Since moving to the New York metropolitan area in January 2024, I've been working on establishing a productive morning routine to help me succeed in my transition to adulthood.
You know, that scary thing everyone warns you about when you graduate from college.
So far, adjusting to the 9-5 life has been exactly that: an adjustment. And while I haven't quite reached the same levels of existentialism as some of my fellow Gen Zers (give me time), I've definitely felt that I'll never finish my never-ending to-do list.
During my first week of work, I was ready to sleep by 8 p.m., and truly couldn't fathom how anyone had the motivation or energy to work out, let alone raise families or be social, which prompted a very empathetic phone call to my parents.
I've found a much better rhythm since then, but the experience got me thinking: What kind of productive person could I emulate to achieve my goals better?
A CEO.
CEOs are famously at the top of their games, known for their extensive industry knowledge, packed Google calendars, and ability to lead others. As someone just beginning my career, I couldn't think of a better position to aspire toward.
The next question was: which one? Mark Zuckerberg's daily routine starts with running and MMA training, so that was an immediate no from me. But Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes early — 4 to 5 a.m. early — responds to emails, does strength training several times a week, then showers, gets ready, and has some coffee and maybe a light breakfast. Minus the early wake-up time, his routine seemed very approachable, with realistic opportunities to integrate healthier habits into my own life.
With my decision made, I was excited to begin a weeklong challenge to see if copying Cook's routine would help kick-start my own productivity.
Here's how it went.