We get it. There is too much to do and too few hours to do it in. And while we’ve written about the dangers of multitasking and how it makes us less effective, working over your morning coffee doesn’t hold the same dangers (unless you miss your mouth and that scalding liquid waterfalls onto your unsuspecting lap–ouch.)
Let’s face it, we could all use more time in the day.
So after you do your morning stretches, meditation, rituals, what have you, and you’re enjoying that sip of life’s energy booster (whatever that is for you), let’s look at ways to maximize that time for greater productivity.
All these tasks are not going to be completed over one cup of coffee but each of these can be (individually). So, instead of scrolling through Facebook and rolling your eyes at nonsense, let’s use that 10 minutes for something that will have an impact on your day.
Note: while making the most of your work time is important, if your morning coffee is a ritual where you express gratitude for your day and it keeps you centered, we are not suggesting you ditch that time. But if you’re just using your coffee to stare mindlessly at a screen, let’s make it as productive as possible.
Why Make a Coffee Break Work Time?
When everyone thinks of coffee as “break time,” why in the world would you want to work through that morning cup of joe? One of the biggest reasons is productivity but it’s not the only one.
When you begin your day with a short sprint of meaningful activity, it’s like making your bed. You’ve accomplished something.
The Importance of Breaks
Breaks throughout your day are extremely important. Studies show that working for sprints and then taking 10-minute breaks can make you more effective in your work.
Breaks also contribute to:
- Increased Productivity
- Reduced Stress
- Improved Focus
- Enhanced Creativity
- Better Decision Making
- Improved Physical Health
- Boosted Morale
So why are we urging you to work over coffee? Because that’s the beginning of your day. It sets the tone. By beginning your day at rest, you’re not making the most of your time, no matter how much you need the caffeine.
If you say there’s no way you can deal with your day without your coffee break intro to work, then perform these activities below during your second cuppa.
10-Minute Productivity Boosters for Chamber Pros
Here are some activities you can do as a chamber professional in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee (around 10-15 minutes) for increased productivity:
Planning and Prioritization
- Top 3 Tasks: List your top 3 most impactful tasks for the day. Focus on high-priority items that will move the needle for the chamber or your members.
- Schedule Quick Blocks: Block out time slots for your top tasks in your calendar, ensuring you dedicate focused time to them.
- Review your Calendar: Scan your calendar for the day and identify any potential time conflicts or gaps you can fill with important tasks.
- Mind Mapping or Brainstorming: Use a mind mapping tool or a simple pen and paper to jot down ideas to help overcome member challenges, plan your week, or outline a project. The creativity of jotting down ideas without editing can free up thought. Conversely, if you’re plagued by worry, create a dump file of everything you’re concerned about. If you get it on paper, it won’t be cluttering your mind.
Communication & Networking:
- Follow-up Emails: Respond to 1-2 quick emails that require a brief answer. This could be a thank you note, a meeting confirmation, or a short response to a member inquiry. Use AI to write administrative emails.
- Social Media Check-in: Scan your chamber’s social media profiles and respond to any comments or messages. Or do a quick search on a keyword that resonates with your chamber (such as your town’s name or the name of a recent chamber event). See if anyone is talking about you and respond accordingly.
- Atta business: Scan your social media streams for members who are celebrating special achievements. Give them a quick “atta business” and congratulate them on their achievement.
- Comment: Comments are essential for high visibility on social media. Choose 5 members (or potential members) a day and comment on their posts.
- Follow: Follow 5-10 people on social media (especially LinkedIn).
- Quick Touch Base: A 5-minute phone call or email to a member you haven’t connected with recently can build a relationship in ways you might not have considered. Briefly check in, see how their business is doing, and offer any relevant chamber resources. This is NOT a sales call or a time to pitch the latest sponsorship unless they bring it up first.
Education and Professional Growth:
- Create a list. Make a list of subjects you want to learn more about. Connect them to members who might be able to facilitate that learning.
- Capitalize on Micro-learning Opportunities. Watch a short YouTube video on something you want to learn or get better at.
- Brainstorm Programming Ideas. Create a list of subjects that would be valuable to your members. Include trends, best practices, and local issues that may be of interest.
- Read an Industry Article, Blog Post, or Chamber Pros Community Facebook Post: Spend a few minutes reading a relevant article, blog post, or Chamber Pros Community Facebook post in the chamber industry to stay informed and gather new insights. (Hey, good for you! You’re already doing that right now.)
- Sign Up for More Learning: Sign up for ACCE, WACE, your state chamber conference, or any other professional development opportunity. Stop putting it off. If you don’t have the budget to do that, create a list of the professional development opportunities you would like to avail yourself of in the future and bring them up during the next budget talks.
- Experiment with New Tools. Use coffee time to play around with new tools like AI. Learning how to craft effective prompts can free up an immense amount of time in your day.
Organization and Efficiency:
- Clear Your Desk: Clear any clutter from your workspace. This can help improve focus and avoid distractions. (Let it be noted, that this is not one I choose to do often.)
- Review Your To-Do List: Review your to-do list and prioritize daily tasks.
- Organize Inbox: File or delete emails that don’t require immediate attention. Unsubscribe from things that no longer interest you. This can help your inbox feel more manageable and reduce mental clutter.
- Keep a Swipe File: Create and maintain a swipe file of things you want to blog, post, or talk about as you peruse the internet. That way you’ll always have a topic.
- Check the Data: Run that report you’ve been meaning to do and pay attention to the data. What can you learn from 10-15 minutes of analysis?
Mindfulness and Focus:
If the idea of jumping right into work without enjoying your morning coffee is abhorrent to you, try these mindful activities instead of taking on work right away.
- Short Meditation: Spend 2-3 minutes on a quick guided meditation or breathing exercise. This can help clear your head, reduce stress, and improve focus for the day.
- Set Intentions: Take a minute to reflect on what you want to achieve for the day. Setting intentions can help you stay motivated and focused throughout the workday.
- Gratitude Practice: Take a moment to reflect on 2-3 things you’re grateful for in your work or your role as a chamber professional. This can boost your mood and improve overall well-being.
- Quick Exercise or Stretching: Do a quick stretch or a few simple exercises to boost energy and productivity. Sometimes all it takes is a quick shoulder or neck roll to feel better.
Finally, visualize your success. Spend a few moments visualizing yourself successfully completing a task or achieving a goal. Don’t start your morning off with dread. Turn it around and imagine the difference you will make in somebody’s life today.
Do you want additional ways to use downtime? Check out this article that gives you 50 things you can do in a matter of minutes.
