I have to say that Number 3 ("be inspired": check your RSS feeds for 30 minutes each morning before you start work) is an absolute disaster for me - especially

I have to say that Number 3 ("be inspired": check your RSS feeds for 30 minutes each morning before you start work) is an absolute disaster for me - especially if accompanied by a cup of coffee. Sends my neurons flying about in completely the wrong directions. I've been having luck with the "Pomodoro" method - I keep a cheap 30 minute countdown timer on my desk, and a simple worklog for the day open in my text editor. One of the key benefits of this for me is it stops me going down ratholes - after 30 minutes I can pull my head out of the trench and look and see if I really have been digging in the right direction.