Unlocking Peak Productivity
Two Minute Read
Are you making the most of your job search time? Not ”are you doing the right things, like emphasizing personal outreach over online applications?” Are you doing the right things at the right times?
Many people fall short of what they could accomplish because they don’t.
Here’s how to optimize your job search to make the most of your time.
Reflect on your daily energy rhythm. Are you a lark (a morning person) who rises easily? Or are you a night owl, whose energy peaks at night? Whichever you are, do the tasks that require the most energy during your freshest times. Leave the easier tasks to the dayparts when you are a bit spent. Research companies and people, customize and proofread emails, and take online courses to level up your job skills when you are freshest.
Recognize that there are certain times of day when certain activities are more effective. Try not to schedule interviews toward the end of the workday or right before lunch when your interviewer may be getting hangry. Know that your sent emails are going to get more attention at certain times. Send them Monday to Friday during business hours. Avoid first thing Monday morning and last thing Friday afternoon when people's minds are elsewhere. Use the Schedule Send feature of many email programs if necessary.
A little mental exercise helps you transition into deep work. Wordle, a mini crossword puzzle, or some other short exercise helps you get your brain engaged and makes it easier to dive into longer-duration deep work. It primes you and gives you a little feeling of accomplishment.
Inject frequent breaks to sustain your energy and attention. You may benefit from using the Pomodoro Technique, where you intersperse 25-minute work intervals with short breaks.
Your work setting matters, too. Maybe you need silence or instrumental music playing in the background to do deep work. Or perhaps you prefer nearby chatter and being close to others. Of course, taking an interview from a Starbucks isn’t usually a great idea. But figure out what environment works best for you and run with it.
Take stock of your personal energy rhythms and use that knowledge to your advantage when planning out your job search activities. You’ll be better off for it!