A Strong Start: 5 Simple Habits to Supercharge your Workday
By: Neil Patrick G. Nepomuceno
As a working professional, you may have heard about the difference between a morning person and a night owl, with some of your colleagues leaning towards these ideas and attributing their productivity levels to their preferred work schedules.
But to do more and hit more of your goals, you need to understand how productivity works. This will help optimize your process to work more efficiently, leading to more impressive results.
Here are five simple habits that you could start to further improve your work day!
Prioritize with Purpose
A short, focused to-do list keeps you aligned and reduces decision fatigue throughout the day.
A good rule of thumb is to set your top priorities before 9 AM. Doing this allows you to revisit it after lunch to adjust based on progress or shifting priorities.
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Use the “Top 3 Tasks” method – A sustainable and consistent progress is made gradually, not in bulk. Avoid being overwhelmed at work by picking the Top 3 tasks that you need to accomplish on that day. You can take this a step further by sharing it to a colleague or your line manager for consistent alignment on your respective tasks.
Align tasks with team goals or KPIs – Every team has its own set of goals. The Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) helps managers assess your value to the entire team. To ensure that you are constantly working on high-impact and noteworthy projects, you must also align your tasks to the current direction of your goals.
Kickstart your day with a ‘Power Hour’
Use your peak energy in the morning to tackle high-focus tasks. Most people tend to be most alert and productive early in the day. Use this time for deep work—strategy planning, writing, or responding to emails – positively impact your performance at work.
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Block off your calendar for this hour. This is important so you can focus on what needs to be prioritized at that moment.
Use tools like Notion or Trello to track progress. You may also explore your company’s licensed productivity suite for any similar tools that can help you track and update your progress. If your team doesn’t use task management tools, you can be proactive and propose it to them, so you collaboratively ensure top-quality work, while meeting the deadlines.
Fuel your flow
Avoid distractions in the form of unnecessary conversations and phone notifications. Instead, aim to take mindful breaks to recharge and stay sharp. Short breaks boost creativity and prevent burnout for roles that require constant communication and empathy.
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Try a 5-minute walk or stretch – Maximize your lunch time with a 5-minute walk. When it’s a hectic day, don’t forget to stretch your arms, legs and neck while maintaining proper posture while working.
Openly Communicate with your team
Some employees may tend to shy away from conversations and tend to work in solitude. This is good because it shows autonomy, but open communication within the team is still the best way to minimize mistakes. Communicating with your team is one of the best ways to exchange insights and check your work for errors, revisions, and updates.
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Draft key emails or posts before noon. This is good practice to ensure that you can reply to all your clients and collaborators during the day.
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Be proactive and reach out to your teammates – There is no such thing as a bad question. Always ask for help when needed to avoid mistakes and don’t be afraid to ask to follow up questions, especially when it comes to specific details about your tasks.
Reflect and Reset
The simple practice of looking back at your day helps you celebrate wins, learn from challenges, and prepare for tomorrow. This is important in building awareness and staying mentally present at work.
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Use a journal or app, jot down what worked, what didn’t and come up with possible solutions on how to do better. Remember, there is always room for improvement!
Starting your day strong doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your routine—just a few intentional tweaks can make a big difference. By prioritizing with purpose, harnessing your Power Hour, and fueling your flow, you’re setting yourself up for a more productive, focused, and fulfilling workday. These habits not only help you hit your goals but also align with UnionBank’s commitment to helping employees learn and grow in their careers.
Ready to build more momentum in your professional journey? Discover more career tips here.