How to Find Your Most Productive Times of Day

Different times of the day are more productive than others, but which times those are varies from person to person. Mornings work well for some while evenings are better for others. Working through lunch might energize some; for others, the idea is repugnant. Due to the pace of contemporary life, however, we’re not always aware of our natural productivity patterns.

Daniel Gold, a productivity specialist and author of Evernote: The Unofficial Guide to Capturing Everything and Getting Things Done, recommends some simple self-reflection. Understanding when you’re most productive is “really just about taking that uncomfortable step inwards.” Gold recommends keeping a journal on a day when you’re mostly free from external demands. If you’re completing tasks without large breaks in concentration, that’s an indication it could be a good time of day for you.

How important is to understand your own productivity patterns? In his Big Think interview, author Walter Mosley says that productivity is a necessary requirement for success: