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Fertile and Fallow times - Toolkit to find yours

How to figure out your ideal times?

Productive and Focus times

Think about when you feel "in the mood" to do something, when you want to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in? What is that activity?  Is it active (creating, playing) or passive (watching movies)?
If you have such a sedentary lifestyle that you might say you never feel like doing anything, think about the moments you actually recognize that you should be doing something productive (even if you don't), or the moments when you decide to get up at all!  
If you're a gamer, consider what type of games you decide to play when - active games or design games or puzzle games (and be aware of when you play games simply because you can't think of anything better to do - those are probably not your productive times).  That active decision is an active point!
Think also about when you do the bigger jobs you don't want to do at all, such as taxes, or replacing the fence, or doing the dishes.  When do you have that moment where you say "well, let's get on and this over with"?  Those are your times when you've got the most focus.

In-Between times

On the other end, consider those moments where you realize you're spending twice as much time to achive what comes easily.  Or feel resigned or annoyed with what you are doing, even though you might have been enthusiastic about it just an hour before.  Those are indicators that your focus or productive phase is coming to an end.

 As adults, we've trained ourselves to appear to be productive all the time, and so these signs are often just niggling feelings, or fleeting thoughts.  Watch, though, what happens with small children or pets:  You're playing a game with them, and then, like that, they don't want to play anymore.  Sometimes it's because they've lost, or been hurt, but apart from that, it may just be that the focus or active window has finished.  Reclaim your inner toddler on this one, but avoid the tantrums!

 When you've worked out when your best focus periods are, consider the other times.  Are they good for doing little bits?  Do you find your Eureka moments at these times?  Or are you just happy to wallow, guilt-free?  

What is this good for, anyway?

Of course, understanding when your best times for doing or thinking are doesn't stop you from thinking or doing at other times, it just helps you recognize why it might not be going as well as you'd like.  Knowing these times are also not an excuse to just stop when you're on a roll. And we all have good days and bad days, when we have more bounce or feel flat.
This knowledge is a guide for your planning to help you be your most productive!
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