Nail It

The Shape team shares how they make the most of their power hour. Here are their tips and tricks.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
The Shape team shares how they make the most of their power hour. Here are their tips and tricks.
ZARELDA MARIE GOH, EDITOR
ZARELDA MARIE GOH, EDITOR

“I’m at my most productive first thing in the morning. What helps me optimise this time is starting the work day on a calm, quiet note, so I usually arrive at the office about half an hour earlier than most of my colleagues. It’s totally worth the effort, as I get more done throughout the day, even if it means sacrificing some beauty sleep.”

RAY TICSAY, ART DIRECTOR
RAY TICSAY, ART DIRECTOR

“I get work done by following a fixed set of routines – in the morning, I’ll grab a cup of iced coffee, set my music playlist for the day, surf the web for a couple of minutes to get inspiration and ideas, and let the creative juices kick in. Once that hits, I waste no time and proceed with work.”

LANA NGUYEN, DESIGNER
LANA NGUYEN, DESIGNER

“A wave of energy and productivity always seems to hit me in the morning. In order to prioritise tasks more efficiently, I prefer to have my plans for the day visualised. Therefore, my calendar constantly looks like an advanced Tetris game. I’m also inclined to have a to-do list for everything and my favourite app for that is Clear, a colourful and clutter-free interface that makes it easier than ever to stay organised so that I never miss my productivity peaks.” 

DAWN CHEN, WRITER
DAWN CHEN, WRITER

“My drive kicks in once I’ve caught up on the news and sorted out my e-mails in the morning. I like making a list of everything I need to tackle for the day, regardless of how big or small it is. Need to submit a feature story I’m working on? It goes into the list. Need to organise my beauty closet? It goes into the list too. Seeing the day’s tasks at a glance lets me manage my time more effectively.”

ESTELLE LOW, WRITER
ESTELLE LOW, WRITER

“I tend to feel most charged in the mid-afternoon, when most people are battling post-lunch food comas. After 3pm, I would feel a strong sense of urgency, knowing that I only have a few more hours to churn out stories. That’s when I dive into tasks that require the most concentration. No checking of phone or e-mail. If I need to get creative juices flowing, I would take a toilet break or browse my Instagram feed. A short distraction always helps.”

More: morning tasks