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[Nathan Hale]

In my most recent blog post, I talked about my challenges and strategies in getting my workflow going each day. How do you make sure you get off to a good start?

[Eric Beavers]

One thing I've done in the past and still do when I'm losing focus is fill out a daily task sheet. I know, I know, just another list. Not really.

I designed a paper daily preview for myself based on something I saw on a site that sells productivity materials. I find that it works best if you fill it in as early in the day as possible.

The top half of the page is split down the middle. The left half is a task list; just checklist for bulleted items of things I want to get done that day. The right side is a daily appointment calendar. I look at iCal and write in my events for the day. This reinforces the things I know I have on my schedule. The bottom half of the page is for notes that might help guide me through the day or to jot down other things that may come up.

If I start feeling flustered at everything I need to get done, I try to remember to pull out one of these sheets to help me refocus.

[Stephen Smith]

The most important thing that I do to get off to a good start is to sit down and write in my journal with a stack of notecards nearby. I write a stream-of-consciousness and as my brain unwinds the little to-dos and possibilities get loose - to be captured on the notecards.

I only take a second to jot down these potentialities, focusing mainly on capturing my thoughts on the day: what is happening in the world, in my town, in my life.

I find that this is a powerful motivator for getting right into the list afterwards, and for creating an archive for use in the weekly review.

[whitehatblackbox]

I've started doing what I call an "easy win" at the beginning of the day. I've been trying to figure out how to get excited about my day, that when I wake up, I just jump out of bed and start going. The easy win is something small (takes about 15 minutes) that I planned on doing first thing when I wake up. It hasn't helped me be excited to wake up, but it does put me on track for having a productive day.