Techniques for Building a Routine That Works

Most people fail at habits because they try to build too many. I’ve seen it in patients, athletes, and executives. The ones who win focus on fewer and repeat them until they stick. Last year, I decided to “finally get serious” about mobility work. I stacked on 8 new drills for hips, shoulders, spine, ankles. Within 3 weeks, I was skipping half of them. By month two, I’d stopped completely. So I started over. One hip opener. Every morning after coffee. It took less than two minutes. Four months later, it was automatic. Only then did I add the next drill. As a surgeon, I couldn’t add 12 new techniques at once. I focused on the one that would keep the patient alive. Everything else waited. In consulting, the best teams didn’t track 40 KPIs. They had 3, and hit them every time. Habits work the same way. The brain has limited space for new routines. Overload it and nothing sticks. 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 & 𝘉𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭, 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘯, 2010 Here’s how to make it work: 1/ Pick 1–3 habits that will trigger other positive changes 2/ Tie each habit to something you already do daily 3/ Track them in a place you see often (wall calendar, phone widget, or sticky note) 4/ Don’t add anything new until those are automatic for 60 days. Fewer habits, done well, compound faster than a dozen half-done ones. Your habits are like investments. Concentrate to get returns. What’s one habit you’d drop to give the others room to grow? #Activate #UpwardARC

Can a 300-year-old routine transform your day? Boost your productivity with Benjamin Franklin's time-tested habits. I took a page out of Ben Franklin's book—his autobiography, to be exact—to plan my week. Every Sunday, I set aside time to map out my week. Set goals. Prioritize tasks. And review my calendar. It's a simple habit, but it makes a big difference. It keeps me focused and ready for whatever comes. And you can do it too. Franklin's approach was simple: two core questions and six time blocks to guide your day. The 2 Core Questions: 1. Morning: What good shall I do this day? 2. Evening: "What good have I done this day? Reflect on these in your journal each day. Or create your own core questions. Here's how he organized his day: Block 1 (5-8 AM): Morning Preparation Reflect and plan. Organize your space. Learn something new. Eat breakfast to fuel your day. Block 2 (8 AM-12 PM): Focused Work Dive into deep work. Tackle your most important tasks first. Block 3 (12-2 PM): Midday Recharge Eat lunch. Take a break. Reset your mind. Block 4 (2-6 PM): Afternoon Work Return to focused work. Tackle critical tasks with fresh energy. Block 5 (6-10 PM): Evening Activities Do something you enjoy. Connect with others. Wind down. Reflect. Block 6 (10 PM-5 AM): Sleep Prioritize sleep. Aim for 7 hours. Franklin's routine may be 300 years old, but it still works today. The key isn't following his schedule perfectly. It's deciding to have a plan. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." Take a page from his book. Start planning and watch your productivity soar. What's your best time-blocking tip? I'd love to hear from you.👇

Here’s the biggest differences I see between founders/executives and athletes: Athletes don't just walk off the court and go home. They take time to shower, decompress, and wind-down to properly transition back into their daily lives. And when it’s time to get back on the court? They warm up. But what do founders and executives do? They go straight from a high-stakes board call to dinner with their kids. Nearly all tend to skip the evening routine and many skip the morning warm up. No wind-up into high performance mode and no wind-down into home life. But if you do this consistently, what unfortunately happens is this: You won’t ever be fully showing up for either. You're home physically, but mentally you're replaying that investor conversation. Your partner asks about your day, and you give them 30% of your attention. Your kid wants to show you something, and you're checking Slack. Then tomorrow morning, you're back at your desk carrying guilt about missing dinner. Distracted from the work that matters. You end up performing worse at work AND not being present at home. This is why morning and evening routines are one of the first systems I implement with clients. Morning routines to get centered, and evening routines to close out the day. The evening routine I build with founders is simple: reflection, debrief, plan tomorrow. 15 minutes. That's it. No excuses not to do it. What went well today? What needs attention tomorrow? Write down your three main priorities for the morning. This wind-down time works to do something more important than simple self-care: It closes your mental loop. Real presence with your family shouldn’t be seen as time taken away from work. Rather, it should be an investment in tomorrow's performance. You'll show up sharper because you've had time to switch off and you’re not carrying yesterday's stress and today's guilt. Athletes understand this. They have post-game routines because performance doesn't end when the buzzer sounds. Recovery is part of the job. The same applies to founders and executives. You can either build in recovery time now, or your performance will slowly deteriorate until you're forced to take it anyway. One path takes 15 minutes a day. The other could cost you months. Have you committed to a wind-down routine?

