When you get behind at work, you often stay late to finish. At some point, you might wonder whether it could also be a good idea to come in early. Lets look at the pluses and minuses when you go into work early.
Work Early Benefits
- Office is usually quieter with fewer people
- You may be at your freshest and highest energy levels
- So a good time to work on difficult projects
Early Drawbacks
- If you still have to work late, you risk burnout
- If you come in early and leave early, others may think you are not doing a full day of work
- Upset household morning schedules (getting kids to school, etc.)
- If your manager comes in early as well, you are the only one for them to talk or delegate to – defeating the purpose of why you go to work early and potentially increasing your workload
Early vs Work Late
- If you won’t be penalized for working early instead of late, it can be a better use of your energy and reduce distractions if others work late instead of early
Which To Choose?
There is no one right answer here, but here are some reasons to choose to work early.
- If your energy levels are higher in the morning than later in the day
- No one else is in the office early so you can focus
- You will not be penalized for going home early
- Your household morning schedule can adapt to the change
What Does “Captain Time” Do Personally?
I work early and leave early, except when I have the occasional coaching call or late meeting (most fit into my adapted early schedule just fine).
I enjoy the quiet and focus I get first thing in the morning and my energy levels and focus levels are at my highest in the morning. So I am trading some additional high focus time for some tired and dragging time later in the day.
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