What’s the first thing you do when you get to work?

Alarm clock I saw an interesting post on Slashdot about the first thing IT managers do when they get to work. Here’s a sampling:

  • Read Slashdot
  • Check the whiteboard to see where problems
  • Check on the nightshift before the escape
  • Check the queue on SMS
  • Check email
  • Make coffee
  • Socialise with co-workers
  • Boot up PC
  • Update timesheets and paperwork
  • Various bodily functions
  • Check server logs
  • Replace backup tapes
  • Planning my day in my diary

It got me thinking. The first thing I do every day has to set the tone and pace of the day to follow. After all, I diligently try to get up early to find extra time in the day.

I’m ashamed to admit that the first thing I do is check my email. Usually while drinking a nice cup of tea. Really, I should try to meditate or bash out 250 words or something. My wife does ‘morning pages’ which helps her.

So, what’s the first thing you do when you get to work?

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Comments (8) left to “What’s the first thing you do when you get to work?”

  1. Jude wrote:

    I work at home on the computer, so what I used to do first was check email and read blogs for an undetermined amount of time.

    Then I encountered posts like this one at Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com/software/top/geek-to-live–control-your-workday-187074.php

    Since then, I’ve been trying to do at least some work on the 5 most important things on my list before I power up the computer.

  2. Nathania wrote:

    Check email
    Read my RSS feeds

    It’s hard to jump right in, and reading my feeds usually gets the brain going. Especially when i read the feeds related to my industry. it usually gets me wanting to work on my client’s stuff and help them succeed.

  3. David Bradley wrote:

    Check blog comment queues, I’ve now got five sites that I simply must keep on top of…just in case that incredibly insightful, earth-shattering comment arrives while I sleep

    Then it’s email

    db

  4. Lee Hopkins wrote:

    Ego search technorati, then read my main feeds. After that, check the inbox. Like Jude and your good self I work from home, so being married to the pc is part of the package.

  5. melly wrote:

    check email and bloglines, turn on yahoo messenger. later i heard that the first 60 minutes is crucial time to get the work done. now i came 30 minutes earlier to avoid guilty on checking my emails first

  6. Patricia wrote:

    Check email.
    Read my horoscope.

  7. Kelly wrote:

    Eat oatmeal, drink tea, check e-mail AND put out fires, check news sites, tackle work that I set up to work on first thing. Every day before leaving work, I clean my entire desk and write a list of work for the next day so that everything is clean and ready for me in the morning.

  8. donoho wrote:

    With Active todo list:
    Check Email/Review todo

    Without active todo list:
    Chat with receptionist
    Change tapes
    Read Tech/Productivity Feeds
    Avoid Gaming Feeds

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