What is the recommended first step for efficiently planning your work each day?

• A. Schedule the same amount of work time each day.
• B. Make a list of what has to be done.
• C. Change your peak energy time to 9:00 - 11:00 in the morning.
• D. Set the unit's goals.

Answer: (B)

Start with a clear view of what must be done today. Making a list of tasks you need to complete provides a concrete inventory of the workload. When you write things down, you free mental space, reduce the chance of forgetting duties, and quickly see which items are urgent or important. This creates a solid foundation for planning because you can estimate how long each task will take, decide the order to tackle them, and slot them into the day with room for interruptions or emergencies. In a lab setting, this helps ensure essential duties—such as animal care, husbandry tasks, and record-keeping—are addressed and nothing is overlooked.

Scheduling the same amount of time for every day assumes the workload is constant, which it isn’t, and can lead to either idle time or rushed tasks. Reconfiguring your peak energy window can boost performance, but it doesn’t establish what actually needs to be done first. Setting the unit’s goals is important for direction, but daily planning starts with listing tasks to turn those goals into actionable steps.