Jonathan Hasson

Productivity Tip:
 

Know the Difference Between Worrying and Problem Solving

Why do we worry? An interesting study found that we often think it will help us be more prepared to face a problem. And yet, dwelling on potential problems can create stress.

So, where is the line between healthy problem-solving and unhealthy worrying? “Worrying is about letting your mind dwell on problems without a systematic approach, often leading to anxiety. Problem-solving is about applying creative strategies and mental models to specific problems,” says a great post by Ness Labs. 

The post goes on to describe the “ABC method for mindfully managing worry.” A is for awareness: noticing your worries and taking a moment to study them. B is for boundaries: setting mental boundaries around what you can and can’t control. And C is for calming your nervous system with exercises like breathing, walking, or meditating. 

If you’re a worrier, this method could be helpful for you. Do check out the full post and give it a try!

Routine Breakdown
 

Jonathan Hasson, Entrepreneur

A 3-Step Routine For Starting the Day Fresh

Jonathan Hasson

The co-founder of AI-powered networking app UBQT says a simple three-step routine helps him start the day “fresh, energized and with a clear head to tackle all of the day’s various challenges.”

The Routine:

  • Wakes early to see the sunrise. “It’s always a special moment. It’s so quiet and peaceful, a time to reflect. On some days I’ll stretch, on others I’ll sip some black tea whilst enjoying our nice view.”
  • Father-son bonding time. “This involves cooking breakfast, preparing his lunch meal and seeing him off to school.”
  • Enjoys some “me-time” and physical activity. “I’ll typically hit the gym (that involves a run + light weights) or an ocean swim (we’re blessed to live by water) with some stretching on the beach.”

 

Why it works:

  • Waking early and soaking in the morning light helps regulate circadian rhythms.
  • Bonding time improves family relationships—and better family relationships equals higher well-being.
  • Morning exercise has a bunch of benefits, including better energy, mood, and focus throughout the day. Research suggests it may also be the best time to work out for weight loss.

 

With just three simple steps, Jonathan’s routine is a reminder that less is often more—it’s all about choosing the activities that bring you the most value. You might need some trial and error to work out the best steps for you, but it’s worth it! How’s your morning routine looking?

Rosie Khan

Productivity Tip:
 

Replace Resolutions With Implementation Intentions

If you want to actually make this year different, forget the vague New Year’s resolutions. Research shows implementation intentions can be your secret weapon. 

Instead of saying, “I want to exercise more,” try this hack: “When I finish my morning coffee, then I’ll do 10 minutes of yoga.” Or, “When I sit down at my desk, then I’ll immediately get out my planner and write down my three top priorities for the day.”

By linking a specific trigger with a precise action, you’re basically programming your brain’s autopilot. These “when-then” plans dramatically increase your chances of follow-through, because you’ve removed decision fatigue and created a clear mental script. 

Read more about implementation intentions here, and try using this tactic to boost your health and productivity this year.

Routine Breakdown
 

Dr. Rosie Khan, Family Doctor & Integrative Wellbeing Coach

A Doctor’s Routine for Deep, Restorative Sleep

Rosie Khan

“I believe sleep underpins our health in profound ways,” says Dr. Rosie Khan. That’s why she’s developed an evening routine that leverages scientific insights to promote deep, restorative sleep. “Each element of my nightly ritual is designed to quiet the mind and prepare the body for this essential restorative process,” she says.

The Routine:

  • Embrace the Afternoon Light: “As daylight wanes, I make a point to take a walk in the late afternoon sun. The changing wavelengths of light hits the photoreceptors at the back of my eyes and kickstarts my body’s melatonin production, setting the stage for sleep.”
  • Mindful Eating: “My last meal comes at least 3 hours before bedtime. A full stomach can disrupt sleep by forcing your body to focus on digestion rather than rest.”
  • The 9 PM Switch: “At 9 PM sharp, an alarm signals the start of my wind-down. All screens go off and I dim the lights.”
  • Supplement Support: “I take magnesium and Vitamin D supplements, known for their roles in sleep regulation and overall health.” 
  • Soothing Soak: “Three times a week, I indulge in a warm magnesium salt bath. The post-bath body temperature drop induces sleepiness naturally.” 
  • Reading Ritual: “I dedicate 20 minutes to reading a physical book. This screen-free activity helps me unwind and transition into sleep mode.” 
  • Mind Matters: “A 20-minute guided self-hypnosis or visualisation session helps me tackle any lingering concerns, clearing my mind for sleep. Sometimes I’ll journal instead depending on my mood!”

 

Why it works:

  • From afternoon light exposure to magnesium to self-hypnosis, Dr. Khan’s evening routine steps are grounded in research. She uses these steps in conjunction with science-backed sleep hygiene practices: using an eyemask and earplugs to create a “cocoon of silence and darkness,” keeping her phone away from the bed, and setting the thermostat to a cool 18°C (64°F)—the ideal temperature for sleep according to sleep experts.


