We can all point to specific periods of the day when we have great energy; times when we feel sharpest or are most productive. You might feel most productive in the morning--or you might be a night owl who does your best work after dark.

Studies have verified that our bodies behave in biochemical, physiological and behavioral cycles called circadian rhythms. "Circadia," literally translated from the Latin, means "around the day."

So if our bodies work in cycles, how can we make the best of them, rather than ignore or fight them? The challenge is to harness those windows of time to do and be our best. This is where self-knowledge becomes our greatest ally. The key to managing ourselves, our work and our lives is to truly know our style and understand what works for us, our strengths and our work cycles.

Self-knowledge is the first step. Once we understand and acknowledge our daily rhythms, we've got to do something with that knowledge.

I've seen too many bright entrepreneurs schedule mundane meetings during their peak work times. I've encountered people who schedule sales calls for their "slow" times of the day. I've witnessed people working through lunch or not eating lunch, impacting their afternoon energy level.

Why business leaders either ignore or fail to acknowledge these cycles as a way of being more productive is a mystery to me.

Anyone who has spent more than a few years in the work force should be able to identify her energy cycles. All of us know that it's unrealistic to expect to have consistently high energy levels throughout the workday. Yet the way people manage their days doesn't necessarily reflect an understanding of their rhythms.

Instead of ignoring these cycles, let's use them to do our best work. The identification of your work energy levels should not be rocket science; the biggest challenge is for you to recognize and acknowledge them.

A simple chart is all you need. Create two vertical columns, the first being "Energy Level," the second being "Activities." Then create rows for each hour of the day. Rate your energy level from 1-5, and list your activities in those hourly time slots. Do this assessment for several days.

Your energy peaks and valleys should become apparent, and they will most likely have a consistent pattern. While you may already be in touch with your higher- and lower-energy cycles, you might be surprised by the list of activities that corresponds to those energy levels. With this list in hand, you can translate your self-awareness into actions that will bring profitable returns.

Take a hard look at your results. Are you using your maximum energy periods for your most important work? If not, you'll benefit from shifting activities to match your energy cycles.

No one can tell you what the most important use of your time is or what your most critical actions should be--you have to decide. But once you've made that determination, organize your day to devote your best thinking times to your most important tasks.

If your high-energy cycle is first thing in the morning, avoid the routine task of cleaning out your inbox at that time. Use that time for the task that requires your most critical thinking, or the task that will yield the greatest return. Use your lower-energy times to do the less-challenging-but-necessary tasks.

As you shift the way you organize your days to maximize your productivity cycles, don't keep it a secret. Let those around you know your productivity patterns so they can work with you better. Conversely, when you know your co-workers' energy patterns, you'll benefit from their best thinking by honoring their best productivity times.

Use these cycles proactively to do your best work. Entrepreneurial excellence is not only about getting work done but about getting the right work done at the right times. Discover what's right for you.

Marsha Egan is a certified business leader coach. CEO of The Egan Group Inc., she is one of Pennsylvania's 50 Best Women in Business. Visit Marsha's website for a PDF of The Energy Cycle Assessment Form.

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