Don’t spend it on distractions. Don’t even think about scheduling a meeting at a time when you are most focused, efficient and mentally alert to do deep work.

Instead of letting others dictate your priorities, give yourself at least an hour to focus without external distractions.

“People who get up early in the morning are hitting it out of the park, doing things we struggle with at other times of the day,” says Josh Davis, author of Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done.

“If we can be amazing at certain times of the day there must be associated psychological conditions. Morning offers several benefits that can’t be found at other times of the day,” he says.

So spend the rest of your day by working intensely for 60 to 90 minutes. Take a 10 or 20 minutes break after that to refresh your mind.

Listen to some music, have a walk if you can, have a quick chat, and in 10 minutes you’ll be ready to dive in again.

Establish a working routine once you know your peak time

Starting and maintaining a positive daily morning routine is an investment and a way to do your best work everyday.

Zig Ziglar once observed, “Peak performance is dependent on passion, grit, determination, and a willingness to do something poorly until you can do it well.”

It also gives you structure, building forward-moving habits, and creating momentum for the rest of the day.
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It helps you establish priorities, limit procrastination, keep track of your goals.​

Once you establish a routine, it ceases to be a struggle to get in productivity mode everyday because the habit becomes part of you.

Many people pay little attention to the natural rhythms of their body.

But once you know what times in the morning you can work better, use it your advantage and your body can deliver at its peak.

Working in 90-minute bursts first thing in the morning allows you to correlate your maximum energy levels with your most important task, which then gives your productivity a major boost.

It’s only when you come to appreciate and accept the ebbs and flows of your body that you can really start to deliver maximum results.
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It’s important you have a morning routine that sets you up for success.

You’ve heard this one before, but it’s worth thinking about again.

One of my favorite meditation teachers wrote about this the other day, and I wanted to explore it a little bit.
I think non-procrastinators formed this habit when they were in elementary school, and don’t even realize they’re doing it much of the time. Something happened when they were young — maybe they turned something in late because they procrastinated, or they had to do it last-minute and really hated it — but they learned that putting things off equals future pain.

So instead, they have a mental habit of thinking:

1. If I put this off, it will just be more trouble for me in the future; or
2. If I do this now, I will be happier in the future; so therefore
3. I should just get it over with and do it now.

So simple, and yet this must be ingrained as a habit. Instead, most people have a habit of thinking:

1. I can do this later, it’s not a problem, I would rather do something else right now; or
2. I want to get away from this pain right now, I’d rather put it off and relieve my stress with comfort food/distraction/etc.
3. Therefore, Internet!

It’s such a strongly ingrained habit that we don’t even think about it.

To change the habit, pause and be more deliberate. Think about your future self, tomorrow or a year from now. What action taken today, and repeatedly, would make this future self happier? How can you be compassion with this future self, so that they don’t have to suffer?
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Practice it and make it a habit. It’s simple, but again, combine it with the next habit, and you’ll see the power of this method. 

The above habit is simple and perhaps a bit obvious to people who have read it before. And so is this habit. But most people don’t realize how powerful it is to combine these two habits into one method. In fact, I believe most non-procrastinators do these two habits in combination, without realizing it.

The habit really is this: make the task seem so doable that starting it will be easy. Once you’ve started, you’re in. You’re already moving, so you just keep moving. So the key is to get moving in the first place, and you do that by making it seem really easy to start. You kind of trick your present self into starting so that your future self will be happier. But it’s not really a trick, as it really can be easy to start, but we build the task up in our minds into something so hard and painful that we put it off. If we just start, we’ll see that it’s not so bad.
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So when you’re contemplating a task or project, make it a habit of thinking about how easy it will be to start. Want to write a book chapter? Don’t think about how hard it will be to write a chapter for 3-4 hours, or how many things you need to figure out before you can write the chapter. Instead, just think about opening a simple word processor, playing some nice music, and writing the first thing that comes to your mind. Easy, doable, small. Just think about how easy it is to start, don’t think about the whole thing. The truth is, you can’t do the whole thing, not at once … all you can do is the next simple step. Focus on that.
Combine these two things and see what happens. Empathize with your future self, and then just think about the smallest possible way to start. Be just like a non-procrastinator!

