I wake up at six every morning to have coffee, read The Economist briefing, and read my “RSS feeds.” Everyone else is asleep, and it is quiet and dark. This is when I find things to bookmark and share, or just read and inform myself.
Sometimes I start projects. Recently, getting all my janky AI harness stuff right. This is a mistake. About 90 minutes later, I need to make sure everyone is awake (four people ranging from six years old to 50) and moving towards the goal of getting to school on time. Sunday is the only “time to make the donuts” free morning.
If I have started a project or commenced “deep work” - even pulling together a newsletter episode - I am racing against that time, against when it’s time start making the donuts. I rarely get done, and I get anxious and even frustrated until I can get back to it. I delay starting the morning get to school routine and people are rushed.
I create my own stress.
So, don’t start work in the morning, when you know you will be interrupted. Don’t try to squeeze two hours of work into 30 minute chunks between “meetings.”
(I am doing it right now, however. Time to make the donuts.)