Daily Routines for Increased Focus

Personally, I suck at efficiency (doing things quickly). Here’s my coping mechanism and process for maximizing efficacy (doing the right things): 1) Wake up at least 1 hour before you have to be at a computer screen. E-mail is the mind killer. 2) Make a cup of tea (I like pu-erh) and sit down with a pen/pencil and paper. 3) Write down the 3-5 things—and no more—that are making you most anxious or uncomfortable. They’re often things that have been punted from one day’s to-do list to the next, to the next, to the next, and so on. Most important usually = most uncomfortable, with some chance of rejection or conflict. 4) For each item, ask yourself: – “If this were the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied with my day?” – “Will moving this forward make all the other to-do’s unimportant or easier to knock off later?” 5) Look only at the items you’ve answered “yes” to for at least one of these questions. 6) Block out at least 2-3 hours to focus on ONE of them for today. Let the rest of the urgent but less important stuff slide. It will still be there tomorrow. 7) TO BE CLEAR: Block out at least 2-3 HOURS to focus on ONE of them for today. This is ONE BLOCK OF TIME. Cobbling together 10 minutes here and there to add up to 120 minutes does not work. 8) If you get distracted or start procrastinating, don’t freak out and downward spiral; just gently come back to your ONE to-do. Congratulations! That’s it. This is the only way I can create big outcomes despite my never-ending impulse to procrastinate, nap, and otherwise fritter away my days with bullshit. If I have 10 important things to do in a day, it’s 100% certain nothing important will get done that day. On the other hand, I can usually handle 1 must-do item and block out my lesser behaviors for 2-3 hours a day.

I've tried the fancy productivity systems, but here's what works: This 3x5 notecard... Each evening, I sit down at my desk and write down the 3-5 highest impact to-dos for the following day. These are the "important" tasks that directly contribute to my long-term projects or goals. The list is pure—I specifically avoid writing down all of the miscellaneous urgent and unimportant to-dos (more on that later). In the morning, I sit down at my desk for my first focus work block and start at the top of the list, working my way down and crossing off the important items as I get through them. My primary goal is to cross each item off the list by the end of the day. I am intentionally conservative in the number of items I write on the list. It's usually 3, sometimes 4, and very rarely 5. I never want to end the day with open items, so being conservative helps me accomplish that (and get the extra rush from getting through more than I expected). As I go through the day, I stole an idea from Marc Andreessen to use the back of the card to write down and cross off any minor to-dos that I complete (the urgent or unimportant tasks that are not welcome on the front of the card). The process of writing and crossing off an item on the back of the card is a further boost of momentum, so I find it to be a worthwhile exercise. My notecard productivity system is painfully simple, but it's grounded in five powerful realizations: 1. 15 minutes of prep in the evening is worth hours the next morning. By setting out your priority tasks the night before, you eliminate any friction from having to decide what to work on. You hit the ground sprinting. 2. Important > Urgent. By tackling the important to start the day, you guarantee progress against the big picture projects and goals. If my day went to hell after that morning focus block (which it sometimes does with a 1-year-old at home!), it would be ok, because I know I've gotten through much of my important work. 3. Momentum is everything. Crossing important items off your list to start the day immediately creates a winning feeling that you keep with you. Success begets success. 4. Simple is beautiful. If you're spending time thinking about your productivity system, you're studying for the wrong test. That's movement for the sake of movement. You should be focused on progress. 5. Find what works for you. It used to stress me out that I didn't have a beautiful productivity system that would impress others. Then I realized that whatever works for me is the best productivity system. Identify how you operate and find the system that works for you. To get started, just buy a stack of simple 3x5 notecards and give it a shot. If you've ever been overwhelmed by productivity systems and advice, this is an approach to try. Follow me Sahil Bloom for more ideas like this in the future and join 800,000+ others who get these in my weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/esGsF85Q

This 15-minute morning routine supercharged my productivity.  Every day, I spend 15 minutes doing a "brain dump" before checking my devices. I write about my internal triggers, frustrations, and worries.  This simple act helps prevent these thoughts from hijacking my attention later. Here's how to make it work: 1. Schedule it: Use a timeboxed calendar to allocate 15 minutes each morning.  2. Minimize distractions: Do this before checking your phone or computer. If needed, use apps to block distracting feeds and websites. 3. Write freely: Explore negative feelings with curiosity, not contempt. What's bothering you? What's on your mind? 4. Identify actionable items: What problems are under your control? What can you do about them? 5. Let go: Acknowledge the things you can't change. This practice helps you form an action plan for the day ahead, focusing on what truly matters. Try it tomorrow morning. You might be surprised at how much clearer and more focused your day becomes. Want more science-backed techniques for mastering your attention? Subscribe to my newsletter (link in bio).

