“Focus on being intentional rather than busy.” Tim Ferriss

There are countless tips, tricks, and strategies for organizing your days. Some say a well-thought-out plan is essential. While many approaches can help, there’s one practice that stands above the rest—one simple shift that can transform how you experience your days.

Ready for it? The practice is surprisingly straightforward: Do the most meaningful work first each day.

Better said, do creative work first and reactive work second.

The most important work—not the most urgent, but the most meaningful—deserves your best energy. Think of the many successful authors who write first thing in the morning. They wake up and write before checking their phones, before responding to emails, before doing anything else. (Okay, maybe after pouring coffee, but that’s beside the point.)

The truth is, our mental energy is limited. Each day, we wake up with a full tank that slowly drains as we move through tasks, notifications, and decisions. So maybe an intentional day isn’t about doing more things. It’s about doing the right things first.

Why This Practice Works

Imagine your mind has a set capacity for focus each day. You start fresh in the morning, but every time you check a notification, answer an email, or respond to someone’s request, you spend a little bit of that capacity.

Add in the scrolls, messages, appointments, and meetings, and you can see how quickly your mental clarity fades. The more your focus splinters, the less energy you have for what truly matters.

Create Your Own Rhythm

Most people start their mornings responding to someone else’s agenda. We open our inbox, check social media, and look for external direction before we’ve even considered our own intentions for the day. The idea of living with more intention isn’t just about having a better plan—it’s about starting your day with what matters most. It’s about managing your energy rather than just your time.

Start by asking yourself: What do I want from today?

Living with intention isn’t about crafting the perfect plan. It’s about directing your best energy toward what matters most. It’s not just managing your time, but managing your energy.

So put your best energy toward the creative, meaningful work. First, do the work that aligns with your values and vision. Then let the reactive tasks come later. Because divided attention drains your mind. Morning is when your creativity, focus, and willpower are at their highest.

Three Practices to Reclaim Your Morning Energy

Here are three simple ways to protect your mental space and work creatively instead of reactively:

1. Delay email until later in the day

Email is important, but it’s rarely meaningful. When you open it first thing, you’re immediately reacting to someone else’s priorities instead of your own. Try checking your email later, when your creative work is done. Then, give it your full attention rather than skimming.

2. Turn off all notifications

If your phone or laptop buzzes constantly, your focus doesn’t stand a chance. Every ping pulls a piece of your attention away. To protect your mental clarity, silence notifications everywhere. You’ll be amazed at the peace that follows.

3. Work in full-screen mode

Distraction is part of being human. Instead of battling it, remove it. Close extra tabs, silence alerts, put your phone in another room, and use full-screen mode. Simplify your environment so your attention stays exactly where you want it.

Your Plan of Action

First, ask yourself:

• What is my most meaningful work?
• Define what I wish I had more mental space for?
• What aligns with my deepest values?

Write it down and then honor it by scheduling it first thing in the morning. Let your creative, intentional work be the anchor of your day, and let the rest fall in around it.

When you release distractions, life starts to feel lighter. The daily grind becomes less about surviving your schedule and more about creating space to actually live it.

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The Nourished Planner: Designed for Outcome Creation, Not Task Management

The Nourished Planner helps you identify what truly matters and create space for it in your everyday life. With flexible layouts, generous white space for reflection, and tools that align your actions with your values, it shifts your focus from checking boxes to creating meaningful outcomes.

This isn’t about rigid schedules or endless lists. It’s about rhythms that honor your energy, protect your clarity, and help you show up fully for what fills you up.

Whether you’re seeking to avoid burnout, live more intentionally, or simply want a planning tool that fits the life you’re building, the Nourished Planner meets you where you are.

Ready to align your days with what matters most?
Explore the Nourished Planner and discover a more intentional way to plan your life.