How to Get More Done Without Working Harder: My Sleep Routine Hack
When people talk about productivity, they often mention apps, to-do lists, or fancy morning rituals. But the real foundation of my productivity system is much simpler: sticking to a regular routine, especially when it comes to sleep.
Let’s be honest—most of us underestimate the power of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. I learned this the hard way. No matter what surprises life throws at you in the evening, keeping your wake-up time fixed is the key. Even if you go to bed later than usual because of an unexpected event, resist the temptation to sleep in. Yes, even on weekends.
If you’re exhausted, take a nap. Personally, since I work from home, I can squeeze in a 30-45 minute nap during my lunch break. It’s trickier if you work in an office, but I used to work in a building with showers in the basement. After a quick lunchtime rollerblade session, I’d take a micro-nap in the shower area and come back feeling recharged. The important thing is, I always woke up at the same time, no matter what.
Why be so strict? Because once you allow yourself an exception—just one morning sleeping in—it becomes much harder to keep your rhythm. Your body’s internal clock gets confused, and suddenly, waking up at your usual time feels like a struggle. If you let yourself make an exception once, it’s easy to do it again, and again, until your routine is gone.
This is especially true in winter. It’s cold, you’re tired, and it’s so tempting to crawl back into bed, especially if your partner is still sleeping. But I remind myself: I know what’s good for me. I get up, maybe head to a café, and start my day. If I sleep in, I feel like my whole day is wasted, and it’s much harder to get back on track.
The same goes for weekends. If you keep your routine, you’ll notice that over time, you start waking up a few minutes before your alarm, even on days off. But if you break the pattern, Monday mornings become a nightmare. The weekend disrupts your weekly rhythm, and it’s even worse after a vacation or a long break. Getting back into the groove feels almost impossible.
I experienced this firsthand when I was studying for my master’s in data science. If I took a break, it was so much harder to get back into the habit of studying. Long interruptions derail us, and it takes real effort to get back on track.
But it’s not just about productivity. Keeping a regular sleep schedule is also good for your health. Studies show that irregular sleep increases your risk of serious illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease. So, for your body and mind, stick to your routine.
I talk about this in my book, Le succès n’est pas loin (“Success Is Not Far Away”). I originally wrote it for myself, jotting down notes on my phone, then transferring them to my computer, and finally publishing the book. I still update it regularly with new ideas and insights. One of the core messages is simple: keep the habit of getting up at the same time every morning for your health and your biological clock. It’s a small change that can make a huge difference.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
— Aristotle
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”
— Abraham Lincoln
Key Takeaways
- Stick to a fixed bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends.
- Don’t allow exceptions—one slip makes it much harder to keep your routine.
- If you’re tired, nap during the day, but never sleep in.
- A regular routine is good for both productivity and long-term health.
Action Steps
- Set a fixed bedtime and wake-up time for every day of the week.
- Prepare for unexpected late nights by planning a nap, not a sleep-in.
- Remind yourself why you started this routine whenever you’re tempted to break it.
Reflection
- Are you letting “just this once” become a habit?
- How do you feel after a weekend of sleeping in?
- What would change in your life if you kept a strict routine for a month?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Healthy Habits #Productivity #Sleep Routine #Tasks #Tech #Time-Management #Work Smarter