A recent study published in an American Psychological Association journal, Emotion, suggests that early birds are generally happier than night owls.
It also noted 12 tasks that "killer employees" always do in the morning hours; I've included seven of them here for your consideration:
1. They make a work to-do list the day before. Many swear by having a written to-do list, but not everyone agrees on when you need to compose it. According to Andrew Jensen, a business efficiency consultant with Sozo Firm in Shrewsbury, Pa., the opportune time to plan a day's tasks is the night before. "Some people like to do the to-do schedule in the morning, but then they might have already lost office time writing it out," he says. "It helps to do that to-do schedule the night before. It also will help you sleep better."
2. They exercise. Schedule your Pilates class for the a.m. instead of after work. "Exercise improves mood and energy levels," Jensen says. Not only that, but "there have been studies done on employees who've exercised before work or during the work day. Those employees have been found to have better time-management skills, and an improved mental sharpness... Those same studies found these workers are more patient with their peers."
3. They arrive at the office on time. This one is obvious, right? But it's very often abused. Arriving on time allows you to move into your day without feeling like you are already behind. Allot a safe amount of time to make it to work on schedule.
4. They tackle the big projects first. You can dive right into work upon arriving in the office, since you made your to-do list the night before. And Jensen suggests starting with the hardest tasks. "Don't jump into meaningless projects when you're at your mental peak for the day," he says.
5. They avoid morning meetings. If you have any say on meeting times, schedule them in the afternoon. "You should use your prime skills during the prime time of the day. I believe that mornings are the most productive time," Jensen says, also noting that an employer who schedules morning meetings could rob his or her employees of their peak performance, and ultimately cost the company. The exception to this, he adds, is if your meeting is the most important task of the day. "Sometimes you have to schedule a crucial meeting, or a client meeting, in which case you'd want to plan for a time when employees are at their peak."
6. They allot time for following up on messages. Discern between mindless email/voicemail checking and conducting important business. Jensen's company, Sozo Firm, advises clients that checking their inbox every couple of minutes takes time away from important tasks. Instead, set a schedule to check and respond to email in increments. Consider doing so at the top of each hour, to ensure that clients and colleagues receive prompt responses from you.
7. They take a mid-morning break. Get up and stretch your legs. Or stay seated and indulge in a little Internet surfing. According to Jensen, it's actually good to zone out on Facebook and Twitter or send a personal text message or two. "You should take 10-minute breaks occasionally," he says. "Companies that ban any kind of Facebook [use], texting, or personal calls can find it will be detrimental. Those practices increase employee satisfaction."
Just be sure not to abuse the privilege. "The best employees will respect their employer's time, and the worst-performing employees will find a way to waste time even if the company forbids personal Internet use," Jensen explains.
Pathways to Excellence provides training programs that allows participants to view On-Demand via recorded modules -- at their own pace, from the comfort of any location. Organizations can purchase courses just once and use for ALL staff as there is no per-person cost . You can train 1, 10, 100 or even 1000 staff members for this one low purchase price!
Take a look at these programs to help you or your staff become exemplary employees:
Want to be a better employee? Wish your employees were more productive and quality minded? 
Leadership training opportunities are offered in many ways to meet your organization's specific needs and budget. 
Teresa Gilbert