Part IIHow to Make the Most of Your First 2 Hours

Now that you know why you need to design your day better, you can take back control. Not just of your calendar and email, but your whole life!

By identifying the tasks that require the most energy or intensity from you, and those things that also get you a great return on your investment, you can schedule your day according to the best time to do that work.

Most of us work an average of eight hours per day (or at least would like to!) so that’s what we’re aiming for here.

We’re going to carve up our day into four two-hour sessions (figure B):

  1. First 2 hours: Proactive
  2. Second 2 hours: Reactive
  3. Third 2 hours: Active
  4. Fourth 2 hours: Preactive.

Let’s look at the tasks involved in each of those sessions that will help you maximise your productivity and get the most out of your day.

Image shows an eight-hour working cycle of a day divided into four two-hour sessions. The first 2 hours are Proactive with high intensity and high impact; the Second 2 hours are Reactive with high intensity and low impact; the Third 2 hours are Active with low intensity and low impact; and the Fourth 2 hours are Preactive with low intensity and high impact.

Figure B: your day

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