Everyday Productivity [The Four Quarters Method]

The Four-Quarter Method—a revolutionary approach to structuring your day for optimal productivity and fulfillment. Developed by productivity experts, this method divides the day into four distinct quarters, each with its own unique focus and purpose.

Author

Wilson Obeneme
April 13, 2024

Have you ever felt like the time for you to get something done for the day is gone?

That’s your mind playing tricks on you.

Based on the type of person you are - morning, afternoon, evening, or night person, you tend to feel like the day has been wasted if you don’t get productive work done within your productivity cycle. For most people, they operate with the morning cycle and once they miss it, they end up thinking, maybe I should wait till tomorrow.

The four quarters method was developed by Gretchen Rubin, a well-known author and speaker on habits and happiness. The method divides a day into four quarters, each representing a different type of activity or focus.

Following the 8-8-8 Rule method, if we remove the 8 hours of sleep, it means we have 16 hours to play with for productive work or leisure time.

The four quarters can be

First Quarter (5 am - 9 am): Gaining momentum

The early hours are your opportunity to seize the day with strength and good energy.

Follow your morning routine, brainstorm, and get your most important tasks done.

Second quarter (9 am - 1 pm): Sustaining Momentum

As the morning unfolds, maintain your momentum with focused productivity.

Use this time to have your meetings, do repetitive office work, and re-energizing things like lunch and quick naps if possible.

Third Quarter (1 pm - 5 pm): Nurturing Balance

As energy levels begin to drop, shift your focus to maintaining equilibrium.

Tidy your space, review the day's activities, and if possible, quickly organize your calendar for the next day.

Fourth Quarter (5 pm - 9 pm): Renewing energy

As the day draws to a close, prioritize activities that nourish your soul and refreshes your body.

Focus totally on activities that are not work-related. Spend time with family and friends, watch football, or your favorite TV show.

The goal is to still be productive no matter your level of energy in a day. If you miss any quarter, prepare yourself to achieve the goals of the next quarter. With this, you’ll always have a productive day, no matter how little.

Remember, progress, no matter how gradual, is still progress.