“Man, at about 3pm I am wiped, and I struggle to stay engaged, I am tired.” he sighed. Gary is in his late fifties and on the leadership team of a consumer products company.

He revealed he struggles with Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. As a result, the energy level goes down as the day progresses.

“I find I have needed to plan my day a lot differently than even a couple of years ago. My day is very front loaded. It does not mean I am not productive in the afternoon; it just means I am better off doing the administrative and lower-level tasks towards the end of the day.”  He explained.

Gary is not alone. As people pass the half century mark, chronic medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and cancer become more prevalent. These ailments can impact how and when older workers will be productive.

The early years of a career can be exciting, with each achievement feeling like a major step forward. But over time, as our careers advance, it can become harder to maintain the same energy and hustle we had when we just started out. It is natural, our bodies and minds simply can’t maintain that level of intensity forever.

In essence, Gary has figured out how to do 8 hours of work into 6, knowing the last 2 hours are intended not to be filled with the highest priority activities. His approach means it might take a little longer to get something done, but because of his experience, his mistakes are fewer, and his quality of work is still top notch.

If this is you (whatever your age) consider the following approach to adjust your current method to be productive, just in a different way.

Recognize

Gary has taken steps to adjust his day to be hyper productive before the slower period hits. He did this because he recognized things were changing in his day. He went to the doctor and figured out it was a medical condition and took steps to determine a new normal.

Calendar Blocking

Block off chunks of time for different types of work – creative tasks, admin/email, meetings, etc.

Make sure and carve out the most important times for when you have the most energy. For Gary, it is in the morning. Don’t be a blockhead and over schedule…stay focused. Challenge meetings or demands on your time when you know your energy level is lower.

Personal Priorities

Personal care should take a higher priority. Formally schedule things like exercise, reading, and downtime. It helps maintain energy levels. Take some stinkin’ breaks already. There are no bonus points for wearing yourself out. Gary slips away in the afternoon for some quiet time to help refresh and recharge for the final push. Sleep at least 7 hours a night for crying out loud.

Monotask don’t Multitask

As we get older, we may try to keep up by falling into the trap of multitasking. It can actually make the situation worse. Rather than rapidly switching between tasks, monotask as much as possible during blocked times. Your brain is not wired to multitask when you are young, it does not improve with age.

Optimize Cycles

Gary keeps his schedule both tight and loose. What does that mean? The schedule is structured around the cycles of product development. Timelines need to be met and he will help the team make sure that gets done. However, his schedule can also be loose, to invest time in educating and coaching his people to work smarter themselves. That in turn, helps him.

Communicate

Gary was transparent with his team when he found out about his condition. His coworkers know that in the latter part of the day, it might not be the best time to come to him with something that might require sustained dedicated time and attention. It does not mean it is not necessary, but they know it’s not the best time. 

Gary still brings a lot of value to his employer. He delivers what is needed, he is available and approachable. He is still productive and has a definite worth to the organization. What he might lack in the level of energy it had previously, he makes up for working smarter. He might even be more productive today than he was 20 years ago.

David Buck is the author of the book “The Time-Optimized Life”, owner of Kairos Management Solutions, LLC, and founder of the Infinity Lifestyle Design program. As a certified professional retirement coach (CPRC), David works with financial services providers helping their clients create a post-career lifestyle strategy. To learn more, contact him at dave@kmstime.com or visit Infinity Lifestyle Design.