5 Easy Ways to Start a Productive Day
Posted August 19, 2008 in How-To, Lifestyle, Productivity 68 Comments »
In the quest for ultimate productivity it’s important to think about how you get started in the morning.
As easy as it is to skimp on your routine, rush breakfast, and then try to dive right into work — that’s not usually the best way to go.
Without starting your morning properly you may never hit your full efficiency, or worse, you could doom the rest of your day to failure.
On the positive side, a good morning routine can make it a whole lot easier to be productive for the rest of the day.
With that in mind, here are 5 ways to start a very productive day:
1. Get a good night’s sleep
Your morning begins as soon as that alarm wakes you up. If it happens to wake you up 4 hours after you went to sleep, then you’ll probably have a very difficult time being productive for the rest of the day. If you get a full 8 hours, on the other hand, things will look much rosier.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to severely reduce productivity, dramatically shorten your attention span, contribute to obesity and other health problems, and even slow your reaction time as much as alcohol.
If you need some help shutting down and falling asleep earlier, I recommend checking out Pzizz.com’s sleep tracks — they work wonders for an over-active mind. I also highly recommend Dave Navarro’s Becoming an Early Riser Program — he has a ton of great advice for getting awesome sleep and waking up with lots of energy.
2. Spend 20 minutes being disciplined
Get in the habit of doing something every morning that requires a lot of discipline. Find something that is very good for you, something that you feel great about doing (usually after the fact), and make sure you do it every morning.
Personally, I like to go for a 20 minute run. Okay, I actually hate running, but I feel great afterward — and every morning that I go running I have this great accomplishment to look back on for the rest of the day. It’s like a pace-setter reminding me that even if I don’t want to work hard, I’ve done it before, and I’ll feel great when things get completed.
3. Eat Breakfast
There really isn’t much to say about this, except that its importance has been studied and proven as much as the importance of sleep. So eat your breakfast, and eat it good.
4. Clarify EXACTLY what tasks are productive
Don’t just write a task list every morning — we all know that it’s possible to work hard all day long and not really accomplish anything.
Spend 10 minutes and think about the following:
- What you have to do today
- What you’ve been putting off doing
- What you’d like to do today
Once you’ve thought about that, put yourself in your shoes at the end of the day. Imagine you’re looking back at all of the things you did during the day and evaluating yourself. Now — which things really matter? Which things make the biggest difference?
It’s those tasks that need to be on your list, and it’s those things that you need focus on to make your day productive.
5. Get into work mode
Once you’ve completed your morning routine, had breakfast, clarified your daily goals, etc… it’s time to get into work mode. Shower (or don’t), shave (or don’t), get dressed (or don’t), drive to the office (or not), and basically do whatever you need to do to get ready for work.
The goal is to remove yourself from distractions and prepare to focus on doing work. Whether you’re working at home or in an office, it helps to create a routine that clearly signifies this change. Once you have those mental blinders in place, you can step away from all things not related to work and get down to business.
These points have helped me sharpen my productivity, but each person is different. Do you have any tips that you use to help kick-start a productive day?
About the author: Mason Hipp is an entrepreneur, marketing guru, and writer. He blogs about life and business at FreelanceFolder.com and is co-author of the Book The Unlimited Freelancer. Follow him on twitter @MasonHipp
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68 Comments
Max | Design Shard
August 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pmIam definatly going to go to bed earlier, i can feel my self being unmotivated the less sleep i get, i may take up running or a short workout as well,
Thanks good reading Max
Abe
August 19th, 2008 at 9:15 pmThat was a very good read. Short sweet and it touches on those things that I always realize at the end of the day and wish I could think of first thing in the morning..
I have been sleeping earlier and eating better. Now it is time for the work out and the life direction clarification..
Thank you,
Abe
Kevin
August 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pmMason,
Good post. One other thing I’d add is that I’ve found it’s really helpful to, at the end of each work day, plan what I want to tackle tomorrow – especially the first thing I want to deal with. Thanks!
Kevin
Steven Snell
August 19th, 2008 at 9:30 pmNumber 4, clarifying priorities, is a big one for me. Without that I tend to drift off and do things that really aren’t that important.