Getting quality sleep is absolutely essential if we want to stay healthy and operate at our best. That said, if evenings are hectic and you can’t manage all of the above steps, don’t worry—just incorporate what you can! Simple changes can make a big difference. Sweet dreams!

Bex Brame

Productivity Tip:
 

Align Your Daily Tasks to Bigger Goals

It’s easy to get caught up in daily distractions—you know, those pesky low-priority tasks that don’t move you closer to your goals yet somehow eat up your whole day. Time to scratch them off your to-do list! 

In Bex Brame’s routine below, she talks about sitting down each morning to consciously check that her task list aligns with her goals. We love this because it’s a simple practice with high rewards: it keeps you focused on what matters and helps you achieve your short and long-term goals.

To make this easier, try breaking your long-term goals into smaller milestones and assigning them specific deadlines. This makes them tangible and less overwhelming.

Tools like Panda Planner can also help you stay accountable. It’s specifically designed to help you structure your day and align tasks with goals. Why not give it a try?

Routine Breakdown
 

Bex Brame, Health and Wellbeing Life Coach

How a Life Coach & Mom Stays Productive

Bex Brame

Life Coach Bex Brame jokes that she’s one of those “irritating morning people” who loves jumping straight into some early exercise. Here’s her routine.

The Routine:

  • Does a workout, so she starts the day feeling like she’s already achieved something. “I workout at home and rotate between something strength-based, a run or yoga, depending on my mood, the time of the month, and how my body is feeling.” This early ‘me-time’ energizes her before her two young children wake up.
  • Spends an hour or two of quality time with her daughters before taking them to nursery and preschool. “We play together, they help me with some simple chores like sorting out the washing, and we eat breakfast together. This is my favourite time of the day, and I really value the quality time together without screens or work interruptions. It keeps me productive later in the day by alleviating the Mum-guilt I might otherwise feel about putting them both into daycare.”
  • After the school run, spends the first 30 mins checking her to-do list and making sure her tasks align with her goals. “I’m a big fan of setting 90-day goals, and checking in on them regularly helps me to ensure I’m always taking action that moves me closer to achieving them.”

 

Why it works:

  • Adapting your workout to suit your mood, energy levels, and how your body feels (including menstrual cycle fluctuations for women) not only helps prevent injury but ensures you find an activity you feel good about so you actually get your workout done! 
  • Quality time with kids not only boosts their well-being—it also keeps parents connected and strengthens family bonds. 
  • As we said above, linking your to-do list back to your goals ensures you focus on what truly matters!

 

What are your big goals for the next three months? And what tasks do you have lined up for today that will help you advance toward them?

Rob Bell

Productivity Tip:
 

Laugh Your Way to a Productive Day

Did you know that starting the day with a laugh can make you more productive? We’re not kidding: let’s look at the science. For one thing, research shows that happiness boosts productivity. Meanwhile, laughter lowers stress by flooding your brain with feel-good hormones.

Says Professor Daniel Sgroi, laughter “fast tracks networks in the brain to help you concentrate and focus”—though he adds that a genuine giggle works better than forced laughter.

So, how about starting your day with some humor? It can be a simple exchange of funny memes with your bestie or hitting play on a humorous podcast (a la Rob Bell below)—whatever gets you giggling. 

Got any recommendations for us? What gets your sides aching?

Routine Breakdown
 

Rob Bell, British TV Presenter and Podcast Host

How a TV Presenter Wins the Day

Rob Bell

The co-host of the funny and fascinating Sketchplanations podcast says he purposefully doesn’t access his phone for a good hour after he’s woken up and made his first coffee.

The Routine:

  • Does his coffee ritual. “I like the somewhat involved process of using a stove-top moka. There’s a precise method to it, which I feel helps me maintain a bit of ‘slow’ in the first part of my day before the pace inevitably ramps up.”
  • Takes his coffee back to bed for half an hour so he can “gradually start engaging with the day ahead” while listening to the news headlines on BBC Radio 5Live.
  • Does his regular “physio stretches and joint manipulation.” Though not strenuous, doing this first thing means it gets done and doesn’t nag on his mind. “When the body feels fine, it’s all too easy to let these exercises slip, but I’ve finally accepted the mantra that prevention is so much better than cure, and this thoroughly tedious part of the day is crucial to my physical and, as a consequence, mental wellbeing.”
  • Does about 40 mins of exercise. “Either a run, a trip to the gym, or more recently as a new Dad I’ll take the baby out for a walk around the neighborhood. I’ll pop my headphones on and listen to my favorite podcasts—usually The Elis and John Show or Three Bean Salad. Both regularly make me laugh out loud.”

