Most of our lives follow some form of innate rhythm. We were all wired differently at birth, and there are optimal ways of tapping into that infrastructure. In other words, there are conscious choices we can make towards thoroughly enjoying our day-to-day activities.
For example, I find in my own life that I am most creative in the morning, especially before lunch. This is why I try to do my most creative work in the morning. I use the afternoon to catch up on things that don’t demand as much creative energy (e.g., certain kinds of e-mails, project updates, etc.). I usually find my “second wind” in the evening after dinner. I often use this time (after my family is in bed) to create or catch up on creative projects.
In working with teams, I’ve found it important to figure out how my peers work as it relates to their personal rhythm. This is why I tend to shy away from mundane meetings in the morning (actually, most meetings period). If our team meets in the morning, I want it to be about creative dreaming and projection of potential concepts. Of course, this doesn’t always work if you have creatives that don’t function well in the morning. Fortunately for me, I can go morning or late night. Minimally, you really want to find out a time that everyone wants to avoid.
Regardless, teams need to talk this through and see when they are most creative, productive, and engaged. For some, any conversation about ideas can be invigorating regardless of time. Even if you’re like this, your team may not be.
I completely understand that you have to step up your game or engagement sometimes. Nevertheless, it is important to be self-aware enough to strategically layout your day. If you work for someone else and have a voice, why not nudge them to consider this.
