In a previous post, I talked about the ideal morning routine. I’ve been reading a lot of productivity books and trying to adjust my morning routine to accommodate my work schedule. I started getting up at 5am because I needed more time in the mornings before heading to work, since I have to get to work by 9am and transit is notoriously a time-killer. I chug a couple cups of coffee to optimize my energy levels, and so far, it's been working. I have enough energy to last me to 10pm at night, when I usually go to sleep. I also have enough energy to work out after work. I like to run at the gym instead of outside now because I just feel it's more efficient. Optimally, I would like to run in the mornings, but I feel it takes a huge chunk of time and makes my mornings feel somewhat cramped. But the point of the morning routine is to be productive and optimize your day.
In his book Do It Today, Darius Foroux talks about how to be more productive by creating rituals and routines. He promotes exercising every day to increase energy levels. Exercise may be hard in the moment but it does wonders in the long run, increasing your physical fitness and energy levels so you can do everything you want to do in a day. I do Pilates and go to the gym, and I’m trying to level up by doing at least one form of exercise every day. I’ve been trying to hack my schedule to give me the most reward and work done for myself. If you don’t have time in the mornings or feel rushed, working out after work is acceptable too. Right now I do workouts at home including strength training and Youtube workouts instead of walking to the gym or spending time on transit, because I want to protect the reservoir of time I have in the mornings. Linked to exercise is eating well. I actually have been eating healthy as of late, from oatmeal with blueberries and bananas to snacking on nuts, cherry tomatoes, and grapes and eating sandwiches with avocado and a healthy protein. The reason being is that I want to be as healthy and energized as I can. Previously, I would crash right after work with my anxiety levels peaking, and this is not something I want to repeat in my schedule. Reading the Bible and meditating on the Word has really helped my anxiety, which is another activity I include in my morning routine.
Another concept brought up by Darius is time blocking. Time blocking is a tried and tested mechanism used by so many productivity experts such as Cal Newport, writer of Slow Productivity and Deep Work, and many successful entrepreneurs and millionaires. I use TickTick to batch my to-do lists and calendar blocks, and I’m a big fan of the UI of the application.
Another idea that Darius Foroux brings up is improving by 0.01% a day. I watched Ali Abdaal’s Youtube video, and he is a major productivity expert, and he talks about the idea of adding on improvements to your schedule bit by bit, sort of stacking them together, not all at the same time. Hacking your schedule and your life is like stacking Jenga blocks on on top of each other. You want to make sure that your habits are cemented and you’re reaping the benefits from them, before adding even more habits. Ways I’ve done this is by including studying/learning in my morning routine, at least a half hour or Pomodoro session.
Now that I’ve talked about the key concepts behind my morning routine, this is what I currently do:
Wake up at 5am. The alarm clock sounds off and I’m out of bed, still hazy and sleepy eyed. I drink some water with lemon to hydrate myself.
Brew 2 cups of coffee. I have these beer glasses that I’m a big fan of, inspired by Youtube and Tiktok influencers. They look good and makes drinking coffee into a treat. 5 minutes.
Meditate on the Word. I open the Bible almost immediately after I take my morning coffee. I read a chapter in the Bible out loud and then start meditating on the Word, letting the Holy Spirit in. I also pray and repent. This takes about half an hour.
Journal. I think journaling in the morning is just as important as journaling at night. I go over what I have to do for the day and key Bible verses. 5 minutes.
Skincare ritual. I have these Korean skincare products that I’ve been using, from serums to toner to moisturizer and cleanser. Doing my skincare is a comforting ritual that keeps my morning grounded. This takes about 15 minutes.
Exercise. Right now I do strength training and follow a Youtube video, and I sometimes go running. Walking to the gym takes 15 minutes and there are other things that I need to prioritize in my morning, so I don’t go to the gym in the mornings. Also 15 minutes to half an hour.
Study/Learn. Half an hour. Almost 2 hours into my morning, and I need to learn. I open my laptop and watch a Coursera video or open one of my many prized textbooks and do some problems or learn a crucial metabolic pathway or biological concept.
Eat breakfast. Consists of oatmeal, blueberries, banana, and an egg. Good for digestion and energy levels. Takes around 15 minutes.
Do my make up. This takes about 5-10 minutes.
Read a book. If I have time before having to head to work, I do some reading. Otherwise, I pack my bag, change my outfit, and head to work.
I'm such a nerd about productivity, and this is something I'm really passionate about, so I hope my writing this blog post somewhat edifies my readers in one form or another. Remember to rest in between work intervals and keep hydrated and healthy. And above all, have fun! Just because you're being productive doesn't mean you can't have fun. :D
