Hate Monday’s? Tuesday’s more productive

GUMBO STAFF REPORT

Why do today what can be put off until Tuesday?

According to an Accountemps survey, 57 percent of the executives polled said Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for employees.

Monday came in second, although it appears to be losing favor: Only 12 percent of the execs ranked Monday as the most productive, compared to 26 percent in a similar 2002 survey. The least productive day, by the way, was Friday, respondents said.

Pollsters asked 150 senior executives – including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments – “In your opinion, on which day of the week are employees generally most productive?”

Their responses:

Monday – 12 percent;

Tuesday – 57 percent;

Wednesday – 11 percent;

Thursday – 11 percent;

Friday – 3 percent;

Don’t know – 6 percent.

“In addition to serving as a ‘catch-up’ day after the weekend, Monday is when many regularly scheduled meetings occur, which can decrease the time available to complete tasks,” said Max Messmer, chairman of the specialized staffing service and author of “Managing Your Career For Dummies.” “Many view Tuesdays as an opportunity to focus their efforts and establish momentum for the rest of the week.”

He advises the following game plan to maintain a high level of productivity throughout the week:

• Make a plan. Spend 10 minutes at the beginning of the day to prioritize tasks and map out the day’s desired accomplishments.

• Sharpen your focus. Try to cluster tasks that require similar effort or resources in the same time frame.

• Limit distractions. Put the e-mails on hold and stick to the task at hand.

• Don’t delay. Putting off unpleasant or overwhelming assignments is a quick way to derail productivity. Break projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.

• Recharge. Take short breaks throughout the day to replenish your energy and fight fatigue.