I’ve actually been getting less sleep recently and finding my productivity to be up. I think everyone is different here and in general it’s good to get more sleep, but I’m learning that I can function quite well on less sleep than I ever thought. However, I do have days once every week or two where I wish I had slept more.
Mason Hipp
August 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm@Max — I’m the same way. If I get even an hour or two less sleep than usual I start to lose focus and wander unproductively.
@Abe — The clarification part has really helped me out. It’s hard to feel productive when you aren’t sure what to do :-)
@Kevin — I am constantly debating this with some of my friends. Is it better to plan your day in the morning or at the end of the previous day? My preference is to plan it out the morning of, but I know a lot of people who do well the other way around. Do you have any specific reason you prefer planning it the afternoon before?
@Steven — I’m typically good with about 8hrs, though I know people who can do really well with 6-7. If you’ve been getting less than that though…
Thanks for the awesome comments everyone!
Quitting The Day Job
August 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pmI always do #4 – I like to come up with at least two things I NEED to do during the day before I go to bed.
I have always wanted to do #2, especially get up and run, but I am just too darn lazy.
shiido
August 20th, 2008 at 6:19 amhi guys nice post,
In the afternoon or at night, i do a revision of what i did and what i didn´t and what i have to do , a mind revision, and in the morning, i wake up, and i know exactly what i have to do, and with a little luck my dreams help my inspiration too!
but when i do a todo paper, is always in the morning, so i can prepare myself for the day…
best,
Shiido
freelancer graphic designer (home edition ^-^)
Linda Roeder
August 20th, 2008 at 8:03 amGreat ideas. Maybe I’ll exercise before work instead of after. I also need to set the kids up with something to do, quietly, so I can get some work done. I wish people would stop calling me during the day when I’m trying to work, that would help too. (I work from home)
Mason Hipp
August 20th, 2008 at 8:30 am@Shiido — Splitting it up like that is a good way to go. It can help get things out of your head at night so sleeping is easier, and it also reduces the likelihood of forgetting anything.
To everyone who mentioned the exercise — It is tough when you get started (takes a lot of discipline) but once you get in the habit it’s really a great way to start a productive day. Leaves you awake, in a good mood, and full of energy.
Richard Rinyai
August 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmHi,
Another item I would like to add to point 4 is that once you’ve figured out your priorities, break them down into manageable chunks, once you get to each one, so that it doesn’t seem to overwhelming.
This way, you can see your progress over the course of the project/task.
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
http://www.theprofessionalassistant.net
Rob
August 20th, 2008 at 11:29 pmI sleep in a room with a non-curtained window which faces east. I wake up with the sun, and no longer use an alarm clock. My wake up is natural and not artificial, and that is one of the best ways to start your day. Nothing worse then being awoken in the middle of REM sleep. I also do a 30-60 minute jog mid-day which is an excellent way to keep up energy in general, and to not hit the slow down which seems to occur in the afternoon.
shiido
August 21st, 2008 at 3:30 amBecause of this post, i did some run this morning, 6h30am and i was running, it feels very good! and its relaxing, you can see birds party on the electric wires, feel that morning smell, and your city is much more relaxing when almost everyone is a sleep and all the shops are closed.
(now i have to quit smoking!)
@Rob, i do that too!! i only use the alarm clock when i have an important interview or something like that….
Mason Hipp
August 21st, 2008 at 9:27 amI love waking up via sunlight, but unfortunately there are other members of the household who need to be up before dawn. So, alarm clock it is.
@Shiido — Awesome job on the running! It is amazing how different everything is early in the morning, I agree that it’s very refreshing. That is, of course, once you manage to get out of bed :-)
Alan
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 amThese five points are great. But they sure feel like new year’s resolutions. :)
Amy Hengst
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pmI’ve recently resolved to start my day with a “commute.” Since I’ve worked from home, there have been too many days I’ve never gotten outside before dark, and then find myself feeling restless and discontent. Now, I make sure to get outside in the morning before starting work. Ideally, for a bike ride or semi-strenuous exercise, but sometimes it’s just a leisurely stroll to get coffee, or to the lake to watch the birds. With my new commute, I have something to look forward to when I get out of bed, and I come home refreshed and ready to work. I find myself more alert and focused when I do this, and I recommend it to everyone!
