And plan accordingly. To be a productivity ninja focus less on time management, and more on managing your energy.
Charlie Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, used a system like this to make sure he was always growing. He identified the hours when he was at his best — and then routinely stole one of those peak hours for learning.
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Are you a morning lark? A night owl? Tired after lunch? Best after a nap? Track what works for you and plan around that.
2. Get enough sleep
No, you can't cheat yourself on sleep. Cutting corners on siesta time has a cascade of negative effects, not the least of which is making you less proactive.
In fact, some people's emotions are so disturbed after a night of sleep deprivation that they could be classified as psychopaths. That might make you into a good real ninja but not a productivity ninja.
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Students whose classroom was situated near a noisy railroad line ended up academically a full year behind students with a quiet classroom. When the noise was dampened, the performance difference vanished.
Distractions might mean you don't notice gorillas walking by. Seriously.
Sounds like a corny cliche, but the research supports it. What happens when you see your work as a calling, not just a job that pays the bills? You are more thorough, engaged — and happier.
How do you do this? It's about interacting with the people who experience the benefits of your work.
Wharton professor Adam Grant did research trying to motivate employees at a university call center. When call center workers were shown letters written by grateful students who had received scholarships funded by the workers' calls, their motivation soared. What pushed their motivation even higher? Speaking with those students.
Never, ever underestimate the power of the right attitude.
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