If you want to be more productive than 96% of people (I’m not joking), use this 30-minute morning routine:

Are you in a daily battle to get out of bed and function in the mornings?

Good news—you don’t need to wake up at 5am to win the morning.

Follow this routine and an extra 30 minutes is all you need to prepare yourself for a successful day.

Get ready the night before (0 min)

The best morning routines start the night before;

• Prep your lunch
• Get your workout clothes ready
• Pack your work bag

Do anything that’ll make your morning easier.

Avoid your phone (0 min)

71% of Americans check their phone within 10 minutes of waking up.

Leave your phone on DND or in a drawer—give yourself at least 30 minutes of clear air to start the day.

You'll be more relaxed, and your notifications won’t go anywhere.

Make your bed (2 min)

Keep your space tidy and start your day with an easy win.

It sounds simple, but a made bed gives you momentum to help you deal with whatever challenges the day throws at you.

A 2-minute read that'll help you 10x your potential;

Do hard shit

It doesn’t matter what it is. A cold shower, a difficult workout, writing etc. force yourself to face and work through adversity.

Discipline is a muscle you train with experience.

Stop chasing happiness

Happiness is a response to an outcome—a fleeting feeling in the moment.

When you get it you get it, you immediately raise the bar. What you have isn’t good enough for long.

Aim for joy instead.

Find joy in the process—the outcome doesn’t matter.

Define success for yourself

Don’t get caught up chasing money, fame, or job titles that society celebrates as success.

Figure out what’s important to you—define what success looks like, it'll change over time.

Avoid people and things that don’t help reach your goals.

Don't dwell on the past

Everyone makes mistakes—own them and move on.

Don’t let guilt or regret steal from your future.

Turn the page and get busy writing the next chapter of your life.

I've summarised the 13 most powerful life paradoxes that'll improve your thinking today:

Firstly, a "paradox" is something that combines contradictory features but both are true.

Let's get into it ↓

Speak less, say more

Why is gold valuable?

Because it’s rare.

If you speak only when you have something valuable to say, your words will be treated like gold.

Because you speak rarely, what you say holds more weight.

Failure leads to success

You learned to walk by falling over, getting back up and trying again.

You failed hundreds of times until you could walk.

Do the same in life—fail, learn from your mistakes and do better next time.

This is the path to success.

Fear of death reduces your enjoyment of life

Memento mori—remember you must die.

It’s a stoic phrase that isn’t meant to be morbid—it’s meant to inspire, clarify and motivate.

Use it to help prioritise and bring meaning to your life in the present, don’t wait to start livin.