The last habit is something I’ve found to add a lot to this method, even if not every non-procrastinator practices it. It takes a little more awareness/mindfulness than most habits.

It’s about how we normally want to either 1) get away from a task because it’s hard or filled with uncertainty, or 2) get the task over with (like it’s a chore), and move on to the next task, because we have a lot to do. The problem with this approach is that every task becomes some thing to get done with, something we don’t like doing. Which means we spend our days filled with things we don’t really like, and after awhile, this gets tiring, stressful, boring.

This leads to procrastination, because who wants to do tasks you don’t really want to do?

Instead, what if you fully opened up to the task, finding joy in the middle of it?

It’s about allowing yourself to be fully present with the task. For example:

• You’re about to start writing (or some other similar task), so you get into the space, allowing yourself to arrive fully. 
• You look at the task full on, and notice if you’re resisting, wanting to run, not liking it. 
• You allow yourself to stay with the task, being compassionate for yourself but also your future self. 
• You find gratitude for being able to do the task, and connect it with the larger mission you’re trying to serve, the people you care about. 
• In the middle of that gratitude and devotion to who and what you care about … you do the task, and find joy in the simple doing. 

​Notice the difference between this kind of opening, and the way we usually try to just get things done, just get them over with. It’s completely different.

Open up to the task, have compassion for your future self, and just focus on the smallest, most doable way to get started. See what that might change.

I disable all visible and audible phone alerts -- unless they come from my wife and children.

• I never let an app disrupt my workflow. That includes email, social media, texts, games or any other app that seeks my attention at every minute of the day.
• I do allow my phone to ring in the case of voice calls, which are still how all serious emergencies are communicated, but I usually screen most of these as well.
• This lets me be selective about how I invest my time and keeps me (not software) in charge.
• I choose strategic growth and proactive decision-making.

I set strict usage boundaries and portion controls for communication devices. For example, I enable “do not disturb” mode from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day.

• My phone will alert me only if the same number calls me three times in quick succession.
• I also make sure not to take my phone, work or other sleep-frustrating concerns with me to bed.
• All new apps, software and new gadgets are considered guilty until proven useful to me. Being a late adopter is worth the tradeoff. And finally,
• I don't touch work on nights, weekends or vacation -- save for two to three emergencies a year when "several thousands of dollars" are at stake. This enables me to return to work more inspired and mentally recharged.

You're probably underestimating the effect that subscribed media and periodic messaging have on your psyche.

• Even if you don't necessarily love the content, the near-constant bombardment can feel like a subconscious commitment -- an obligation to finish reading or watching.
• That's especially true for the latest TV shows, video-game sagas, endless social-media feeds or subscription services that peer pressure suggests you consume.
• Focus solely on the information sources you truly love or appreciate for the value they bring you on a consistent basis.

Research shows the vast majority of humans are much more creative and productive in the morning, when their bodies and minds are in the freshest and most well-rested state.

• That said, you should be putting your mornings to good use by focusing on individual and thought-intensive tasks and challenges.
• No sit-down meetings or quick "huddles" for moral support. Save those for the afternoons.
  
• Innovator, billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is among the high performers known for following this rule.
  
• The next time someone asks for a morning meeting, politely decline. “I’m busy then; let's find another time” is a perfectly suitable response.

Early in my career, I read dozens of business and personal-development books to help me tackle my problems. While two or three stand out, I’ve largely forgotten the rest. Recent research from Carnegie Mellon explains why:

• Subconscious thought often is better at solving our problems than our conscious, staring-right-at-the-problem approaches.
• Give your brain a breather and regular breaks, and it has greater potential to churn away in the background and discover a workable solution. 
  
• Sound too good to be true? You’ll never know until you try it. (Spoiler: It really works.) 

Want to be the most interesting person in the room? In a previous article, I offered seven questions a person can ask to ignite a captivating conversation. But for that scenario to happen, curiosity is the social prerequisite. Albert Einstein famously said, "I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." Perhaps there's an Einstein in all of us. 

When meeting someone for the first time, forget the typical questions like "What do you do?" and "Where are you from?" Asking "What's your story?" will take the other person by surprise. It's open-ended enough to trigger an intriguing story--a journey to a foreign country, meeting a famous person, a special talent used for making the world a better place, etc. It's also a question that immediately draws in the other person and lets him or her speak from the heart. 

