Deep hard intellectual work done in batches unleashes peak productivity.
Make time for such work.
Mornings are best because, for most people, their energy is at its peak, and their brain is fresh after a full night’s sleep.
Here is a model morning:
- Sleep early – a solid day starts the night before
- Wake up without an alarm
- Sip a glass of water – warm or cold depending on the weather
- Empty your bowel
- Go for a walk
- Sit down to meditate – 1 minute or 1 hour, and anything in between is fine, do what you can, but you can
- Work on something that takes you towards your big goal for 1-4 hours, not urgent work but essential work
- Eat a light, nourishing breakfast – eating before a deep work session is ok. Keeping it for later will be a reward you give yourself for sticking to the plan.
After you have had a morning like that, you’ll be and feel super productive and pumped to do more.
You would have done more in the morning than most people do in a day.
For the rest of the day, you are free to do whatever, take care of yourself, do what’s urgent, explore, meet new people, relax, and recharge.