Want to start your week off strong? Here are the most productive hours of the week

If you’ve vowed to be more productive at work, there are certain days and times that can help you get a head start.

Monday at 10:54 A.M. is the most productive day and time of the week for the majority of workers, according to a survey by Moneypenny, a business call-support service. The company surveyed people across industries and states to find the best time to get things done.

Industries including finance, law, healthcare and marketing all said Monday was their most productive day, though people in sales listed Friday as the day they tackle the most projects. HR and recruitment professionals said they feel more productive later in the day, typically after 1 P.M. For early risers, only workers from Vermont and Utah said they were productive before 9 A.M., the survey found.

Read more: Zoom meeting fatigue: How to maintain productivity in the grind of WFH

“Peak productivity times will vary from person to person, so it’s important to understand what we can do to help ourselves stay focused for longer throughout the working day,” Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny said in a release. “Aiming to get a good night’s sleep, along with taking regular breaks are super important.”

In order to keep themselves focused, 50% said a good night’s sleep was crucial to their success. Taking coffee breaks was another priority, with 40% drinking two cups of coffee for a boost of productivity, though 11% drink five cups per day to stay on task.

Working from home has been a mixed bag for many workers, who have struggled to stay focused and get their work done without distraction. Fifty-five percent of employees say they feel less productive working from home, and 35% feel productive but less engaged, according to 451 Research, a technology research firm.

Managers shouldn’t expect their workers to be productive all eight hours of their day, says Don Khouri, an executive coach and author. Instead, managers should encourage workers to prioritize important tasks and set clear expectations for what needs to be done and when.

“There's more requests for our time than we could ever possibly get to. So that's where we have to be really clear and purposeful about what we are going to focus on,” Khouri says. “Priority needs to drive everything. If we have a really clear list of priorities, then we would make a decision on what doesn't fit and what’s really important.”

Read more: Companies aren’t prepared to deal with employee burnout

Making sure employees have a healthy work-life balance and take time to step away from their responsibilities can help prevent more serious issues like burnout. Things like listening to music, taking a walk and utilizing their PTO can help employees reset, focus and feel like their employer trusts them to get their work done.

“Workers need to be measured by their results, not by the hours they work,” says Steve Cadigan, author of 'Workquake — Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working.' “If you think they can do more, then change their goals — it’s important to have a discussion about it rather than micromanaging the situation.”