Chapter 36: Power Up Your Mornings With AI

How To Defeat Daybreak

Hey, welcome back.

How did you sleep?

I'll be honest with you.

I spent a little too long on my phone last night.

I got into this really old book (Psychocybernetics if you're interested) and I couldn't stop reading.

Before I knew it it was 2am.

Ugh.

HATE MORNINGS?

You aren't the only one. Apparently only 13% of people are "larks" - or people who like the morning.

I was NEVER a morning person. I always felt like I did my best work in the evening. That's when I really got rolling.

But then I got a remote job working on contract for an east coast company about 7 years ago. I live in the SF Bay Area.

The manager was a real - let's say hard driven guy.

He'd have 7am and 8am meetings that I had to be on.

Which of course was 4-5am for me.

No option. I had to be there and I had to run the meetings.

Man, that was tough to adjust my schedule.

Took me a while, but I did it.

Of course, the upside was that I could knock of at 2pm my time.

LEARN TO LOVE THE LARK

After a while, I realized that I was actually a lot more productive when I was working at 4-9am. While everyone else was asleep around me, I was cranking.

You remember a while back that there was a meme about how all these successful CEOs wake up at 4am. The posts all talked about how productive they could be, how they needed the quiet time.

I eventually figured out that it didn't have to be at 4am. It just had to be at some time when no one else was around.

Lack of productivity is other people (to paraphrase Sartre)

There's nothing like the feeling that half your workday is done by the time your roommates are just getting up.

POWER UP YOUR MORNING

OK, I'm not asking you to get up early.

But what you can do is to make your mornings more effective, no matter what time you get up.

Mornings set the tone for the rest of the day.

A well-structured morning routine can boost your productivity, improve your mood, and help you achieve your goals.

But building and sticking to an effective routine can be challenging.

That’s where AI comes in. Today, we’ll explore how AI can help you create a maximizing morning routine that sets you up for success every day. Let’s dive in!

WHY?

A morning routine isn’t just about getting out of bed and starting your day. It’s about establishing habits that prepare you mentally, physically, and emotionally for whatever the day brings. A strong morning routine can enhance focus, reduce stress, and increase your overall productivity. With AI, you can personalize and optimize your routine to fit your unique needs and goals.

STORY

Meet Sarah, a busy marketing executive who struggled to maintain a consistent morning routine. She often felt rushed, stressed, and unprepared for her day. Determined to change this, Sarah decided to use AI to build a maximizing morning routine. She used an AI-powered app to schedule her morning activities, set reminders, and track her progress. The app suggested personalized routines based on her goals and preferences. Over time, Sarah developed a morning routine that included exercise, meditation, healthy eating, and planning her day. The results were transformative—Sarah felt more energized, focused, and ready to tackle her tasks. Her productivity soared, and her mornings became the most productive part of her day.

HOW?

1. Personalized Routine Planning: Use AI-powered apps like Fabulous or Habitica to design a personalized morning routine. These apps can suggest activities based on your goals, such as exercise, meditation, reading, or planning your day. They can also adjust your routine over time based on your progress and feedback.
2. Smart Alarm Clocks: Implement AI-driven alarm clocks like Sleep Cycle (this is the one I use) or Alarmy that analyze your sleep patterns and wake you up at the optimal time. These smart alarms ensure you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start your day.
3. Exercise and Fitness: Use AI fitness apps like Aaptiv to create customized workout plans that fit into your morning routine. These apps can suggest exercises based on your fitness level and goals, track your progress, and provide motivational feedback.
4. Meditation and Mindfulness: Incorporate meditation into your morning with AI-powered apps like Headspace or Calm. These apps offer guided meditations tailored to your needs, helping you start your day with a clear and focused mind. I'm personally not much for meditation (believe it or not it makes me sleepy) but it might help you.
5. Nutrition and Breakfast Planning: Use AI apps like Fooducate to plan healthy breakfasts that fuel your day. These apps can suggest recipes based on your dietary preferences and nutritional goals, ensuring you start your day with the right nutrients.

Or you could have a chat with your fav ai chatbot and see where that goes...

