Some years ago I was deep into the productivity scene, listened to the College Info Geek podcast, read different productivity books, and tried to keep up a morning routine.
They seemed great in the beginning, but in reality I always found them suffocating. I don’t want to have a pre-to-do list to-do list. I’m glad I’ve tried it, but it’s never really been working for me, or if so only briefly.
Now, I wake up (whenever my body wakes me) and usually within 1-5 mins I switch to sitting in my bad, back against the wall, laptop on my lap. Either I start writing or open my calendar and intend.do, think of what things I’d like to do and get done today. And then start.
This has been working incredibly well for me for the last ~half a year.