A Secret to Good Habits and Happiness? Know Your Zone

Gretchen Rubin
Updated
An old fashioned alarm clock in front of floral patterned wallpaper
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I needed to set a meeting time with someone, and she said, "I know my zone. Let's meet at 11:00."
I was instantly intrigued by this phrase, "know my zone," and I asked, "Why 11:00? Why is that 'your zone?'"

She said, "I know from experience that if something's important, I should schedule for 11:00. Any earlier, and I might be late or feel rushed. I have to drop off my sons at school, commute into the city, all that. I need a big margin. Plus, by 11:00 I'm wide awake and in the swing of my day. If I schedule something after lunch, I'm more tired and distracted. I get a lot of work done, but I use the 11:00 slot for what's most important."

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