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by Sergio G. Vera

According to Anthony Bourdain, the legendary chef of Brasserie Les Halles “as a cook, your station, and its condition, its state of readiness, is an extension of your nervous system… The universe is in order when your station is set…” He follows a ritual that’s essential for any self-respecting chef: mise-en-place, which translates into “everything in its place.” In practice, it involves studying a recipe, thinking through the tools and equipment you will need, and assembling the ingredients in the right proportion before you begin.

Shouldn´t we apply a similar approach when we come to work every day? “For many of us, checking email or listening to voice mail is practically automatic. In many ways, these are among the worst ways to start a day. Both activities hijack our focus and put us in a reactive mode, where other people’s priorities take center stage” states Ron Friedman in his article “How to spend the first 10 minutes of your day”.

Friedman suggests a better approach: to begin your day with a brief planning session. “Ask yourself this question the moment you sit at your desk: The day is over and I am leaving the office with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. What have I achieved?” This exercise is usually effective at helping people distinguish between tasks that simply feel urgent from those that are truly important. Use it to determine the activities you want to focus your energy on. Then—and this is important—create a plan of attack by breaking down complex tasks into specific actions.

In his article, Friedman also mentions valuable suggestions from productivity guru David Allen: starting each item on your list with a verb, which is useful because it makes your intentions concrete. For example, instead of listing “Monday’s presentation,” identify every action item that creating Monday’s presentation will involve. You may end up with: collect sales figures, draft slides, and incorporate images into deck. Studies show that when it comes to goals, the more specific you are about what you’re trying to achieve, the better your chances of success. Having each step mapped out in advance will also minimize complex thinking later in the day and make procrastination less likely.

In terms of “energy management” there is another recommendation: when possible, start your workday with tasks that require the most mental energy. Research indicates that we have less willpower (and distractions) as the day progresses, which is why it’s best to tackle challenging items – particularly those requiring focus and mental agility – early on.

Friedman concludes that “by starting each morning with a mini-planning session will produce a list of concrete action items (rather than a broad list of goals) that will enhance the quality of your execution and your productivity throughout the day”.