 

Why it works:

  • Using your morning coffee to slow down is a great idea. Research shows small rituals like these can even help us deal with stress and uncertainty.
  • Stretching is important! It helps us maintain mobility as we age and reduces muscle tension and tightness that can lead to pain. As Rob says, prevention is better than cure.
  • Starting the day with movement and laughs is an excellent combination. 

 

Rob says that, as someone who does a fair bit of sport, he may well have more physical activity planned for later in the day. “But getting active early on means that when I do sit at my desk (at around 9am), I feel energized and a little bit smug—both of which thoroughly help my creativity and productivity in my workday.” 

Do you ever feel a bit smug after you’ve smashed your morning routine?

Elin Hilderbrand

Wellness Tip:
 

 Two-Minute Gratitude Emails

Here’s a way to boost your well-being that takes just two minutes a week: write a weekly gratitude email. Yep—all you have to do is send a quick thank-you to someone to acknowledge their help or share appreciation.

Studies show that practicing gratitude can enhance mood, lower stress, and improve relationships—and gratitude letters are particularly effective. A simple act like this not only makes the recipient’s day better but also strengthens social bonds, which are linked to greater overall happiness and even better health.

It’s an easy way to spread positivity while also giving yourself a quick emotional lift. So, why not take two little minutes to give it a try?

Routine Breakdown
 

Elin Hilderbrand, Best-Selling Author

How a Best-Selling Novelist Stays Disciplined

elin h

The “queen of beach reads” says that on an ideal day, she works from 11am until 6pm—and that the work happens because of her disciplined morning routine. She:

The Routine:

  • Wakes and does her skincare routine.
  • Tends to the house and her kids. “I go downstairs and do what I call ‘The One Hundred Silent Tasks of Being a Mother.’ I’ll take the trash out, do laundry, empty the dishwasher and clean up. I’ll also make lunch for my son.”
  • Drinks three cups of tea, in the same order. “I’ll have Earl Grey first, then lemon tea, and then coconut—no sugar, nothing added.” In summer, she goes out to the garden to pick fresh vegetables and cut flowers while drinking her teas.
  • Does exercise. She starts with a 45-min ride on her Peloton bike, followed by about an hour of “yogging” (“it’s a little bit more than walking, but maybe not even as fast as a jog”). Lastly, she ends with a barre class. “I’m so lucky to be able to exercise so much, but I also feel like it’s a discipline that makes my writing happen,” she says.

 

Why it works:

  • While many people prefer to jump straight into creative work in the mornings, Elin does what works for her. By accomplishing household tasks, completing small rituals, and moving her body, she sets herself up to be mentally disciplined for the day. 

 

“The most important thing about being a novelist isn’t being talented or being inspired,” says Elin. “It’s being disciplined and making sure that you get the work done.” For her, starting the day with exercise is what gives her that discipline. What part of your morning routine sets you up for a focused day?

Kylie Kelce

Productivity Tip:
 

Sleep-Proof Your To-Do List

Want to sleep better and boost next-day productivity? Try sleep-proofing your to-do list. Before bed, write down the three most important tasks for tomorrow—but frame them as intentions rather than obligations.

Research shows that writing out tasks can help “offload” worries, reducing bedtime anxiety and leading to quicker, better-quality sleep. The trick is to shift your mindset—think of these tasks as what you intend to accomplish rather than what you have to do. Framing tasks as intentions can reduce stress, which in turn reduces nighttime rumination.

If you struggle to shut off at night, why not give this small ritual a try?

Routine Breakdown
 

Kylie Kelce, Mom & Media Personality

How Kylie Kelce Gets Her Family Going

An Influential Mom’s Morning Hustle

Kylie Kelce

Kylie Kelce, mom of three under the age of five and wife of NFL star Jason Kelce, balances her morning self-care with the hustle of getting her kids ready for the day. She:

The Routine:

  • Wakes an hour or so before her kids do. “I absolutely love having that buffer of time where I get to be a human being and be by myself. Once I get out of bed, I wash my face, brush my hair and get myself together.”
  • Eats a quick, protein-packed breakfast. “I grab a cup of water, take my multivitamin, and eat something quick, like cottage cheese. I’m a huge Good Culture cottage cheese person.”
  • Has coffee from Dunkin’, then rallies the kids, getting the elder two ready for school.
  • Gets the kids breakfast. “They’re not allowed to leave the house without putting something in their belly. They’re huge on the kid Clif Bars,” says Kylie, adding that she’s big on convenience.

 

Why it works:

  • Waking before her kids gives Kylie precious self-care time, allowing her to feel refreshed and ready for the morning rush.
  • A morning dose of protein helps balance your blood sugar, appetite, and energy levels for the rest of the day. Make sure you’re getting enough!
  • Keeping essentials simple and convenient—like grab-and-go healthy snacks—makes mornings smoother for the whole family.

 

Self-care is essential, especially if you have a family to look after. Do you have any tips for getting “you” time in the mornings? Let us know!

 

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