Think ADHD brains can’t handle structure? The truth might surprise you… 80% of people abandon their daily to-do lists by noon. (If you’ve got ADHD, it’s probably closer to 100%.) Or take this: The average person switches tasks 23 times per hour. With ADHD, that’s not multitasking—it’s survival. We all crave structure. A perfect daily routine feels like the ultimate productivity hack. But let’s be real. When your brain’s like, “Not today!” or life throws you a curveball, frustration takes over. You’re left wondering, “Why can’t I just stick to the plan?” But here’s the thing. Behind the chaos, there’s a hidden opportunity: Freedom to adapt. The truth? Structure isn’t about rigid schedules. It’s about creating anchors that keep you steady, even when your brain craves novelty. When you try to force yourself into a system that doesn’t work for your brain, it’s a losing game. No matter: 🔵 How motivated you feel in the morning. 🔵 How organized your planner looks. 🔵 How many apps you’ve downloaded. The Bottom Line? The ADHD brain thrives on flexibility—structured freedom. I’ve been there. For years, I set up the perfect schedule—only to abandon it by day two. Then I realized the key wasn’t in perfection; it was in creating routines that flex with me, not against me. The sooner you stop chasing someone else’s version of “productivity,” the sooner you’ll thrive. Here’s how you start creating routines that actually work: 🔵 Anchor your day. Pick 1-2 habits to stay consistent, but vary how you approach them. 🔵 Embrace novelty. Rotate between journaling, doodling, or brain-dumping—it’s still a routine, just with spice. 🔵 Design for curveballs. Build routines that can flex when things go off track. The riskiest move is believing you’re broken because traditional routines don’t work for you. Step out of the “perfect productivity” trap. 🔵 Mix structure with creativity. 🔵 Lean into your strengths. 🔵 And build a routine you can actually stick with—because it’s yours. ♻️ Share this if you believe productivity doesn’t have to mean perfection. ➕ Follow me, Tyler Mitchell, for empowering ADHD strategies and relatable stories.

I once heard a CEO confess something interesting. He said, 'I kept trying to wake up at 4 am because that's what successful people do. But I was miserable and ineffective.' Here's the truth about morning routines that nobody talks about... The most impactful leaders I've trained don't imitate someone else's perfect morning. Instead, they start with a focused 15-minute identity-building routine and then build their remaining morning hours around their unique: → Natural energy patterns → Family dynamics → Kingdom calling → Season of life Look at some instructive examples from church history: John Wesley anchored his day with morning prayer at 4:30am, but then moved straight into community at 5:30am. Brother Lawrence transformed morning kitchen work into contemplative practice. Martin Luther initially prayed for 3 hours per morning but then adjusted his morning hours based on his health and workload. Benedict's Rule set prayer times that followed the natural rhythm of sun and seasons, showing how even structured routines must account for natural patterns. They each had different rhythms, but shared one vital practice: a consistent, intentional start. After years of coaching high-performers, here's what I know: The perfect morning routine is the one you'll actually stick to. For some, that's 4 am. For others, it's 7 am. For some there's a morning workout. For others it's an afternoon workout. What matters is those first 15 minutes - casting your daily vote for who you're becoming. Your morning micro-habits need just 3 elements: Consistency (same time, same place) Intention (clear focus on identity) Manageability (small enough to win daily) Everything else can flex with your life. Stop copying other people's formulas. Start with 15 minutes that reinforce your identity. Then build rhythms that serve your calling. Because true success isn't about when you wake up. It's about showing up consistently for what matters most. -- Enjoy ideas like this? This Sunday in The Mission Briefing newsletter, I'm outlining 21 key learning and insights - like this one - from almost 25 years of training. Join us here: https://lnkd.in/d9XJdxht

