The Power of the First Hour - A 1% Productivity Insight

I recently ran across an article that discussed how to increase your productivity by considering what your morning ritual or habits are in Fast Company magazine (one I recommend subscribing to).  I thought that this was such nice compliment to our InFocus last week of habits via The 1% Edge Portable Coach App - link to last weeks InFocus on habits. Crafting A Life - The Power of Habits

So for this week, I think it's a useful idea to continue on that theme but to "micro-focus" on morning or depending on your schedule - the first hour.

It's my belief that how you use, plan, work with your first hour, will set the stage for what will probably happen in the day!

So, do you think that if you have a firm handle and strategy on the first hour - that could make a difference?

The coaching focus this week is - what do you do with your first hour? ...how is that working for you?  Do you have a firm and clear plan for yourself (and if you lead - your team) on how that first hour should do? What do you need to change that could impact your productivity - getting more of what you want  - even just 1%?

The article in Fast Company is an excellent summary of many things that I teach & coach and are included in my book Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed. So here is the summary of the article and then I've left a link to the full article - full article

What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

BY LAURA VANDERKAM | 06-12-2012 | 8:00 AM

This article is written by a member of our expert contributor community.

Mornings are a great time for getting things done. You’re less likely to be interrupted than you are later in the day. Your supply of willpower is fresh after a good night’s sleep. That makes it possible to turn personal priorities like exercise or strategic thinking into reality.

But if you’ve got big goals--and a chaotic a.m. schedule--how can you make over your mornings to make these goals happen?

Because I write about time management frequently, I’ve gotten to see hundreds of calendars and schedules over the years. From studying people’s morning habits, I’ve learned that getting the most out of this time is a five-part process. Follow these steps, though, and you’re on your way to building morning habits that stick. (Remember, we're changing morning to "your first hour.")

1. Track Your Time

2. Picture the Perfect Morning (first hour)

3. Think Through the Logistics

4. Build the Habit

5. Tune Up as Necessary

Check out the latest release: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar

This blog is based on this book. In it are actionable ideas on being a better manager: The 1% Edge - The Workbook - Power Strategies to Increase Your Management Effectiveness