The First 2 Hours

Your First 2 Hours clock

I frequently enjoy holidays on some of the best beaches in the world, in Queensland, Australia. Despite always swimming between the flags, sometimes I can still be overwhelmed by the regularity and size of the waves. I will think that I have successfully navigated a wave, then another one surges over me. It gets exhausting after a while, as I have to maintain high levels of vigilance to avoid getting swamped! Can you relate?

I always admire the surfers, who get beyond the breaks and choose which waves will give them the best ride. They always look so relaxed, sitting out there on their boards.

I reckon our workdays can feel a bit like this: endless waves of demands that we need to negotiate in order to keep our heads above water. We need to be more like surfers, deciding on the right wave at the right time to get the best ride.

So, now that you’ve read about how your workday could be, rather than being at the mercy of others’ demands, it’s time to actually design it and do it!

Stop the vicious cycle of overwhelm, tiredness and stalled productivity and start working with your natural rhythms and demands.

Use the template in figure C, or download it from www.thefirst2hours.com.au and work out the best times for you to do the right work at the right time.

Figure C: your First 2 Hours clock

Stick the clock above your desk and refer to it throughout ...