Why do most of us fail at building new habits? (Spoiler: It’s not what you think.) I used to set massive goals, only to watch them fizzle out after a few weeks. Sound familiar? Here’s what changed everything for me: It’s not about giant leaps, but small, consistent actions. During the pandemic, I had endless free time and read over 100 books. But as life got busier with running a business and creating content, reading fell off my radar. I missed it. I missed the ideas. I missed the learning. Then, I had an “aha” moment a few months ago. I realized there were small pockets of time in my day I could incorporate this task. So, I started listening to audiobooks while doing things I already do, like running and lifting weights. By stacking reading into my routine, I wiped out the “no time” excuse. Fast forward: I’m back to finishing a book every few weeks. I just re-read "Expert Secrets" by Russell Brunson, and I’m fired up. Here are 5 strategies that helped me build this habit: 1. Forget perfection. Miss a day? No sweat. What matters is getting back on track fast. 2. Consistency > perfection. Shrink your goals to start. Want to read more? Start with 10 minutes a day. It feels easy, but the wins add up. Then, increase the duration over time. 3. Simplify the process. How can you make the habit easier? Like audiobooks during workouts, find ways to make it frictionless. 4. Daily > occasional. A 10-minute workout every day beats a 1-hour grind once a week. Build momentum with small, daily actions. 5. Track it. Seeing progress fuels motivation. Use an app, a journal, or a calendar to celebrate those small wins. I’m not saying big goals are bad, but creating change isn’t about one giant leap—it’s about small steps that, over time, create BIG transformations. Sometimes life gets messy, like my dogs and me in this photo , but that’s okay. We pick ourselves up and learn from it! You’ve got this! What are your best tips for staying consistent?

Your to-do list shouldn't control your life. 6 methods that kept me from losing my mind: (And doubled my output) 1. The Two-Minute Rule If something takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. Not later. Not tomorrow. But now. This simple rule prevents small tasks from snowballing into overwhelming anxiety. --- 2. Never Miss Another Detail I used to scramble taking notes during meetings + interviews, missing key points and action items. Now, I use Rev’s VoiceHub to auto-record and transcribe everything. It’s more accurate than alternatives like OtterAI and it’s easy to share the info with my team. --- 3. The Focus Formula 3 hours of deep work beats 8 hours of shallow work every time. Block your calendar, turn off notifications, set a timer, and just start. Watch your output soar. --- 4. Energy Management > Time Management Stop planning your day around the clock. Instead, match tasks to your natural rhythms – creative work in the morning, meetings after lunch, admin work when energy dips. Work with your body, not against it. --- 5. The Weekly Reset Ritual Every Sunday, clear your inbox, plan your priorities, set three main goals, and prepare your workspace. This turns Monday from a bottleneck into a launchpad. --- 6. Automate Everything Possible If you do something more than twice, automate it. From email templates to calendar scheduling, let tech handle the routine so you can focus on what matters. --- These tools & techniques will help you stay organized, manage your time better, and maintain your sanity. Try them out and see which ones work best for you. Reshare ♻ to help others. And follow me for more posts like this.

