I spend a lot of time reading, and I come across many habits for personal excellence. Habits that make life a lot easier. Habits that can actually change your life.
These routines, habits and practices have transformed my life. They are significant changes inspired by the wisdom of great thinkers. They’ve helped me gain more time, feel less stressed, and power through my day without struggle. I hope they save you time!
1. Read, write or get one thing done asap — anything that sets the tone to start the day right
Ever wake up, reach for your phone, and almost an hour later, find yourself still lost in the news or doomscrolling? Ditch that habit! Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher, would have much to say about our modern-day time drain. He believed, “The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become.” Character is built on the choices you make every single day, starting with the very first moments. And those first moments set the tone for everything that follows.
I start my day with reading and writing. Those two are non-negotiable. Start your day with an intentional habit. It could be anything that sets the tone for a great day. Maybe you reach for a book that offers a focused path for your thoughts. You could grab a pen and journal, allowing your inner self to set the tone. Or maybe you choose movement, stretching your body and waking your mind. The specific action isn’t as necessary as the intention behind it. You’re taking control of your day from the very beginning. With each intentional start, you build momentum. You train your mind to crave focus and purpose, not the fleeting stimulation of the scroll.
2. Do you know your power hour? Identify your most focused time of day. This is your power hour!
It’s a window of peak focus when your brain operates at its absolute best. Block distractions and check off your most important tasks during this golden window.
The key lies in identifying this golden window. Experiment. Are you a morning lark, energised by the rising sun? Or a night owl thriving in the quiet solitude of the evening? Get a better understanding your natural rhythms to schedule your power hour for maximum impact.
I use it every day. Mine is the first three hours of the morning. Once you’ve identified it, treat this hour with reverence. Block out distractions — silence your phone, close unnecessary tabs, and inform those around you that this is your “do not disturb” zone. It creates a sacred space for focused work, allowing you to tap into your peak mental state.
Why power hour? Leveraging your power hour is how you become a master of your time. You’re not passively reacting to the day’s demands; you’re actively choosing when and where to exert your most focused energy. The intentional approach empowers you to achieve more in less time, leaving space for the other aspects of life that matter. Don’t let your power hour go to waste. Identify it, protect it, and use it to conquer your most challenging tasks. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you work in harmony with your unique mental rhythm.
3. Invest 15 minutes of your evening to plan how you will spend your “power hour” in the morning.
Less decision fatigue in the morning means more energy to get more done in the early hours of the day. Grab a pen and paper, or open your favourite planning app. Now, visualise tomorrow. Schedule your key tasks — the non-negotiables that get you closer to the bigger goal. Block out time slots for appointments, meetings, and deadlines. Take control of micro-decisions to free up precious mental energy in the morning.
I start my day with at least three things to check off before noon. The benefits extend beyond efficiency. You’ll experience a newfound sense of calm. The anxiety of facing an unknown becomes less. You approach the morning with purpose, ready to conquer your goals with a clear head and a full tank of mental energy. It’s a small investment with a big payoff in the morning. The mental clarity allows you to be present, engage fully with each task, and experience the day with a sense of peace.
4. Leverage lists like your day depends on it because it does
Write things down. A to-do list is your action plan. Get everything, big or small, out of your head and onto paper. Seeing it all laid out can be surprisingly calming, and it lets you focus on tackling each task one by one. A to-do list is an externalisation of your intentions. Writing things down, big or small, frees your mind from the burden of remembering. It’s like decluttering that mental room, creating space for clear thinking and focus.
I don’t do well without lists. The philosophy behind list-making is simple: an organised mind is a productive mind. The list method harnesses the power of intentionality. You transform a jumble of thoughts into a clear action plan. With each completed task on that list, you not only achieve your goals but also cultivate a sense of accomplishment. The list isn’t just a tool; it’s a philosophy for a more intentional and fulfilling day.
5. Schedule dedicated “boredom breaks” with absolutely no stimulation
No phones, no music, no reading. Allow your mind to truly wander — just you and your own thoughts. Sometimes, boredom is the fertile ground for better idea connection. It’s a radical proposition, but it works. It might feel uncomfortable at first, the silence almost deafening. But resist the urge to reach for your phone, to fill the void with noise.
In this quiet space, something magical happens. Your mind starts to make unexpected connections. Ideas that seemed disparate before begin to connect. It’s in this fertile ground of boredom that creativity can truly flourish. Think of some of history’s greatest thinkers. They didn’t achieve breakthroughs while constantly plugged in. They took walks in nature, stared out windows, and allowed their minds to wander freely.
That is how Archimedes supposedly discovered the principle of buoyancy while taking a bath or how Newton formulated his theory of gravity under an apple tree. ‘All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking,” philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said.
I take boredom breaks at midday. Schedule those “boredom breaks” and allow your mind to explore the quiet. You might be surprised by the sparks of genius that emerge from the fertile ground of unstructured thought. Doing nothing is resistance, but your brain will do wonders if you can commit to it.
6. Make movement daily habit
For many people, exercise feels like punishment, a forced march towards exhaustion. The human body is a productive machine capable of incredible feats. But left idle, it rusts, and its potential remains untapped. Exercise is the oil that keeps you running smoothly. It strengthens your muscles, sharpens your mind, and boosts your energy levels.
I do my brisk exercises in the morning. Long walks do wonders for power hour. The key is to find joy in movement. Don’t force yourself onto a treadmill if it feels like torture. Explore! Find an activity you enjoy — a brisk walk, a short gym session, a few stretches in the morning, anything that gets your blood pumping. Exercise is a mood booster. It releases endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that combat stress and anxiety. You’ll find yourself approaching the day with a newfound sense of optimism and energy.
But the true power of exercise, I’ve found, is the connection it creates with myself. As you move your body, you gain a deeper understanding of its capabilities. You build resilience, pushing through discomfort and emerging stronger. That translates into other areas of life, giving you the confidence to tackle challenges and overcome obstacles. If you do it right, exercise won’t be a chore; it will become a tool for self-care and a way to reconnect with your body and mind.
7. Try the deliberate distraction method
Feeling stuck? Introduce a short, controlled burst of a completely unrelated activity. Take a walk for 10 minutes, read a few pages of your favourite book, or do some stretches. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is stop focusing. When you step away, your subconscious mind continues to work in the background. It sifts through the mental clutter, making unexpected connections you might miss in a state of focused tension. As you take that conscious break, your brain can wander freely and play with different ideas. Suddenly, during your break, inspiration strikes!
I use long walks and reading as my productive distractions. The deliberate distraction method is about acknowledging the limitations of our conscious minds. A temporary shift in focus creates the space for your subconscious to work its magic. A different activity exposes you to new stimuli. It can spark unexpected connections, leading to a sudden burst of inspiration. The key is to choose a distraction that truly diverts your attention. Don’t scroll through social media or check emails — that’s just another form of mental dead end. Opt for something that engages a different part of your brain, allowing your creative side to breathe. Take a walk, lose yourself in a good book, or simply stretch your body. You might be surprised where a little mental detour can lead you.