Is part of your work.
Think about why you do what you do. From the big picture all the way down to the details; both the forest and the trees. The desires that drive you from within and the purposes that push you out into the world are perhaps the most important thing about your work. “Why” is the soul of work.
Think about who you work with and for. No matter the industry, we are all in the people business. All work requires interacting with someone, and each someone shapes our work in some way. Naming those people (even if anonymously) reminds us that we are not alone. All work is our connection point with and contribution to rest of the world.
Think about when you work, and when you do not work. The calendar is your friend. It’s important to not only define your work hours—when you punch in or punch out—but also in choosing when to do certain kinds of work. Managing your calendar also involves managing your energy. We all have peaks and slumps in energy throughout the day. Give your best energy to the most important parts of your work. And then give significant non-work hours to things that bring rest and delight in order to replenish your energy
Think about where you work. Location matters. It’s significant that certain tasks must be done in a certain place; it’s also significant that certain tasks can be done almost anywhere. Our environment influences the quality of our work, so choose and curate your space work space(s) in ways that help you do your best work.
Now you’re ready to begin thinking about what you are to do.
