Energizing Routines for Long-Term Work Success

Here are 8 habits I rely on (and often suggest to others) to stay ambitious without burning out: 1️⃣ Give your ambition a time limit. Think of deep work like a meeting with your future self. Block 90 minutes early in the day, silence your phone, and go all in. When the time’s up, stop, even if you’re mid-flow. Boundaries build focus and prevent work from spilling into everything. 2️⃣ Have a “minimum viable evening.” Pick one thing that helps you unplug, cooking dinner, a walk at sunset, reading to your kid, and treat it like it’s non-negotiable. That one ritual signals the end of the workday and gives your brain a clear off-switch. 3️⃣ Check your energy, not just your to-do list. Every Friday, jot down which tasks gave you energy and which drained it. After a few weeks, you’ll see patterns. Start removing or outsourcing one draining task at a time. Over time, your schedule will start to feel less like a grind. 4️⃣ Stick to two big projects. If you’re wired to chase new ideas, this one’s hard, but worth it. Limit yourself to one main focus at work and one personal goal. Everything else goes into a “not now” list you revisit monthly. Less chaos, more progress. 5️⃣ Plan for lighter weeks. Athletes don’t train hard every day, and neither should we. Once a quarter, block a week with fewer meetings, more sleep, and no extra side projects. Building in rest makes you more resilient and keeps burnout at bay. 6️⃣ Move your body, clear your head. Doesn’t have to be fancy. A short workout, a run, yoga, anything that gets your heart rate up will help you reset and stay sharp. Exercise isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a focus tool. 7️⃣ Short naps, big reset. Around that post-lunch slump, a 10–20 minute nap can seriously recharge you, no grogginess, just a clean mental reboot. Set a timer, close your eyes, and treat it like hitting refresh. 8️⃣ Group your tasks by vibe. Instead of switching between totally different things all day, chunk your time into themes, meetings, deep work, admin, etc. Then batch similar tasks together. Your brain stays in one lane longer, which helps with momentum. Start small, try one of these this week. You don’t need to slow down your ambition to feel more in control.

Mental overload is killing your success. 6 resets to bring you back in control: You’re bombarded with choices from the moment you wake up. And most of them feel urgent—even when they’re not. By noon, your focus is scattered. You’re reacting instead of responding. That’s why your most meaningful work gets buried. Real progress doesn’t come from more hustle. It comes from choosing where your energy flows 🌱 These 6 daily resets make all the difference: 1) Presence Protocols ↳ Begin your day without screens ↳ Take 10 slow breaths before deciding ↳ Set one clear intention each morning 2) Mental Reset Zones ↳ Block out “no decision” windows ↳ Move your body to shift your state ↳ Come back to work with clarity 3) Pre-Decided Priorities ↳ Pick your top 3 goals the night before ↳ Filter every task through those goals ↳ Say no to misaligned distractions 4) Emotional Check-ins ↳ Pause every hour for 1 minute ↳ Ask: Am I acting from clarity or stress? ↳ Adjust your pace accordingly 5) Ritualized Routines ↳ Automate the simple stuff ↳ Consistent morning and meal routines ↳ Save energy for creative work 6) Boundary Bracketing ↳ Create start/end rituals for work ↳ Use a “shutdown” cue to disconnect ↳ Let your nervous system rest Mental space is your superpower. Protect your mind to unlock your best self. ♻️ Repost to help your network reclaim clarity and focus 🙂 Follow Marco Franzoni for more.

Want to stay motivated every single day? Borrow a strategy from Harvard. Then borrow another from stand up comedy. Together, they’re a powerhouse for momentum, motivation, and mastery. Here’s how it works: Let’s start with Harvard. Researcher Teresa Amabile studied 12,000 daily work diaries across 8 companies. She wanted to know: What truly motivates people on a day to day basis? What she found changed how we understand drive. The #1 driver of daily motivation wasn’t: Money Praise Perks It was progress. The days people made progress on meaningful work were the days they felt the best. Progress isn’t a luxury. It’s a psychological necessity. So how do we make progress feel visible especially on days when it’s not? Use a “Progress Ritual.” → At the end of the day, pause. → Write down 3 small ways you moved forward. → That’s it. No fanfare. Just ritual. This works because we rarely notice our progress in real time. It gets buried under busyness, meetings, and mental noise. The act of looking back gives your brain the reward it needs to keep going. Momentum builds from meaning. Now let’s add some comedy. Young Jerry Seinfeld had one goal: write new material every day. To stay on track, he created a brilliant system. Each day he wrote, he put a big red X on his calendar. Soon, a chain of Xs formed. And here’s the key: Don’t break the chain. One red X becomes two. Two becomes ten. Ten becomes identity. Whether you’re writing, coding, or training Daily action + visual chain = long-term motivation. Summary: The Two-Part Motivation System From Harvard: Record 3 ways you made progress each day. From Seinfeld: Mark an X for each day you show up then don’t break the chain. Progress fuels purpose. Consistency fuels confidence. Apply both and you’ll stay on track especially on the tough days. Because when your days get better, your weeks get better. When your weeks get better, your months get better. When your months get better, your life gets better. It starts with one small win today.

As we head into the final quarter of the year, many of us are feeling the pressure to finish strong. I get asked a lot about how I stay energised and productive, especially with all the travel I do for work. I discovered early on in my career that the key to peak performance lies in managing my energy, not just my schedule. Here are a few things I’ve learned that help me keep my energy levels high—even during the busiest seasons: 1. Focus on what fuels you: For me, it’s staying hydrated, getting out for a run, and carving out moments of mindfulness. These little habits might sound simple, but they’re non-negotiable for keeping my energy up. 2. Work with your energy peaks: I’ve learned when I’m most productive, and I schedule my most important tasks during those high-energy windows. Instead of forcing myself to push through, I maximise my natural rhythm. 3. Rest is non-negotiable: Travelling can take a toll, so I’ve made it a habit to schedule downtime. Whether it’s grabbing a healthy meal or getting some quiet time, rest allows me to recharge and give my best to the work ahead. 4. Small habits, big impact: Regular breaks, avoiding distractions (hello, social media), and deep breathing exercises are simple but powerful ways to stay focused and energised throughout the day. As we head into Q4, I encourage you to ask yourself: How are you managing your energy? What’s one way you’ll prioritise your energy for the rest of the year? #EnergyManagement #FinishStrong #LeadershipTips