Building routines, to be happy and productive.
Working remotely for the past four years has made it really hard for me to get myself organized. Traveling around Greece and juggling life between three different homes makes everything feel so unstable.
Below, I’m sharing my 10 routine rules that have saved me a ton of time and seriously boosted my productivity.
1. Wake up specific time. No snooze.
Your nighttime sleep routine is more about going to bed and waking up at consistent times rather than always aiming for 8 hours of sleep. Hitting snooze can throw your brain into a new sleep cycle, which gets interrupted quickly, leaving you feeling off for the rest of the day
6 tips for better sleep | Sleeping with Science, a TED series
2. No phone time for an hour.
Research shows that immediately using your phone upon waking can disrupt mental clarity, fuel stress, and set a frantic tone for the day. Instead of giving your mind the peace it deserves, you’re flooding it with information overload from the get-go.
Why Should You Not Use Phone Immediately After Waking Up In The Morning?
3. Go for a 10 minutes walk around the block, to get some air and let your brain understand that it’s morning.
Viewing sunlight within the first hours of waking (as soon as you can, even if through cloud cover) increases early-day cortisol release (the ideal time for elevated cortisol) and prepares the body for sleep later that night. A morning spike in cortisol will also positively influence your immune system, metabolism and ability to focus during the day.
Morning Sunlight to Set Your Mind and Body Correctly
4. Focus on brewing your favourite tea-coffee. Mindfulness is the key for focus.
Mindfulness meditation can be a valuable technique for focusing your attention. Mindfulness is a state of full awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they happen. Research has found improvement in attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation after just eight weeks of relatively short daily mindfulness sessions.
Mindfulness practice for focus
5. Wrap up your daily tasks. Digitally or Physically. Set 4 tasks that need to be done for sure, give specific priority for the rest.
There are so many task management methods out there. I’m a big fan of the Eisenhower Matrix, where you prioritize tasks and set a schedule for the things that are still pending. I also really like the time-blocking technique, where I allocate tasks into specific time slots and estimate how long they’ll take to complete.
How To Time Blocking Your Day With Eisenhower Matrix
6. Take a small break for breakfast.
Even if you’re a fan of breakfast, remember that it’s really about breaking your fast. It can help create a clear separation between high-intensity tasks and mid-to-low priority ones, almost like fuel. Personally, when I need to focus fully on something, I do it while fasting with just a coffee—this really boosts my mental focus. After that, I take a break, have something light, and then continue with the rest of my tasks.
7. 1 Thing at a time. Multitasking is i not working as you thing.
I’m sure you’ve found yourself jumping from one tab to another, refreshing your inbox ten times a minute, only to end up doing the easiest task on your list. Try focusing on one thing at a time—finish it, then move on to the next.
8. Close all notifications while working or create working-silent circles of 1-1.5H.
I know it’s tough, but notifications are real focus killers. You’re not a surgeon—everything in your life can wait for an hour. I recommend setting up 1 to 1.5-hour focus sprints (that’s what I call them), and then taking a quick look at your messaging apps. Also, on iPhone, you can set Focus statuses that work well for different types of work. Personally, I have a strict deep-focus block every day from 10 AM to 2 PM, where I turn off all notifications to stay focused.
9. Take small breaks every hour. 5-10 minutes just looking out the window.
This can help your eyes relax and refocus. Staring at a screen for hours, especially without a break, isn’t good for your eyes or your brain.
10. Avoid eating on your desk in front of the screen.
Mindfulness. Mindfulness. Mindfulness. Train your brain to focus on the task at hand when you’re doing it. For example, when eating, being mindful can help with digestion, weight loss, and even prevent disorders. Be present—mentally, FIRST.
Mindful Eating 101 — A Beginner’s Guide
10+1. Have everyday something to wait for. Your gym-piano-dancing session or the weekend’s excursion.
Every day can feel difficult. You need to do things that reward your brain while you’re doing them—this will give you a boost and help break the monotony of your routine. It’s great to have a packed calendar, but not just with Zoom meetings. Schedule something fun and recreational for yourself.
Anxiety is your friend. Work on it and make it work better for you.
Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions provided above are based on personal experiences and are not scientifically backed. They can be used at the discretion of each individual.