - You never say no to an assigned project - You always make time for colleagues who have questions - You volunteer for optional items constantly On the one hand, your org is lucky to have you acting as the glue! BUT if you checked a couple of those boxes... You are not protecting your time enough Your first obligation is to yourself - the work you need to get done, your development, and your personal time You can still add work beyond that, but first ask yourself: - Do I have time in the day to accomplish my main job? - Do I have trouble getting in the flow for work? - Do I feel like some of the work I do isn't helping my role? I would enlist a partner (such as your manager) to help add perspective Then, start taking your time back bit by bit (won't change overnight): ⏳ Align with an Accountabilibuddy share your goal of saying "no" to more things ⏳ Make sure your manager is aware of this goal ⏳ Find the BEST times a day for your productivity and BLOCK them ruthlessly ⏳ Let your peers know when you will be in "deep" work ⏳ Learn to default to no on asks for your time or optional work. You can almost always say yes after some time to think about it ⏳ Get technology to work for you: Slack and email notifications should come when YOU want them to. Spend some time here Once you lock down a stellar organizational rhythm, you can start adding projects and tasks that serve your work and development goals in an intentional way! Any other tips from those who have been in these shoes? #Productivity #SalesDay #AskSomeoneElse #DoNotDisturb #CorrCompetencies

A day in the life of a product marketer could be a total chaotic mess. You could be: 😑 Sitting in long meetings that should really be an email with a status update 😑Responding to endless Slack messages from product, customer support, sales, and every other team in between  😑 Getting pulled into 2 new projects due to “new company direction” and told you need to turn them around in 3 days 😑 Re-editing the sales deck that miraculously changed after you rolled it out last week This is unfortunately the downside of a role that has so much breadth in scope, and that sits at the intersection of so many different teams. But chaos does not have to define the role. Here are four tips you can use to take better control of your day: 1️⃣ Block 1-2 hours during your peak performance times to complete the highest-value task. For me, this is the first hour of the day before I have any meetings. 2️⃣ Respond to Slack/Email messages only during set times in the day. For me, this is during lunchtime and late afternoons. 3️⃣ Flex around the 9-5 for more strategic tasks. While time blocking is effective most of the time, I find it does not work for more creative or complex tasks that require a lot of thinking. So instead of beating myself up for “wasting my time” thinking for 2 hours during the day, I do these tasks at night, or on a Friday afternoon, when I have no pressure to reply to others or join a meeting. 4️⃣ Longer term - set up clear processes and documentation for field teams so they go from reaching out to you ad-hoc to checking out self-service solutions. For instance, in my previous role, my team set up a centralized Slack channel for all field teams to ask questions and created detailed FAQs and quick reference guides. When you have a more productive workday, you will create the mental energy for you to intentionally build your career. What has worked for you? What else would you add? #productmarketing #careergrowth #productivity #marketing #coaching