Procrastination is a challenge we all face at some point, but the key to conquering it lies in transforming how we structure our days. One powerful strategy I've found effective is aiming for no more "zero days." What is a "zero day"? A "zero day" is a day when you achieve nothing toward your goals. No progress, no growth, just stagnation. While rest and relaxation are important, too many "zero days" can halt our progress and lower our motivation. Here’s how you can implement this in your daily routine: 1. Set Small, Achievable Tasks: Break down your larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Completing even the tiniest task can create a sense of accomplishment and build momentum. 2. Prioritize and Plan: Start each day by listing your priorities. Focus on the most important tasks first, but ensure there's something on the list that you can realistically complete even on your busiest days. 3. Embrace the 2-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This simple rule helps you tackle small tasks that often accumulate and become overwhelming. 4. Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or use productivity apps to record what you achieve each day. Seeing a streak of non-zero days can be incredibly motivating. 5. Be Kind to Yourself: Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small. Celebrate your wins and be forgiving of setbacks. The goal is to cultivate consistency, not perfection. Replace "0" with "1": Instead of seeing each day as either a 10 (task completed) or a 0 (no work done), replace the idea with needing just a 1 (got something done). Give yourself a 1 for the day. Strive to rid your calendar of any 0s, but if you do slip and get a 0 one day, don't feel discouraged. Recover the next day with another 1. Once you get into the habit of doing something every single day towards your goal, the number of 0s in your calendar will start to get fewer until they finally disappear. Remember: Every step, no matter how small, is a step forward. Let's conquer procrastination together, one day at a time. What's one small task you'll accomplish today? Share in the comments below! #productivity #hr #selfdevelopment #consistency Pic courtesy : To the respective owner

If only fitting learning into your day was as simple as scheduling another meeting... We’ve all been there — wanting to build new skills but feeling like there’s just no time. The answer isn’t finding an extra hour in your day; it’s about building on what you’re already doing. ⏩ Enter habit stacking. This isn’t about adding more to your plate — it’s about taking what’s already there and making it work for you. Think of it like this:   💻 New habit: Improving communication skills. 🔗 Trigger: Before joining your first Zoom call. Take 2 minutes to work through: How can I listen better or ask more meaningful questions?   ☕ New habit: Learning something new. 🔗 Trigger: When you’re waiting for your morning coffee. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, spend that time watching/listening/reading about a topic that gets you thinking differently. (hint: you could use Learna here)   📆 New habit: Shut down ritual. 🔗 Trigger: Right after your last meeting of the day. Spend 5 minutes organising your tasks for tomorrow so you can switch off knowing everything is ready to go.   The idea isn’t to find extra time but to use those in-between moments that are already part of your routine.   Why does this work? Because when you attach a new habit to an existing one, it becomes almost automatic. You’re not relying on willpower — you’re working with your existing flow. I'm sure you're thinking: how can you use this idea to grow your skills without actually burning out? 👉 What’s one small habit you’ve been meaning to build? 👉 How could you link it to something you already do every day? 👉 What’s one quick win that would make your workday feel lighter and more fulfilling? Sometimes, the best way to make progress isn’t to overhaul everything — it’s to stack tiny wins on top of what you’re already doing. 🌱 Some great books on this topic: 📖 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear (for personal habits/growth - you can see how well read my copy is) 📖 'Hooked' by Nir Eyal (for engaging teams with habits). So, what habit are you going to stack next?

Good habits at work don’t just happen—they’re built. We all know the drill: consistency + repetition = results. But the real trick is understanding how to make those habits stick, especially when distractions are everywhere and burnout lurks around the corner. Here’s what I’ve found key to building healthy habits at work: Start tiny, then scale. Don’t overhaul your entire routine overnight. Pick one small habit—like writing a 3-line daily to-do list—and build from there. Small wins build momentum. Anchor habits to your existing flow. Want to drink more water? Tie it to your coffee break. Need to clear emails? Do it right after lunch. The easier the trigger, the stronger the habit. Track, but don’t obsess. Accountability matters, but rigid tracking can feel like punishment. Find tools or methods that encourage reflection, not stress. Be kind to yourself. Miss a day? So what. Habits are about long-term progress, not perfection. Reset and keep going. In the end, building good habits isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you build them. What’s one habit you’ve successfully built at work that changed your game? 👇 Share your wins—I’m all ears.