Productivity is not having a cute planner & taking a run in the morning. It’s about the marathon (not sprint) of spending years creating healthy habits & figuring out what works for you.
I work 50–70-hour weeks. Most days, I love it. Because I’ve learned how to structure my life in a way that supports that pace and spent years finding a rhythm that actually makes me more productive and not just busier.
I’ve learned that productivity isn’t just about time blocks and planners. It’s about your health, your habits, your mindset, and how you choose to spend energy across your work, life, and relationships. Everything you do effects your productivity (aka if it affects your dopamine levels, cortisol, etc it’ll affect your productivity. It’s all intertwined.)
Today I want to share some of those habits — across business, fitness, and life — that help me operate at a high level without losing myself in the process. A lot of these habits are backed with neuroscience and MY OWN lived experience. But that doesn’t mean all of my habits will work for you—and that’s not just normal, but GOOD! We’re all different, so stop letting social media make you think you’re a POS if you don’t like to get up at 5 am and do a cold plunge.
Alright, let’s jump into what makes me a certified girlboss…
Morning Habits that Change The Game
I swear by sunlight first thing in the morning. Andrew Huberman (king… ok also Stanford University neuroscientist and tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology) has talked a ton about how morning light regulates your circadian rhythm, cortisol levels, and dopamine (which plays into focus, energy, productivity, ADHD if ya got it like me, etc) Translation: Get sunlight in your eyes within the first hour of waking. Avoid bright light at night, and your body knows it’s time to rest.
For me, that looks like:
- A short walk outside (no podcast, no music — just sun + silence + Jesus).
- Quiet time with my journal or Bible.
- 16-30 oz of water & an hour-ish before caffeine
- A lil black coffee + a small snack.
- Then I hit the gym.
I hybrid train — running, weights, yoga. The rhythm matters more than perfection, but here’s what a typical week looks like:
- Sunday: Easy 30–40 min run.
- Monday: Upper body weights + core.
- Tuesday: Tempo run.
- Wednesday: Lower body weights + core.
- Thursday: Full body weights.
- Friday: Yoga + moderate movement.
- Saturday: Active rest (hike, yoga, long walk).
This isn’t “gym bro or protein princess grind.” It’s about what works for me. When I move first thing, I focus better all day.
Work Rhythms That Keep Me Grounded
How you start the week sets the tone. That’s why I don’t book shoots or stack meetings on Mondays. I need laptop & admin time to reset, plan, and orient myself — otherwise the whole week feels chaotic.
And because I take Sundays completely off, Mondays are for me. No matter how busy it gets, I try as hard as I can to keep Sundays like this: no phone, no scrolling, lots of silence. Sometimes I bake, meal prep, scrapbook, or just sit at a coffee shop I used to work at and reconnect with my barista friends & old regulars. [Natural human connection bro, we’ve lost too much of it] That one screen-free day is what makes me actually want to work 60+ hours the rest of the week.
Other habits that make running a biz & working 10+ hour days sustainable:
- Eating meals away from a screen, often outside.
- Walking pad + desk setup (I split time 50/50).
- “LookAway” app that reminds me to rest my eyes. (fr try it for just a day. I thought it was dumb at first, but I’m obsessed.
- Scripting all client content on the 17th each month. (more on this in a sec)
- Running performance reports on the 26th. (this too.)
- Meeting with clients once a month — boundaries protect both of us.
Boundaries, Business, and Balance, and more B’s
Business Boundaries:
One of the hardest but most important lessons I’ve learned is boundaries. Clients can’t respect what you don’t define. Once I got clear on mine—whether it was timelines, deliverables, or communication—I not only felt more in control, but it keeps clients safe, and they respect me more.
Business Budget:
When it comes to business and what that looks like as a 21 year old; as a business owner, my “retirement/savings plan” is going to look different than other people my age. I reinvest back into my growth through education, resources, software, and contractors. My husband and I also have a weekly date with our budget (fun & sexy, huh?!) Well, what’s not fun & sexy is being financially stressed, so… 😛
Business Bi-weekly’s:
I could create an entire other post on why I script content strategies with clients on the 17th of each month and deliver performance reports on the 26th.
But it keeps everyone aligned, creates accountability, and ensures we’re always improving instead of just guessing.
As for balance? For me, it’s simple rules that keep my brain from running nonstop. Like: my phone never sleeps in the same room as me, eating away from a screen, and the things my husband and I do for fun. Like I said at the beginning… everything is intertwined.
Productivity Is About Feeling Good, Not Just Doing More
It’s not just about “hustling.” It’s about feeling good enough to keep showing up. That’s why I drink black coffee instead of energy drinks, why I practice yoga, and why my husband and I have a weekly budget date. Productivity isn’t about squeezing more into your calendar. It’s about aligning your habits so the things you do actually help you get up & want to be better everyday. It’s so you have the energy and clarity to keep going.
I didn’t go to college. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But I’ve built this business and this rhythm through trial, error, and relentless refinement. The truth is: productivity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your body might thrive at 6 hours of sleep like mine, or it might need 10. You might work best at 6am or at midnight. The key is paying attention and building systems around you.
That’s why it’s so important, to put the screen down, stop trying to eat the same exact way that girl on your explore page does, stop buying the next thing that you think will finally solve this struggle… It’s supposed to be a struggle. That’s what makes it so rewarding on the contrary.
Final Thought
Don’t copy my habits. Take what resonates, test it, and build your own rhythm. The most productive thing you can do is stop trying to fit into someone else’s mold — and start building habits that make you feel good enough to keep going.
Leave a Reply