The workday is hectic for millions of Americans. Truth be told, you are probably apart of that number.

In fact, 83% of US workers feel stressed about work every day.

It may be hard to believe, but you DON’T have to start each work day with anxiety.

Instead, starting a work day with clarity, focus, and energy will make you better at your job.

Most people however, struggle to optimize for their careers because they are so overwhelmed with the day to day that they fail to see the larger picture.

Put simply, what they lack is intent.

Going into a workday with intention is the difference between career burnout and career ownership.

You deserve career ownership.

To gain that intention, here are 4 questions you should ask yourself every morning before diving into work:

1. Who is depending on me today?

2. What is the one thing I am ok with dropping?

3. What absolutely has to be done by EOD?

4. When will I have time for a break?

Who is depending on me today?

It’s often easy to get uber self involved within a busy day of work. You can blame evolution, but our brains are trained to think predominantly about ourselves. As such, it is common to frame the work day around our own needs:

When will Jimmy get me that report?

What do I have to do to close XYZ deal?

Why haven’t I gotten any feedback from Beth on the proposal I wrote?

While the above may be important questions, they mostly focus on the outcomes YOU need.

Switching your perspective and asking “Who is depending on me?” will reframe your priorities in order to help others.

What does Jimmy need from me to finish that report?

Does the potential client need me to send over a pricing sheet before I can close the deal?

Does Beth need me to focus on closing that other deal before I work on this new proposal?

And who do you think get’s promoted faster? The selfish or the giving employee?

Frame your work around others not yourself.

What is the one thing I am ok with dropping?

As much as we’d all probably like to get to Inbox Zero everyday, it truly just isn’t feasible most of the time. Something will have to be pushed to tomorrow, sent to the back burner, or just dropped entirely. It’s just the way life goes.

You can not and should not expect to finish everything all the time.

You can, however, think strategically about what you won’t get too. Doing so takes prioritization to the next level and requires discipline. Here’s how you do it.

1/As you look at your calendar each morning take a mental note of the event/meeting/task/etc. that you most likely won’t get to .

2/Take a post it note and write that thing down.

3/When you start to get overwhelmed and realize you aren’t going to get to your event/meeting/task/etc. pause, take, a deep breath and let it go. Remember, you prepared for this and can find time later to readjust.

4/Continue with your priorities.

Mentally drop something before the day even begins.

What absolutely has to be done by EOD?

If the former is focused on what you can eliminate from your day, this question is it’s complete opposite. Let me double down on it’s importance by reframing it as such.

If there was a literal fire, what is the one thing that would still have to be done NO MATTER WHAT.

For example:

Payroll still needs to go out if there is a fire.

That government bid with a midnight deadline still needs to be submitted if there is a fire.

That dinner with your only investor still should be taken if there is a fire.

The expense reports and mindless emails can wait.

Take a second every morning to identify what is critical to your daily success.

Then, don’t end the work day until it’s done.

When will I schedule in breaks/time to refocus?

You aren’t Kobe Bryant. You aren’t Elon Musk. You aren’t Jeff Bezos.

At least not yet.

You need time to rest, recharge, and reflect.

So, instead of taking 15 minutes for a coffee break after you’re already burnt out, pissed off, and ready for the day to end, don’t let yourself get to that point in the first place.

Instead, proactively block 10-30 minutes for rest into your calendar.

Then when the time comes, honor the commitment you made.

Rest is needed. Schedule it in.

That’s all for today, folks. If you found any value here, do me a favor and consider passing on The Career Kickstarter to a friend. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Ben

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