Interesting question! I'll share since my approach has changed a lot over the years. First, I wake up when I wake up. If I wake up tired, I try to fall back as

Interesting question! I'll share since my approach has changed a lot over the years. First, I wake up when I wake up. If I wake up tired, I try to fall back asleep or get a nap in later. I measured my sleep-related mental state as undeniably important to how my day is going to go, so I don't mess around trying to force myself to skip sleep or work through tiredness. When I'm up, I usually lay in bed making a more specific plan to enact over next hour or two. It's a more detailed day-start plan than can be found on my calendar. I make this up on the spot because I've learned I need to wait to see how I feel before I sequence things. This helps me bring my emotions along in a positive way, which helps defray the risk of the day's proceedings feeling really sucky later on. Getting down to work, I have a script that generates a really tight schedule for me based on what it parses out of my markdown notes. Usually the outline it creates constrains my most necessary "work work" into 20 minutes to 2.5h max, unless it's a day where I'm focusing on a big project. The script is based on my Task BATL system (profile) and also scaffolds out some values- and interests-related work for me at the same time. For example it suggests some books to read or movies to watch, right next to all my work tasks. I find that I work best when I work like a cat, so 20 minutes of work in one day is just fine, and it does happen that way some days. I know I'll probably work at greater length later in the week perhaps, so I let it average out that way. Earlier in my career I would never take this risk, to either maximally-billable hours or to reputation, but now I feel like I understand myself better. Speaking of cats, even if I'm working hard, I try to work laying down or reclined. I tend to get way better results that way. Being gentle on my nervous system even supports emotionally-charged activity better (server down, or whatever). In the late afternoon I get a really reliable burst of work energy that I usually try to schedule really tightly if I can. I try to support this positive-deviation with a favorite energy drink and a snack. I almost always have a few movies and some music playing while I work this way, especially if I'm sitting in a chair. Naturally the movies are things I've seen before so they're not distracting, more like vibe-support. In the evening we usually eat dinner as a family and then relax a bit before some activity. Lately we head over to the park and play badminton, or do a bit of amateur astronomy, or take a walk. Bedtime is usually done in turns with the kids after our initial session of watching some memes or laughing at a few ASMR videos together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHyWyLwxDg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHyWyLwxDg I also find the late hours a good time to get in a bit of exercise, usually bodyweight stuff. After all that I review my next day and try to tighten things up and address any stressful parts. This helps me sleep better. I hope this is at least a little bit like what you're looking for! Good q and I hope to see some other responses.