From Chaos to Control: Building an Effective Daily Schedule as a CEO
On the topic of productivity…
Today I’m writing to you with a routine that has the potential to completely transform your life.
I’m talking about greater
- Quantity of work
- Quality of work
- Lifestyle flexibility
Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?
This proven productivity system is what I’ve used to help myself and other CEOs 3x their output without sacrificing their personal life or getting burned out.
Let’s just jump right into it:
Every human being gets the same 24 hours.
But the most productive business leaders on the planet are artists of time management.
They take advantage of every second.
This framework is specifically designed for you to get 3x more out of every day.
How?
Effective (but downright simple) time blocks.
Keep in mind you can adjust the exact time slots to your particular business and schedule.
But I’d highly recommend keeping each block around the same amount of hours as indicated below.
Here’s what you typical day might look like on this system:
You day begins at 6:30 AM.
Your alarm goes off and you’re up right away.
No snooze. You’re excited for the day ahead.
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM
•Hygiene routine
•Hydration routine
•Step outside momentarily
•Perform a light movement practice
•Refer to schedule and responsibilities for the day
•Prepare coffee + sit down for your first deep work session
60 minutes in and you’re ready to go.
Deep Work Session 1
7:30 - 10:30 AM
Dedicate your early morning energy to the most mentally demanding work of the day.
Commit 100% to the task and don’t let your attention waver.
The focused work you do in these 4 hours could be more than most people accomplish in an entire day.
Mental Break 1
10:30 AM - 11 AM
After your first deep work session, relax your mind and step away.
Remember - we have 2 more “full days” of work to accomplish and you’ll need the capacity.
Have breakfast, be with family, take a long walk.
Just let your mind go for a moment.
Connect with Team
11 AM - 1 PM
This is a great slot for team meetings.
You’re warmed up for the day and ready to attack what’s next:
•Address problems early on
•Make sure everyone’s on track
•Present the day’s plan and inspire the troops
Be the best leader you can be.
Mental Break 2
1 PM - 1:30 PM
Now it’s time to step away again.
Could be a lunch break, workout, or self-education slot.
Up to you – just make sure you turn off your “work brain” as much as possible.
Take the time to recharge because we’re about to ramp things back up again.
Deep Work Session 2
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Take the rest of the afternoon to accomplish all the other lever-moving tasks you have left over.
The work that requires your full brain power and attention.
•Sales calls
•Cold email
•Product development
Crush the rest of your day.
Mental Break 3
4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
You go home.
You enjoy family time.
You eat a wholesome dinner.
You catch up with your partner.
You reflect on the productive day.
Let yourself feel proud of what you accomplished.
Wind-Down Routine
8:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Take this time to:
•Stretch
•Journal
•Meditate
Instead of Netflix or social media…
Consider giving your mind the rest it needs.
It’s been a big day after all… 3x busier than most.
Finally – crawl into bed and feel yourself drift off.
Sleep
10:30 PM - 6:30 AM
This daily schedule has helped my clients triple their work output in the same 24 hours everyone else lives through.
Implement these time blocks into your calendar and you’ll be amazed at your results.
And always remember…
You’re capable of so much more than you believe.
Hope you found this system valuable – I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you decide to give it a try.
Remember that your daily routine is absolutely central to your long term success as a CEO.
Hope you have a fabulous rest of the week!
I’ll catch you next time,
-Peter
