Kinda creepy, eh?
I don’t find myself to be some high-performing productivity God.
But I do manage my time well and seem to get everything that I want to get done, done. Always productive; never busy.
People often say to me, “I’m sure you’re so busy…” But that’s not true. To me, busy implies a sense of being out of control—too many things to do and barely enough time to do them.
I have a ton of free time because I make sure that I do. I spend time with my friends and family. I take at least one trip each month. I play chess every day. I get plenty of sleep. (*The caveat here is that I’m 27, single, and I don’t have children.)
This is all on purpose. Whenever I feel any of these things begin to slip, I know it’s time to readjust my work and task load.
So today I thought I’d give a peek behind the curtain and run through an average workday for me. I hope it’s not as boring as I imagine it will be.
But here goes…
Between 5-6am: Wake up.
This was 6-7am before the time change this week. I’ve just kept the same circadian rhythm so now I can sound like one of those guys from an entrepreneur inspirational video.
I turn my SleepCycle alarm off. My phone is on airplane mode from the night before and I can’t take it off until I finish my morning routine.
I put my glasses on, make my bed, and go out to the kitchen to drink my fluids. In the fridge are my water bottles, ice-cold from the night before.
If I worked out the day prior, I chug a bottle of Athletic Greens. Then I drink half of my Nalgene of regular water.
I do this before any caffeine to make sure the first thing I do each day is hydrate after 8-10 hours of no water. Then I make a cup of coffee, usually Bulletproof.
6-8am: Morning routine.
I bring my coffee into my office, turn the lights and my computer on, and scratch off the day before on my giant wall calendar. Then I begin the morning routine I’ve basically had for the last two years.
Look at my Google Calendar and block out my day in my notebook.
30-minute chunks.
2. Write my three affirmations:
• I, Dillan Taylor, support myself as a prosperous coach. • I make $10K/mo. • I love doing scary things.
3. Read for 20-45 minutes.
Usually nonfiction to get the brain moving and pondering at the start of the day.
4. Write this blog.
Depending on the content and on my level of motivation, this can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour. If I love it, I post it to Facebook.
5. Solve 15 chess puzzles on chess.com.
I get 15 each day with my membership. So I go until they run out.
6. Stretch for 3-5 minutes.
Usually to a personal development or educational YouTube video.
These are mostly leg, back, and hip stretches…to prepare for a day of mostly sitting.
7. Meditate for 10 minutes.
I use the Waking Up app.
Meditation is the most important step of all…and it’s the easiest to skip.
8. Take my phone off airplane mode, maybe shower, and start my day.
The first two hours of the day are mine. Nothing to respond to. Nothing to solve or fix.
8-11am: Coaching sessions.
I try to get my sessions done earlier in the day when I have the most brainpower.
Active listening, reflecting, and challenging people and their thoughts can be mentally draining. If I can avoid sessions later in the day, I do.
11am-12pm: Eat and shower (if I haven’t already).
This is my breakfast, so to speak (type?). Usually eggs, sausage or bacon, and fruit (with peanut butter).
12-3pm: Other calls and miscellanous work.
These could be coaching sessions, connect calls, and admin stuff I didn’t finish on Monday.
If there’s space between tasks, I’ll read, go for a walk, or watch a few YouTube videos.
3-5pm: Gym.
At least three times per week. I use Fitbod to pick and track my workouts.
My weightlifting cycle is: push (chest/triceps), core (abs), pull (back and biceps), legs.
5-9pm: Dinner, maybe chill with friends.
If I’m in by myself for the night, I’ll cook something simple—usually a protein, veggie, and starch.
If I hang with friends, we may order food—usually Chipotle—or one of us will cook for the group. Wine or beer may be included.
In a perfect world, I wind down around 8:30pm. I use Freedom to block internet on my phone so I can’t stay up watching YouTube. I turn airplane mode on and stretch before getting into bed.
9pm: In bed.
If I’m still fairly awake, I read my Kindle until my body tells me it’s time to shut down.
I set my alarm for the morning, put my sleep mask on, and try to fall asleep.
10pm: Asleep.
Hopefully.