You may think I am always motivated. The reality? There are many days when I wake up, instead of feeling ready to take on the day, I feel low, unmotivated, and unproductive. This experience is familiar to many of us, and I am no exception. When left unchecked, this pattern can create a vicious cycle that negatively impacts our personal and professional growth. You might brush it off as just a 'bad day' but when this becomes a pattern, it takes a toll on how you show up for your loved ones, your team, and your overall productivity. To tackle this issue, I reached out to my friend Dr. Srinidhi Desikan, a Ph.D. holder in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and an integrated mindset & decision Coach. Here is what she has to say: Motivation is an ever-changing force. It is not an innate trait but a transient sensation that accompanies our human experience. It ebbs and flows and cannot be relied upon consistently. But here's the fascinating part: our actions and physical state profoundly impact our brains and the feelings we experience. When facing low motivation and unproductive days, here are four tips that you can implement to boost your motivation and productivity: 1. Start a 'Tech-Free Morning': Avoid your mobile for at least the first hour of your day to let your mind complete its restorative sleep cycle.     2. Mood-Boosting Activities: Physical exercise or listening to some foot-tapping music releases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain.     3. Mood Intentions and Process-Oriented Goals: Begin each day by setting positive mood intentions and focusing on the steps needed for task completion rather than solely on outcomes. This activates intrinsic motivation, leading to progress and satisfaction.     4. Fuel your day with nourishing foods: Consuming a balanced meal can optimize brain function for the day. Include brain-friendly foods like fatty fish, whole grains, and antioxidant-rich fruits like avocados and blueberries. Shaking off sluggish days might feel daunting, but it's certainly doable. PS: Self-compassion on low days is just as important as the actions you take to regain motivation. ♻ Repost if you found this helpful. Image Credit: Justin Thomas Miller --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

You’ll never find a meeting or call booked with me before 2 PM, and here’s why: My morning hours are sacred. This is when I prioritize my well-being with habits like exercise and meditation. It’s also when I’m most creative, allowing me to fully tap into my flow state. I typically start working around 10 AM, knowing I have a solid four-hour block (sometimes longer if no calls are booked at 2 PM) to focus on my primary tasks—the needle-moving work that drives my business forward. Here’s what that looks like: • Writing scripts. • Recording podcasts. • Ideating new business offers. • Preparing workshop materials. • Creating newsletters. These high-leverage tasks come first because I’m at my clearest, most energized, and most inspired in the morning. This structure helps me complete them both effectively and efficiently. In the second half of my day, I shift to my secondary tasks, which include: • Client coaching calls. • Responding to emails. • Engaging with brand partnerships. These secondary tasks wouldn’t exist without the foundation I lay during my primary task time. That’s why I intentionally push them to the latter part of the day. Setting and maintaining this hard boundary has significantly increased my productivity and fulfillment. By creating the time and space for what truly matters, I’m able to show up fully for both my work and myself. Now, I’m not suggesting this schedule will work for everyone. But I do encourage you to identify the times of day when you feel your best for different types of work—and set firm boundaries to protect that time and energy. You set the rules for how people interact with your time. If you don’t, they’ll set the rules for you.

Does this sound familiar? It’s 6am and the alarm goes off. You hit the snooze button and try to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Then the alarm goes off again and you hit snooze one more time. On the third try, you finally get out of bed, grab your phone, and check your email. You see several messages from your colleagues about something urgent that needs your attention. You’d hoped to work out this morning but instead, you’re responding to emails and putting out fires at work. You feel the anxiety bubbling up already and you haven’t even brushed your teeth yet! How you start your day often determines what your day turns out to be like. So instead of letting your alarm, your email notifications, and other people’s priorities determine your morning, it’s important to set boundaries and design the right environment for you. Here's how you can stop the frenzy and start the day with MAGIC: Meditation, Activation, Gratitude, Inspiration, Commitment. Meditation – Meditate even if it's just a few minutes. It's a great way to feel connected and centered instead of chaotic and stressed. Activation – Jumpstart your day by activating your body with movement (stretch, walk, run) and nutrition (healthy fuel for energy). Gratitude – Express gratitude for at least 3 things in your life. Simply having the attitude of gratitude puts you in the right mindset. Inspiration – Read or listen to something inspirational. Build that momentum to keep going towards your vision and goals. Commitment – Write down the ONE thing you will focus on to clarify what you must accomplish that day. Try this out for a week and feel the difference. You deserve to begin every morning with MAGIC!

