10 Daily Productivity Routines To Try For A More Accomplished You

The most productive and successful people in the world have one thing in common. They follow the same schedule each day. The idea is that by having a set schedule, versus none at all, means that you no longer focus on one task to complete in a day but to make long-term progress and avoid burnout. Below are templates of ten daily productive routines that people follow. Keep an alarm close by, because when the time is up on one task, it’s time to move onto the next. No worries whether or not you were able to complete that task in its allotted period because now you’ve put in the time for everything.

The Morning Samurai

Start your day like a real Samurai by preparing the night before “battle.” Layout your work clothes, pack a lunch and have your bag ready to take with you as you head out the door. Come morning, maintain a sharp mind by not going anywhere near technology until you’ve had the chance to wake up with a glass of water and cardio session.  

6:00 AM – Wake

6:15 AM – Physical Training

7:15 AM – Reading & Journaling

8:00 AM – Work

5:30 PM – Practicing a Craft

7:00 PM – Fun & Relaxation

9:00 PM – Meditation

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is one of the more well-known productivity experts of his time. In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin presented by Project Gutenberg, Franklin outlines his day explaining, “The precept of Order requiring that every part of my business should have its allotted time, one page in my little book contain’d the following scheme of employment for the twenty-four hours of a natural day.”

5:00 AM – Wake

6:00 AM – Daily Resolutions & Planning

8:00 AM – Work

12:00 PM – Life Administration Tasks

2:00 PM – Work

6:00 PM – Music, Organizing, & Socializing

5:30 PM – Rest & Relaxation

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Juggernaut

Traditionally defined, Juggernaut is a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution. These days, you may be more familiar with Juggernaut as a fictional character from Marvel Comics who first appeared in the X-Men series. The Juggernaut Method is also the title of a powerlifting training system book known for its ability to turn average Joes into incredible performers. The idea behind this productivity method is that it sets off a workday epiphany where you become focused and actionable.

7:00 AM – Wake

8:00 AM – Creative Work

12:00 PM – Physical Training

1:00 PM – Miscellaneous Work

5:30 PM – Networking & Events

8:30 PM – Learning & Creating

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Obama

44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, has a simple routine he sticks to every day. Obama goes to bed late and is an early riser. He begins his morning with a 45-minute cardio and weight training routine. Many find that this sets the tone for the day because you accomplish a relatively difficult task first thing. The Obama productivity routine is especially helpful if you are someone who struggles with indecisiveness and decision fatigue. 

6:30 AM – Wake

6:45 AM – Cardio & Strength Training

8:00 AM – Reading Papers & Breakfast with Family

9:00 AM – Work

5:00 PM – Dinner with Family

6:00 PM – Work

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Gatling Gun

The first machine gun invented in the 1860s was the Gatling gun, named after its inventor Richard Gatling. The gun rapidly fired 200 rounds per minute, changing the ways military operatives won wars. This productivity schedule acts similarly as you complete tasks in sprints ending the day with plenty of time to relax and rest up for the next day.   

6:30 AM – Wake

6:45 AM – Intensive Bodyweight Exercise

7:00 AM – Meditation or Reading

7:15 AM – Journaling & Game Planning

8:00 AM – Difficult Work

11:00 AM – Miscellaneous Work

5:30 PM – Rest & Relaxation

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was another artist who worked long hours and slept less than your recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night. He details his schedule in a letter to his sister, Constanze. Mozart explains why he composed music so late in the evening saying, “Owing to the number of concerts, and also the uncertainty whether I may not be summoned to one place or another, I cannot rely on my evening writing, so it is my custom (especially when I come home early) to write for a time before going to bed. I often sit up writing till one, and rise again at six.” It’s no wonder he was able to write as many scores as he did!

6:00 AM – Wake

7:00 AM – Composing

9:00 AM – Teaching Music

1:00 PM – Lunch & Socializing

5:00 PM – Composing & Concerts

9:00 PM – Socializing

11:00 PM – Composing

1:00 AM – Sleep

The Growing Warrior

If you’ve already fallen behind on your New Year’s resolution to drop some weight, you should try the Growing Warrior routine and see if you can meet your goal by December 31. At first glance, this routine looks like many people’s workweek, allowing 8 AM to 5 PM to work. But when you look closer, the relaxation time many of these productivity routines include is now replaced by different exercise intensities. Many adult sports leagues meet in the evening after work and could be considered a fun way to enjoy getting exercise.

6:00 AM – Wake

6:30 AM – Flexibility & Cardio Training

8:00 AM – Work

5:30 PM – Strength Training

6:30 PM – Fun & Relaxation

9:00 PM – Meditation & Reading

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka kept one of the oddest and unconventional schedules by sleeping in periods throughout the day. More recent studies suggest that naps increase productivity, creativity, and intelligence. Humans, no matter how much coffee they’ve consumed earlier in the day, are prone to get sleepy around two or so in the afternoon in accordance with the body’s circadian rhythm. The problem is for many of us, that is in the middle of the workday, and taking a nap is out of the question. Still, if you work from home and can’t seem to get a full eight hours of sleep, try Kafka’s method and see how it makes you feel.

8:30 AM – Wake

9:00 AM – Work

2:30 PM – Lunch

3:00 PM – Sleep

7:30 PM – Exercises & Walking

9:00 PM – Dinner with Family

11:00 PM – Writing

6:00 AM – Sleep

The Seeking Mystic

Sometimes all it takes to be a more productive individual is by taking measures to live a stress-free lifestyle. The Seeking Mystic routine allows for breaks throughout the day to maintain a healthy mindset. While it sounds counterproductive to take time to journal, meditate, and read, many more researchers have embraced this idea of maintaining high performance.

7:00 AM – Wake

7:15 AM – Spiritual Reading & Journaling

8:00 AM – Work

12:15 PM – Skillset Reading

1:00 PM – Work

5:30 PM – Physical Training

6:30 PM – Documentary or TED Talk

7:30 PM – Fun & Relaxation

11:00 PM – Sleep

The Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings author Maya Angelou stuck to a daily routine that allowed her to produce some of the world’s best literature. Angelou once said that she couldn’t write in her home because it is too beautiful, and beauty is distracting when trying to write. Because of this, she would slip away from the house to a hotel room each day and spend hours writing before coming home and enjoying a relaxing evening with the family.

5:30 AM – Wake

6:00 AM – Coffee with Husband

7:00 AM – Writing in Anonymous Hotel Room

3:00 PM – Relaxing & Dinner with Partner

7:30 PM – Re-Reading Work

8:30 PM – Quality Time with Family

10:00 PM – Sleep

Try one of these productivity routines for at least seven days, and if it doesn’t feel right, try another. Need more ideas on how to stay productive throughout the day? Our Personal Productivity Course shows you how you can create more time in your very busy day. Click the link to take the course today!