Life can feel fast-paced and, at times, unnecessarily complicated. For quite some time after I had started working, I followed the common routine that most people do: I would wake up, rush through the morning, commute to work, come home, and repeat. But over time, I realized something: just because a routine works doesn’t mean it is optimal.
So, instead of this oftentime rushed routine, I started to apply logic instead. At its core, applying logic means asking myself some simple, structured questions, and I began with small things that I do every morning.
Waking Up
I think many of us do this in the mornings — when the alarm rings, we will usually hit the snooze button two or three times every day before finally waking up fully. This seems harmless and almost everyone does it. But when I thought about it logically, it did not make sense. Each snooze cycle gave me about 5 more minutes of broken, interrupted sleep, not a real rest. So, I asked myself these logical questions:
- Does snoozing the alarm help to improve my energy? No, not really. I just felt more frustrated.
- Does snoozing the alarm cost me time? Yes, sort of. If I snoozed the alarm 3 times, I will be wasting 15 minutes just lying on the bed trying to catch more “zzz’s“.
- Does snoozing the alarm make my morning more stressful? I would say, yes, definitely.
So I started forcing myself to not hit the snooze button.
Admittedly, it was a struggle to get up from my very comfortable bed in the mornings upon the first ring of my alarm. But after a while, it started becoming a habit and I was ready to go about my day when my morning alarm rang. And I realized that I had gained an extra 15 minutes each morning, which I would use by taking my time to get ready for the day. I would say that this significantly reduced my stress before the day even started — I had even started to realize that I no longer needed to rush in my morning commute to the office, as the extra minutes allowed me the flexibility to take my time to get ready!
Next, I looked at how I structured how I got ready in the mornings. Most people might either rush out the door or add random tasks to their routine. Instead, I listed what I actually needed to accomplish: wash up, eat breakfast, and leave on time. I then looked into modifying these tasks in the more efficient order.
For example:
- I started preparing my breakfast the night before;
- I also started to lay out the clothes I needed the night before;
- And I would pack my bag before going to bed
By doing this, I reduced the effort needing for decision-making in the morning — fewer decisions meant fewer delays or distractions, such as hunting for the right shirt to wear for the day or forgetting to pack some critical documents in my bag.
Another big improvement came from timing. I used to leave for work at roughly the same time every day without thinking about it. But traffic patterns in my city often vary. So I started tracked my commute for a couple of weeks and noticed something interesting: leaving just 10 minutes earlier would typically saved me nearly 15 minutes on the road!
That’s the power of logic — it turns guesswork into measurable improvements to my mornings.
Logic for the Day
I also started applying logic to how I manage my energy throughout the day. Instead of doing tasks randomly, I now group similar activities together. For example:
- I would answer emails in one block instead of throughout the day, typically at the start of work;
- I would schedule deep-focus work during my most alert hours, which I had found to be between 10 A.M. and 12 P.M.;
- I would group errands together instead of making multiple trips
Most people tend to spread tasks out because it feels natural, but logically, having to switch contexts repeatedly may actually drain our mental energy. By grouping tasks together, I stay more focused and get more done in less time.
Logic in the Night
Even my evenings follow a logical structure now. I think about the things that I can do to set up tomorrow for success. If spending 10 minutes preparing tonight will save me 30 minutes tomorrow, it is a no-brainer to do it tonight!
I have always used logical “reactively”, such as analysis a current situation to determine the best way forward. But I have learned that logic can also be used proactively, to not only make my mornings easier but also my days better and smoother. So, instead of reacting to the day as it unfolds, I now have a better daily routine that saves me time, reduces unnecessary stress and frustrations, and helps me to experience a smoother day at work.
Applying logic to daily routines isn’t about perfection — it is about improvement. If something wastes time, causes stress or adds unnecessary effort, you should start to question it. And then adjust accordingly and perhaps your day will also become more efficient, more predictable and with less stress!