3 mindset shifts that make me a better leader (and human): 👉 1. You’re not lazy, you’re misaligned. Most of my “procrastination” wasn’t laziness, it was a red flag. A sign I was working on the wrong thing… or for the wrong reason. ↳ Pro tip: I now ask myself “Does this move the needle or just keep me busy?” before saying yes to anything. 👉 2. Protect your energy like your calendar depends on it (because it does). I used to fill every hour with meetings, tasks, and follow-ups. Now I schedule “deep work” time and guard it like gold. ↳ Pro tip: I color-code different types of tasks strategy, admin, creative, calls so I can see at a glance how my day feels, not just what I’m doing. 👉 3. Systems > willpower. Motivation is fleeting. Systems = keep things going. ↳ Pro tip: I built routines that work even when I don’t feel like it. Templates, automations, reminders. I call them my “life scaffolding.” ___ 📌 Want more growth prompts like this? 💌 Join 10,000+ readers building their inner wealth slowly, sustainably, and on their own terms. https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

3 Things I Do to Turn My Network into a Source of New Leads Every Day. There is no lack of GTM experts on LinkedIn, teaching the "best" methods to sell your product or service. What if lead generation doesn’t always mean finding brand-new contacts? Sometimes, your next client is already within reach—in your 'Go To Network' of family, friends, past clients, and professional connections. GTN > GTM!!!!!! Here’s how I tap into my existing network daily to create fresh opportunities: 1. I Reach Out to 3-5 People Every Day. Each day, I dedicate a few minutes to connecting with people in my network, one-on-one. This isn’t about making a “sales” call but rather a check-in. Maybe I’ll congratulate someone on a new job, catch up with a past client about their home, or just say hello to a colleague. Little, authentic touchpoints help me stay top-of-mind without feeling pushy. 2. I Use “Connection Types” to Keep Outreach Interesting and Relevant. To avoid repetitive outreach, I rotate between different types of messages: Personal Check-Ins: A friendly message to see how someone is doing, or just to catch up. Value-Adding Messages: I’ll share an interesting trend or a quick tip with someone who may be interested. Milestone Celebrations: Birthdays, anniversaries, promotions—recognizing these moments strengthens the connection. 3. I Track It All in One Place. Keeping track of my daily outreach means I don’t accidentally ignore parts of my network. Whether it’s a CRM, a notebook, or a simple spreadsheet, I log my connections and set reminders to follow up periodically. This way, my outreach feels consistent and intentional, building strong, trust-based relationships over time. The best part? This “Daily Outreach Habit” only takes 10-15 minutes each day, but it creates a reliable flow of leads through natural, warm conversations. Remember: You don’t have to go to the market for new leads—you already have them in your network!

People make a big deal out of 'getting ready for the day.  But honestly, it doesn't have to be a morning marathon. Every morning, without fail, I dedicate 10 minutes to setting up my day.  This routine has been my anchor for over 10 years, transforming what used to be an hour-long chore into a quick, impactful ritual. Here's my stripped-down process: - First, I glance at my automated reminders I built over the years. They keep me aware of my must-dos. - Next, I review my calendar, pinpointing meetings and scribbling down key points for each. This ensures I'm never caught off guard. - Finally, I jot down three critical tasks outside my scheduled events. These are my non-negotiables for the day, ensuring I focus on what truly matters. Over a decade into this practice, it's become second nature. I step out the door, not just prepared but energized, ready to take on whatever the day throws at me.  It's not about filling every minute of your day; it's about prioritizing smartly to tackle it with confidence. Remember, the key to a productive day starts with a clear, calm mind. Keep it simple, and watch your days transform.