Morning Routines That Actually Work for Engineers
Forget the 4 AM cold plunge brigade. Here's what actually helps me show up consistently and do good work.
I've tried every productivity routine the internet recommends. Most didn't stick. Here's what actually works for me as someone who writes code for a living.
The Non-Negotiables
Sleep. Everything else is downstream of this. I protect 7-8 hours ruthlessly. No screen after 10 PM. Room cold and dark.
Movement before email. Even 15 minutes of walking changes my mental state. I don't check messages until I've moved my body.
First hour for hard things. My best cognitive hours are morning hours. I don't waste them on Slack or meetings.
The Flexible Parts
Some days I meditate. Some days I journal. Some days I read. I've stopped forcing a rigid sequence. What matters is showing up, not the exact order.
What I Stopped Doing
- Waking at 5 AM (I'm not a morning person, and that's okay)
- Checking metrics first thing (it colors my whole day)
- Planning the day in detail (I plan the night before)
- Optimizing constantly (the routine is a tool, not a goal)
"A boring routine you actually follow beats an impressive routine you abandon."
The Real Secret
Consistency beats intensity. Find what you'll do every day, not what sounds good on Twitter.
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