I’ve also started waking up naturally instead of with an alarm clock, and it’s far more enjoyable.
Chris
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 amGood post! I’m bookmarking this to give me some focus. Thanks for sharing!
Quickroute
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:22 pmI am the ultimate procrastinator which leads me to to be ultimately unproductive but am going to try your common sense approach above and will let you know!
Susan
August 24th, 2008 at 10:35 amI absolutely LOVE this list – thank you. Now, I just need to wake up 20 minutes earlier each morning to get my day started off right!
Stephen
August 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pmGreat tip in number 4 – too many peoples lives are controlled by what they think they have to do in the day (usually unimportant stuff) rather than what they would like to do.
Geekzkrieg.com
August 25th, 2008 at 12:35 pmWhat a great article. Thanks for the tips. I’ll incorporate it to my daily routine
Alison
August 25th, 2008 at 1:03 pmI like to make my to-do list the day before. That way I go home feeling like I can relax and stop thinking about work. It also helps me sleep at night. Instead of lying awake worrying about what I need to make sure I remember to do the next day, I know that it’s already lined up for me. It also helps wrap up the day at work for me. The last fifteen minutes of the workday are always unproductive for me work-wise, to be honest, so if I create the to-do list in that time, at least I get something useful done.
I really like the suggestions of making sure that the items on the to-do list are actually the ones that need to be there. I’ve been known to write the same thing down day after day, and still put off doing it each day!
Aimeric Savoie-Gauthier
August 25th, 2008 at 8:22 pmNormaly I do 1hr or + yoga (including 5 min relaxation and 10 meditation)
~6 mornings a week.
But when I urge for more energy, I get up earlier,
and ride my bike to a random location (wood, swamp, hill, quiet and interesting)
to watch the sun rise, this is adding up so much purposefulness to my morning routine and
I like to sneak out silently while every ones sleep.
Btw yoga can effectively replace a couple hours of sleep if you done well.with coffee of course!
DanGTD
August 27th, 2008 at 6:28 amYes, this is the right order.
Exercise, then eat a healthy meal, then go to work. Many people go straight to work, and a couple of years later they find themselves burnt out. You have to make your body strong first, and you’ll find the work gets much easier to do.
Brian Balfour
July 20th, 2009 at 11:20 amGood tips Max. Here is another one that I highly recommend.
Spend 30 minutes in the morning reading a relevant book to your industry or job. I find that it helps jump start your brain in the morning getting it focused on business and you work. In addition, depending on the book it can be a source of motivation.
I started trying this a few months back and it has done wonders.
Fruitfulvine2
July 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pmThat sleep thing is what I really need to work on. Great article.
kitt
July 20th, 2009 at 2:24 pmI’d actually recommend doing the list part of #4 the night before, and limiting how much you can do to four hours of work, instead of eight hours of work (inspired by http://thinksimplenow.com/productivity/the-4-hour-workday/ )
Doing it the night before means you can start immediately when you are done with the other 4 items on this list. You know what you need to do, and you don’t have to come back up to speed with everything on your list to determine what needs to be done today.
Limiting to four hours means you need to be focused, which also leads nicely into #5.
muhammad
July 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pmI really didn’t think 20 minutes would make a difference but now that I think about it, on days which I have done that, it really helps.
From tomorrow on, I’ll be doing this!!
Andy Sowards
July 21st, 2009 at 10:44 amThis was a great reminder that I need to work on the sleep thing, and the breakfast thing lol. I Have started working out again and I have to say it has made a tremendous difference in how I feel, definitely gotta stay healthy to be productive!
Customized Marketing
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 pmGood reminders. Have to be better at the sleep thing.
Bas
September 13th, 2009 at 6:41 pmOn my internship (which was very boring actually), I used to get up 15 minuten before I needed to have my trainride, rushing everything like hell, and then race to the trainstation on my bike. Then at work I collapsed.
makemassair
September 18th, 2009 at 7:02 pmNice to see some good, and if we’re honest obvious things to remember and put in place.