You: "I’m really frustrated. No matter what I try, I can’t stick to a morning routine. It’s like I’m destined to be unproductive in the mornings."

AI: "I hear you. Building a consistent morning routine can be tough, but it’s definitely possible. Let’s look at some tactics that can help you create a productive morning routine."

You: "I’ve tried so many things, and nothing seems to work. What’s the point?"

AI: "I understand your frustration. It’s important to find a routine that works for you personally. Let’s start by breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?"

You: "Honestly, I usually hit the snooze button and end up getting up late."

AI: "Hitting snooze can definitely throw off your morning. How about trying to set a consistent wake-up time and placing your alarm across the room? This forces you to get out of bed to turn it off, which makes it easier to stay up."

You: "Yeah, I’ve heard that before. But then I just feel groggy and end up lying back down."

AI: "Feeling groggy is common. One way to combat that is to start with some light physical activity as soon as you wake up. Even just a few minutes of stretching or a short walk can help wake you up and get your blood flowing. It doesn’t have to be a full workout, just something to get you moving."

You: "I guess I could try that. What next?"

AI: "Next, think about incorporating a mindfulness practice. Meditation or deep breathing exercises can help clear your mind and set a positive tone for the day. It doesn’t have to be long—just five to ten minutes can make a big difference."

You: "Meditation always sounds nice, but I can never sit still for it."

AI: "It can be challenging at first. Start small, even just a minute or two, and gradually increase the time as you get more comfortable. Focus on your breathing and let go of any pressure to do it perfectly. The key is to create a habit that helps you feel centered and ready for the day."

You: "Alright, so I’m up and I’ve done some stretching and meditation. What about breakfast?"

AI: "A healthy breakfast is crucial for maintaining energy and focus. Try to plan a simple, nutritious meal that you enjoy. It could be something quick like a smoothie, oatmeal, or yogurt with fruit. Preparing your breakfast the night before can save time and make it easier to stick to your routine."

You: "I usually just grab something on the way to work. It’s hard to find time to make breakfast."

AI: "I get that. Prepping the night before can help, or choosing quick and easy options that you can prepare in minutes. It’s all about finding what works best for your schedule and making it as simple as possible."

You: "Okay, that makes sense. What about planning my day?"

AI: "Starting your day with a clear plan can really boost your productivity. Take a few minutes to review your schedule and set your top priorities. Writing down your tasks and goals for the day can help you stay focused and organized. Try to tackle your most important task first, when your energy and focus are at their peak."

You: "I usually just jump into my emails and get lost in them."

AI: "Emails can be a big time sink. Try setting a specific time later in the morning for checking emails, after you’ve made some progress on your most important tasks. This way, you start your day with intentional focus instead of getting distracted by your inbox."

You: "Alright, I’ll give it a shot. But what if I still struggle to stick to the routine?"

AI: "Consistency is key, but it’s also important to be flexible and forgiving with yourself. If you miss a day, don’t get discouraged. Reflect on what didn’t work and make adjustments. Building a routine takes time and patience. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and keep experimenting to find what works best for you."

You: "Thanks, ChatGPT. I’m still a bit skeptical, but I’ll try these tactics and see how it goes."

AI: "You’ve got this! Remember, the goal is to create a morning routine that sets you up for success and feels sustainable. Start small, be patient, and adjust as needed. I’m here to support you along the way. Good luck!"

SO?

Look, you might not like getting up in the AM but in the immortal words of that dude from Futurama...

At least make that morning a productive one.

THOUGHTS

Once again, I blew through the word count on this one. Forgive me.

But even if you only try one or two of the above and your morning get even 1% better, then I consider that a W

You got any tips to improve your morning routine?

Let me know - my emails at the bottom.

Know anyone else who might be interested in these tactics?

Sure, I get it - you want to keep these to yourself.

Keep that competitive edge, right?

Nah. Share the wealth, I say.

Grow the community! Send your friends over to 10xYOU​

Have a a great rest of the week!

Nikola Harper, Editor, Workflow Wednesdays, 10xYOU​

PS: You can always email me directly at nik@10xyou.us​