The best conversations in life are initiated by wanting to learn about what other people do: how they do it and why they do it. You will benefit from asking, and the other person will appreciate the gesture and pay it forward. To take it to another level, seek out someone younger and less experienced who brings real value to your work or life in an area unfamiliar to you, and learn from that person. This will garner an immediate and positive first impression.

To make a good connection with someone new in your personal or professional circle, offering to help the other person is certainly a good strategy for a positive first impression. However, only a small percentage of people actually deliver on their promises. People will value your connection even more when you actually provide what you've suggested: a contact, a resource, a referral, or some coaching. When you do, the law of reciprocity kicks in and you'll benefit from that new relationship.  

Want to create a great first impression? Let the other person speak without interruption. Let's be honest: How often do you find yourself trying hard to avoid jumping in and finishing someone else's sentence? You see, magic happens in a conversation when active listening takes place. This is being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently for your chance to respond. That's when both parties know real listening is taking place. When you speak to other people today, eliminate your distractions in the moment. Then give the speaker your full attention. What you're communicating nonverbally is "I am interested in what you have to say."  

If you take a moment to think about it, you'll probably realize that you are better at doing certain tasks at certain times. For example, my creative energy is highest in the morning, so that's when I do my writing each day.

By comparison, I block out my afternoons for interviews, phone calls, and emails. I don't need my creative energy to be high for those tasks, so that's the best time for me to get them done. And I tend to have my best workouts in the late afternoon or early evening, so that's when I head to the gym.

What type of energy do you have in the morning? What task is that energy best suited for?

I don't do this nearly as often as I should, but if you only do one thing each day then spend a few minutes each night organizing your to–do list for tomorrow. When I do it right, I’ll outline the article I’m going to write the next day and develop a short list of the most important items for me to accomplish. It takes 10 minutes that night and saves 3 hours the next day

Sounds simple. Nobody does it. It took me awhile to get over the urge to open my inbox, but eventually I realized that everything can wait a few hours. Nobody is going to email you about a true emergency (a death in the family, etc.), so leave your email alone for the first few hours of each day. Use the morning to do what's important rather than responding to what is “urgent.”

Or on your colleagues desk. Or at the very least, put it somewhere that is out of sight. This eliminates the urge to check text messages, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. This simple strategy eliminates the likelihood of slipping into half–work where you waste time dividing your attention among meaningless tasks.

Have you ever noticed how you feel groggy and sluggish in a hot room? Turning the temperature down or moving to a cooler place is an easy way to focus your mind and body. (Hat tip to Michael Hyatt for this one.)

Your mind needs oxygen to work properly. Your lungs need to be able to expand and contract to fill your body with oxygen. That sounds simple enough, but here's the problem: most people sit hunched over while staring at a screen and typing.

When you sit hunched over, your chest is in a collapsed position and your diaphragm is pressing against the bottom of your lungs, which hinders your ability to breathe easily and deeply. Sit up straight or stand up and you'll find that you can breathe easier and more fully. As a result, your brain will get more oxygen and you'll be able to concentrate better.

(Small tip: When sitting, I usually place a pillow in the small of my back. This prevents my lower back from rounding, which keeps me more upright.)

I practice intermittent fasting, which means that I eat my first meal around noon each day. I've been doing this for almost two years. There are plenty of health benefits, which I explained in great detail here, here, and here.

But health is just one piece of the puzzle. I also fast because it allows me to get more out of my day. Take a moment to think about how much time people spend each day thinking, planning, and consuming food. By adopting intermittent fasting, I don’t waste an hour each morning figuring out what to eat for breakfast, cooking it, and cleaning up. Instead, I use my morning to work on things that are important to me. Then, I eat good food and big meals as a reward for working hard.

My morning routine starts by pouring a cold glass of water. Some people kick off their day with ten minutes of meditation. Similarly, you should have a sequence that starts your morning ritual. This tiny routine signals to your brain that it's time to get into work mode or exercise mode or whatever mode you need to be in to accomplish your task. Additionally, a pre–game routine helps you overcome a lack of motivation and get things done even when you don’t feel like it.
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For more details about why this works, read this: How to Get Motivated.
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