Work Less, Achieve More—The Ultimate Routine Shift
When I look back on my best workdays, they usually have one thing in common: solid routines. And the same goes for my worst days—when I feel scattered or drained, it’s almost always because I skipped my key habits.
In this episode, I share the three core routines that have helped me thrive while working five-hour days since 2016. These aren’t just time management tips—these are energy and focus systems that set the tone for every part of life.
By the end, I’ll guide you through a simple experiment to upgrade your own routine and build more intentional structure into your day.
1. A Great Day Starts the Night Before (PM Routine)
When I improved my evening routine, everything changed. Better sleep, clearer mornings, and more presence during the day.
Here’s what works for me:
- I turn off all screens at least an hour before bed.
- I stretch, read, and wind down without digital inputs.
- I use a PM alarm on my smartwatch to remind me to start shutting it down.
- This routine helps me get high-quality sleep—and sleep is the foundation of everything: focus, decision-making, presence, even emotional regulation.
I used to scroll my phone or watch TV right before bed and wondered why I didn’t sleep well. Now I treat my wind-down time as sacred. As Matthew Walker says in Why We Sleep, sleep is the pillar that supports all other pillars of health.
2. Win the Morning (AM Routine)
When I stopped grabbing my phone first thing in the morning, my days immediately got better.
I now prioritize “pre-input time,” which means:
- No email, news, or social media first thing.
- Instead, I hydrate, journal, and get moving before screens.
Some mantras that have stuck with me:
- Goals before screens (from my cousin Jay Papasan)
- Sweat before screens (from mental performance coach Brian Cain)
- Creativity before inputs (inspired by Julia Cameron)
Most mornings, I get out of bed, drink water, write for 15 minutes, make breakfast for my family, help get the kids on the bus, and then head to the gym or yoga with my wife. No digital noise—just calm, clear, grounded energy.
When I do this, I step into my five-hour workday feeling rested, focused, and on purpose.
3. Shutdown Work with Intention
The biggest challenge I’ve faced—and seen in clients—is not starting work, but stopping it. Without a proper shutdown, I found that work would follow me into dinner, family time, and even sleep.
Here’s my shutdown routine:
- I review what I accomplished that day.
- I look at tomorrow’s top priorities.
- I say out loud, “Shutdown complete” as I close my laptop.
- I leave my phone in my office until after dinner.
That last step alone—leaving my phone behind—has made the biggest difference in being present with my family. My goal is to finish work before my kids get home from school so when they walk off the bus, I’m there, fully. No distractions. No lingering to-dos. Just presence
Step 1: Identify your current AM and PM routines
Grab a notebook and make two columns.
Grab a notebook and make two columns.
- In column one, list your current morning and evening habits.
- In column two, rate them:
- (+) Positive = supports focus/energy
- (–) Negative = drains or distracts
- (=) Neutral = doesn’t really help or hurt
Step 2: Replace one negative behavior
Choose one habit to shift.
Example: Instead of checking your phone in bed, put it across the room and stretch or journal instead.
Small shifts build momentum. You don’t need a perfect routine—just a better one than yesterday.
- Atomic Habits – James Clear
- Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker
- The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
- The One Thing – Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
- The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
- Deep Work – Cal Newport
What’s one habit you replaced this week?
What did you notice?
Send me a message—I’d love to hear your results and share your story.
What did you notice?
Send me a message—I’d love to hear your results and share your story.
Episode Summary:
When I look back on my best workdays, they usually have one thing in common: solid routines. And the same goes for my worst days—when I feel scattered or drained, it’s almost always because I skipped my key habits.
In this episode, I share the three core routines that have helped me thrive while working five-hour days since 2016. These aren’t just time management tips—these are energy and focus systems that set the tone for every part of life.
By the end, I’ll guide you through a simple experiment to upgrade your own routine and build more intentional structure into your day.
1. A Great Day Starts the Night Before (PM Routine)
When I improved my evening routine, everything changed. Better sleep, clearer mornings, and more presence during the day.
Here’s what works for me:
- I turn off all screens at least an hour before bed.
- I stretch, read, and wind down without digital inputs.
- I use a PM alarm on my smartwatch to remind me to start shutting it down.
- This routine helps me get high-quality sleep—and sleep is the foundation of everything: focus, decision-making, presence, even emotional regulation.
I used to scroll my phone or watch TV right before bed and wondered why I didn’t sleep well. Now I treat my wind-down time as sacred. As Matthew Walker says in Why We Sleep, sleep is the pillar that supports all other pillars of health.
2. Win the Morning (AM Routine)
When I stopped grabbing my phone first thing in the morning, my days immediately got better.
I now prioritize “pre-input time,” which means:
- No email, news, or social media first thing.
- Instead, I hydrate, journal, and get moving before screens.
Some mantras that have stuck with me:
- Goals before screens (from my cousin Jay Papasan)
- Sweat before screens (from mental performance coach Brian Cain)
- Creativity before inputs (inspired by Julia Cameron)
Most mornings, I get out of bed, drink water, write for 15 minutes, make breakfast for my family, help get the kids on the bus, and then head to the gym or yoga with my wife. No digital noise—just calm, clear, grounded energy.
When I do this, I step into my five-hour workday feeling rested, focused, and on purpose.
3. Shutdown Work with Intention
The biggest challenge I’ve faced—and seen in clients—is not starting work, but stopping it. Without a proper shutdown, I found that work would follow me into dinner, family time, and even sleep.
Here’s my shutdown routine:
- I review what I accomplished that day.
- I look at tomorrow’s top priorities.
- I say out loud, “Shutdown complete” as I close my laptop.
- I leave my phone in my office until after dinner.
That last step alone—leaving my phone behind—has made the biggest difference in being present with my family. My goal is to finish work before my kids get home from school so when they walk off the bus, I’m there, fully. No distractions. No lingering to-dos. Just presence
Step 1: Identify your current AM and PM routines
Grab a notebook and make two columns.
Grab a notebook and make two columns.
- In column one, list your current morning and evening habits.
- In column two, rate them:
- (+) Positive = supports focus/energy
- (–) Negative = drains or distracts
- (=) Neutral = doesn’t really help or hurt
Step 2: Replace one negative behavior
Choose one habit to shift.
Example: Instead of checking your phone in bed, put it across the room and stretch or journal instead.
Small shifts build momentum. You don’t need a perfect routine—just a better one than yesterday.
- Atomic Habits – James Clear
- Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker
- The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
- The One Thing – Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
- The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
- Deep Work – Cal Newport
What’s one habit you replaced this week?
What did you notice?
Send me a message—I’d love to hear your results and share your story.
What did you notice?
Send me a message—I’d love to hear your results and share your story.
