9 Mistakes You May Be Making at the Beginning of Your Workday

1. Arrive late

Starting your workday late can sabotage you more than you might think. A study published in the Huffington Post found that bosses tend to notice non-punctual employees, associating it with poor performance - even if they leave later.

I know, it doesn't seem fair, but it's the perception of most people. So try to arrive on your time always.

2. Don't say good morning to your colleagues

Did you know that this simple greeting will show others - and your superiors - that you are friendly? If you're a leader, being nice early in the day will have more influence on your competence than you think: according to Lynn Taylor, a workplace expert, the fact that one person doesn't compliment others can “undermine” even even your work efficiency.

Even if that's not your case, walking quietly to your desk gives you an image that you are not accessible to your colleagues.

3. Drink Coffee

It may seem irresistible to come and have a large cup of coffee, but research indicates that you should wait until 9:30 at least. This is because cortisol, which is involved in the stress response, usually peaks between 8 am and 9 am. The more you drink coffee during this time, the less your body produces cortisol, making you increasingly dependent on caffeine.

That is, it is best to wait for your body's hormone level to decrease for you to drink this magical drink.

4. Reply to all emails from your inbox

Once you sit comfortably in your chair, it may be tempting to open your email and read all the new messages that came in at night, but according to Michael Kerr, expert speaker at work, you shouldn't waste too much time on it. Use your initial energy to prioritize only what should be answered in the early morning and jump to your duties.

According to Michael, checking messages is one of those tasks that make you feel like you're producing, when in fact it can be a part of famous procrastination.

5. Work without organization

Before you start producing, it is best to keep in mind a short schedule of everything you will do that day. This way you can review your priorities and organize your tasks according to their importance without wasting time on useless things.

It is essential to have a calendar in place so that you are not caught off guard by a reminder on your phone indicating a meeting in 10 minutes.

6. Start at the easiest

As the day goes on, your mood tends to decrease. So "kill" the hardest part of the job early, leaving the simplest tasks for when you're tired.

This is a strategy known as "eating the frog, " based on a quote from Mark Twain: "Eating the 'frog' in the morning will make you feel that nothing worse will happen for the rest of the day."

7. Do more than one thing at a time.

You may come with a disposition that makes you believe that you can accomplish a thousand tasks at once: don't fall into this trap.

Research suggests that performing more than one assignment simultaneously can hurt your primary task. That is, if you start your journey by juggling, you'll end up not completing anything right.

8. Be dominated by negative thoughts.

Maybe you didn't sleep well last night or had a discussion in traffic on your way to work. No one is free to go through bad situations, but don't let those feelings distract you from what you need to do on the day.

It may seem difficult, but try to store your frustrations in a separate "box".

9. Have meetings

Scheduling meetings early in the morning can be a big waste. According to Lara Vanderkam, author of “What the most successful people do before lunch, ” the start of the day should be reserved for tasks that require focus and concentration. Thus, meetings and conversations should be held throughout the afternoon.