Being that they are obvious means that they are over looked. At least personally.
Interesting idea with the 20mins of discipline related activity every morning.
Will put that one in effect I reckon.
m.
Nic loves languages
September 19th, 2009 at 8:26 pmGreat post Mason
I find that sometimes I start work by checking emails and I could continue doing that for half an hour or longer. If I can start the day with something solid, then I feel that I have already accomplished something, making me feel motivated.
Nic at CrossLingo
theNameisDan
September 21st, 2009 at 10:38 amSome good stuff, I have just recently got into a similar mode.
I was a night owl and found that getting up early was definitely more productive. I have been getting up around 6 and eating a small bowl of cereal, then shooting over to a local coffee shop for some coffee and 2-4 to figure out my day.
In the first hour I normally check my mail and social networks, write up my to-do list and then hit up some sites like ffffound.com or welovetypography for some inspiration or I’ll do a little reading from some blogs (normally both are on my rss). Normally able to get that done in the first hour. (and unless my email box is overflowing, I try to limit it to an hour)
Then get 1-3 hours of solid work done, (whatever #1 is on my list) and can normally knock it out in 1-3 hours.
so by 10 am you’ve gotten everything done and your ready for the day. Already feeling like you’ve accomplished quite a bit.
I normally go home for 2nd breakfast and eat some good eggs and bacon on toast and am ready to take on the day.
The only thing I regret is my running.
I was running in the morning 20 minutes to jump start my day, and then at night about a 30 minute jog and then a 30 minute walk to unwind my day and help me reflect on everything that happened durring the day and help me organize my thoughts and priorities. And when I got home, I’d make dinner and then over dinner write up a list of todo’s before a movie.
Those two things I need to work back into my day.
But hitting up a coffee shop and working for a bit has made all the difference in my productivity.
Francesco
October 15th, 2009 at 5:24 amGreat post! I’m identifing with all the five points…
It’s incredible as the best things are in the simples ones….
Mason thank you for sharing them….
Obhet [Bread5Studio]
November 9th, 2009 at 6:04 amWow..I have this wrong connotation that working round the clock makes me more productive.. i have been on a worst 21 hour straight work just recently.. thanks a lot for sharing.. i should be and will start to practice sleeping on time..
Katy
November 20th, 2009 at 11:15 amGreat blog post and comments. Like others here I’m a runner, and I go for a run almost every morning after putting my 3rd grader on the school bus. It clears my head, gives me an energy boost and allows me to get my exercise out of the way so I can focus on projects.
I really liked Amy’s idea about a “commute” when you work from home, because it is important to separate home life from work life even though you’re in the same physical space. It seems like it provides a nice transition in the morning and a kick start to the workday – I’m going to try that one.
Andrea Sullivan
November 24th, 2009 at 10:24 amI just saw this article, and it’s really good. Productive days are so very different from nonproductive days, and it usually does start right away early in the morning. Thanks and thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments and sharing of ideas.
Kemo
December 28th, 2009 at 8:42 amReally great post, I’ve been having troubles sleeping past year and ofc, felt like shit every day ( no creativity, productivity, willingness to live, etc. ).
Now that I got myself to old habbits of running every morning and getting up early ( except for sundays ofc ), I feel alive again. Man, what a good feeling :)
Gregor Colnik
January 7th, 2010 at 7:07 pmold, but good post.
I occasionally just work, the first thing in the morning, straight out of bed, start programming or designing or whatever needs to be done.
After an hour or two i take a break and do the necessary stuf (breakfast, shower,…), and during this break i can’t wait to get back to computer to work some more.
This way i outrun my laziness before it even wakes up :D
Adres Tarifi
January 12th, 2010 at 3:58 amhave a nice day…
Bronson
February 28th, 2010 at 5:56 amThe one thing i really like about my new freelancing lifestyle is that I can go to gym in the morning before starting work at 10am.
It really wakes me up and helps me face the day with high spirits and a lot more energy.
Knowing what you have to achieve tomorrow before hitting that hay is also a great idea.
Nico
March 17th, 2010 at 4:28 amNice refresher. :)
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