My Routine Journey

2024 has truly been a transformative year for me—one that has reshaped both my routine and my perspective on life. A major turning point came when I decided to go on a 3-month trip to Thailand to learn Muay Thai. This trip taught me so much about myself, the way I want to live, and how I can optimize my daily routine for long-term growth. During this year, I embraced minimalism more fully and let go of all my physical books (only reading Ebooks on my phone), simplifying my surroundings and focusing on what truly mattered.

For the first 8 months of 2024, I maintained my usual wake-up time of 6:00 AM. However, after a few weeks in Thailand, I made the decision to push myself even further by waking up at 4:30 AM. This shift was a game-changer, allowing me to maximize my mornings and get a head start on my goals each day. This switch was very easy to make because there are a lot of mosquitoes in Thailand (yes, you read that correctly), which led me to go back home around 6:00 PM. I thought, why not go to sleep around 8:00 PM and wake up earlier? I’m more productive in the morning and not at night; most of the time, I was just waiting to go to sleep and not productive at all after 6:00 PM.

One of the biggest additions to my routine in 2024 was dedicating 1 hour per day to reading, starting in February. As a result, I’ve consumed a lot of books this year—books that have further fueled my personal development and growth. You can see all the books I’ve read on my Books page!

I also refined my morning routine, adding stretching and mobility exercises to get my body moving right after waking up. Additionally, I introduced electrolytes powder and water as part of my hydration to ensure I start the day energized and ready to tackle whatever comes my way.

Another positive change in 2024 was incorporating yoga into my daily routine. Every night, I now do yoga to wind down, release tension, and promote relaxation before bed (I started this because during Muay Thai, people could kick me in the face, and I only could kick them around the belly button). As a result, I’ve seen a significant improvement in my flexibility and overall well-being (and can kick already way higher, so watch out).

In terms of sleep, I also started prioritizing rest more. To make sure I get enough sleep, I’ve committed to going to bed earlier—before 8:00 PM. This adjustment has improved my energy levels, focus, and overall productivity.

Overall, 2024 has been about going deeper into my routine, refining my habits, and embracing the lessons I’ve learned along the way. The changes I’ve made this year have helped me live with more intention, clarity, and balance, and I’m excited to continue evolving from here.

What a day looks like for me:

Morning

• Wake Up: 4:30 AM – I kickstart my day early to make the most of the morning hours. The quiet of the early morning is the perfect time to focus on myself. I run this routine also in the weekends, because then it’s easier to stick to it.
• Morning Meditation: 4:30 AM – 4:40 AM – Meditation is my first step in setting the tone for the day. It helps center my mind, set intentions, and prepare mentally for the challenges ahead.
• Stretching / Mobility + Electrolytes + Water: ~4:40 AM – After meditation, I get my body moving with a quick stretching and mobility routine, followed by hydration with electrolytes and water to energize me for the day.
• Read 1 Hour: 4:55 AM – For the next hour, I focus on editing my latest YouTube video or reading 1 hour on my phone.
• Beard Grooming + Cold Shower: ~6:00 AM – I take a moment to freshen up and give myself a sense of renewal. Cold showers are part of my routine to boost alertness and vitality.
• Coffee + Breakfast: ~6:15 AM – After showering, I enjoy a coffee to energize my body and mind for the day ahead.
• Edit Youtube Video: ~6:30 AM – 8:30 AM – I edit the long-form video from the day before and also edit the short-form content and upload everything to Youtube. Creating the Thumbnail and Title while long-form video is exporting to optimize my time.
• Start Work Session 1 : ~8:30/9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – I dive into work (for myself or for someone else), focusing on design projects, YouTube content creation, and everything in between. Using the pomodoro technique 25 / 5 to maximize my productivity and practicing handstands and mobility in the rest periods.

Afternoon

• Lunch: ~12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – I take a break for lunch, making sure it’s a wholesome and nutritious meal to keep my body fueled for the second half of the day.
• Start Work Session 2 : ~12:30 PM – 4:00 PM – I dive into work (for myself or for someone else), focusing on design projects, YouTube content creation, and everything in between. Using the pomodoro technique 25 / 5 to maximize my productivity and practicing handstands and mobility in the rest periods.
• Finish Work: ~4:00 – I wrap up my workday, reflecting on what I’ve accomplished and preparing for tomorrow.
• Workout: ~4:00 PM – Exercise is non-negotiable. Whether it’s Muay Thai, a gym session at home, yoga, or a run, I prioritize physical health every day.

Night

• Dinner: ~5:15/6:00 PM – Dinner is a moment to unwind and enjoy a well-balanced meal, often accompanied by family or friends.
• Night Routine + Meditation: 7:00 PM – My night routine includes winding down with a final meditation session to clear my mind and prepare for rest.
• Sleep: 7:30 PM – Aiming for early, restorative sleep to be ready for the next day.

Throughout the Day

Most of the time, I now read 1 hour in the morning after waking up. However, this is gradually transforming into reading throughout the day and at night to meet the 1-hour goal.

In 2023, I continued to build upon the routine I established in 2022. I kept waking up early and sticking to my structured workweek, which gave me the stability to stay focused on my goals. The basic structure of my morning routine remained the same, including cold showers, working out every weekday morning, and being at my desk before 9:00 AM. These habits continued to serve as the foundation for a productive day, ensuring I started with physical activity and mental clarity.

However, in 2023, I made some key additions to my routine. I introduced meditation into my mornings on a more consistent basis. While I didn’t meditate every day, I made a conscious effort to include it when I felt I needed to reset or regain focus. Meditation became a valuable tool for calming my mind, reducing stress, and improving my overall mental well-being.

Another significant change was my focus on reading physical books. My book app went empty in 2023, as I transitioned to reading more tangible, physical books. I spent more time reading in the evenings or during breaks, engaging with material that helped me grow personally and professionally. While I didn’t track the exact number of books I read, I definitely made more of an effort to dedicate time to this practice.

Overall, 2023 was about refining my routine and adding elements that helped me grow mentally, physically, and emotionally. Even with the changes, I maintained a similar structure as in 2022, focusing on consistency and discipline to keep moving forward.

My journey towards an optimized daily routine began back in 2022. At that point, I decided it was time to create a routine that would lay the foundation for the success I wanted in life. I started by focusing on waking up early, setting a specific time to start my day each weekday. The idea was simple—create structure for myself during the workweek, with weekends dedicated to rest, recovery, and sleeping in.

In the beginning, I focused on key habits that could jump-start my day. I introduced cold showers as part of my morning routine, a practice that would help me wake up, build mental toughness, and start the day with energy. At the same time, I committed to working out each weekday morning. The goal was to be at my desk, ready to start my workday before 9:00 AM. This combination of physical exercise and mental clarity set the tone for a productive day.

Additionally, I made a conscious effort to focus more on personal growth through reading. In 2022, I read 8 books in total, each one contributing to my mindset, productivity, and self-improvement. You can see the list of books I read over here!