Did you ever wonder how a novel is written or how company bosses stay on top of their game? One part of the success of artists and high-ranking managers is the daily routines that keep them sharp and able to make tough decisions. Rome was not built in a day, and your success won't be either.
Set an exact time for work and relaxation
Many great authors would not have written anything of note if they didn’t stick to a clearly segmented routine. Ernest Hemingway, for example, wrote early in the morning until he reached his word count. The afternoon was reserved for re-typing and editing.
This is a great way to teach your mind to be ready for certain tasks at certain times of the day. Try doing more mentally intensive work in the morning and more mechanical or sprawling work in the evening. The upside is that by focusing on completable tasks and goals, you will start the day with a feeling of achievement instead of a vague sense of progression.
But another great figure, Barack Obama, would also stress the importance of alone time and relaxation. After a long day in the office as the president of the USA, he would have a snack, talk to his friends about sports, and play around with his iPod. Obama only slept about five hours a day, which is not healthy by any standards, but the importance of downtime cannot be overstated.
Scheduling and review
Many people are used to setting a clear plan in stone and sticking with it. But life is rarely that simple. It is normal that things shift around, clients ask for more or cancel, we get sick, or just feel more exhausted than usual. Here is what Benjamin Franklin would advise you to do: play around with your schedule, reflect on how it’s working for you, and make changes when needed to suit you better.
Make room in a day, or at least in a week, when you reflect both on what your goals are and which ones you have already achieved. Sometimes, when we have too much work, we forget to see how far we have come and how our day-to-day work gets us closer to what we want. Ideally, you can work like Kenneth Chenault where you write down at least three things you will accomplish the next day. And if you plan a week ahead, you can follow Jack Dorsey’s advice and plan one task to focus on every day.
Listen to yourself
By far the most important thing is to listen to yourself and see how you work best. For some, the most productive time is the morning, for some, it’s the night. Some need more time for work but less sleep, some people are the opposite. Try things out for a month or two, reflect on the changes and your productivity, and adjust how you work.
And if you’re afraid you don’t work enough hours, take a look at Stephen King. He sits down to write every day at 8 am but finishes somewhere between 11:30 and 1:30 pm. Don’t work long, work as smart as possible. This leaves you with much more time for yourself, your friends, loved ones, hobbies, and relaxation.
