Here is what my morning looks like:
I wake up between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m., get dressed, go downstairs and make coffee.
Except for Wednesdays, of course. If it’s a Wednesday, I’m on the road by 5:45 a.m., headed to Panera Bread where I’ll buy coffee instead of make it.
Coffee is one of those great rituals (addictions?) that makes the writing life just a little more enjoyable. And although I’ve tried on more than one occasion to curb my coffee intake, I’ve finally reconciled with myself that between two or three cups of coffee a day is okay.
Confession: I’m kind of picky about my coffee. Too weak is terrible; too strong is okay. Not a fan of Folgers et al., but I love Starbucks’ Kenya, Rwanda, Cafe Estima, and Ethiopia Sidamo blends.
Every once in a while I try a different coffee and really enjoy it. For instance, my friend John Thomas from Georgia once sent me a bag of Indian Monsooned coffee beans, which is very distinct. I now associate it with Watchmen, because I was reading that book at the time.
But this post is not all about coffee and copywriting (a.k.a. “coffeewriting”)… it’s about the magic of routine.
Coffee and writing are part of my routine. I expect it every day. And that expectation helps me stay disciplined and productive day after day after day.
Dan Kennedy has publicly said that he spends the first part of every day writing. Uninterrupted. On page 64 of No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs, he writes:
First, I write for at least one hour every morning, virtually no matter what. The first hour of my morning, sometimes 5:00 to 6:00, often 6:00 to 7:00, occasionally 7:00 to 8:00, I write. At home, on the road, doesn’t matter. Weekdays or weekends, doesn’t matter. If I am under a tough copywriting deadline for a client, I’ll give the hour to that task. Most days, that first hour goes to my own books, tapes, and newsletters.
I believe this is one reason Dan Kennedy has had so much staying power: his daily routine.
What do you do every day that helps you succeed? What healthy routines do you have that boost your productivity? Identify them… and celebrate them.
-Ryan M. Healy
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Coffee is definitely part of my daily routine (I know you're surprised at that).
I'm learning for me that the get up and act, not get up and think process is very helpful. Think and plan the night before, earlier in the week, whatever, but get up and get into it, get busy.
Dan Kennedy talks about this on his Brass Balls tape set when he talks about the power of routine (he also talks about his 5:00 writing routine in this part of the tape set), but I'm going back to this thought pattern while listening to the audio of Eliyahu Goldratt's book “The Goal” and going through David Allen's GTD material.
Get up, get coffee, get busy. And getting more effective. :-)
Tea…Ryan…Gotta switch to tea!
Try a nice green Japanese Cherry to kick start your day.
You're welcome, Steve. That's a great point: “he doesn't let a day go by without sending out at least one offer for something of his.”
Taking a slightly different tack, I try to do something that is self-promotional every day.
Ryan
Hey John!
I love how you phrased that: “Get up and act, not get up and think.”
Ryan
For a long time I couldn't drink tea no matter how much I tried. But I have begun drinking tea, usually apple cinnamon tea at night before bed.
Ryan
For a long time I couldn't drink tea no matter how much I tried. But I have begun drinking tea, usually apple cinnamon tea at night before bed.
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Our habits make us or break us. I've known that about Kennedy for a while now, and I'm gradually making the transition to writing first thing in the morning, as opposed to checking email. Another thing I like about Kennedy, he says he doesn't let a day go by without sending out at least one offer for something of his. That's something else I've got to work on.
Thanks for the great post, it was just the surge I needed, that and my morning cup o' joe.
Steve Shaw
Coffeewriting and the Magic of Routine | Very wise post from Ryan Healy http://ff.im/-aHbLJ
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Coffeewriting ? http://bit.ly/1ocHfg
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Every morning, I tell my 4 year old and 3 year old to go back to bed until the clock says “Seven: Zero, Zero.”
That's pretty much how I start everyday.
Hahaha! That's funny. In this post I left out the part about getting my two-year-old out of his crib, changing his stinky diaper, and feeding him.
Every. Single. Day. :-)
Ryan
Coffeewriting & the Magic of Routine http://bit.ly/4Be8Ir
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Ryan,
Since ethics are important to you and you drink a lot of coffee, think about using your consumer purchasing power to request fair-trade organic: fairer to the farmers, healthier for you.
Coffeewriting and the Magic of Routine | Business Growth Strategies: Coffee is definitely part of my daily rout.. http://bit.ly/1CoMVC
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Hi Ryan,
Looks like I should drop by here more often :)
GREAT post. Absolutely spot on.
In my own time management course, I discuss the two hour morning routine that I used to run my information publishing business from Rio de Janeiro (until my visa ran out… nothing my routing could do about that!)
A short period of focused work is worth infinitely more than long periods of unfocused work.
Warm regards,
Brian
Coffeewriting and the Magic of Routine: Here is what my morning looks like:
I wake up between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m., get… http://bit.ly/16my6
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Routines are KEY to getting stuff done — RT @healymonster: Coffeewriting and the Magic of Routine: http://bit.ly/16my6
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You are absolutely spot on Ryan.
Having a daily routine is the creativity switch that
takes our brains back to childhood unlimited possibility
freeing us from adult limitations.
Those times when things go south and I stop to observe
what led to the upside-downness of life, a big part
of it was in not sticking to the daily routine. It's why
people find it so hard to change their lifestyle or
them self for that matter.
I think I found my war room today when I locked
myself in the local library study room to write
copy. A pencil, notepad, laptop, itunes, and I.
Ah, the sweetness of a profitable routine :)
Thank you for sharing todayRyan.
Mmmm coffee, I can smell it brewing now (literally) :)
I'm also a big fan of Starbucks coffee. It might be like $4 in the store to buy but it's only like $8 for a 10oz. bag of it which'll last a few weeks!
Well worth it in my opinion.
I'm also a huge fan of tea – basically any kind. Green, oolong, black, during the day…then some kind of relaxing tea like chamomile, mint or something similar at night before bed while I read.
So my healthy routines?
Working out, coffee in the morning, walks with my wife (although not everyday), getting back into meditating today, and tea/reading before bed.
Great post Ryan!
Jeremy Reeves
http://www.ControlBeatingCopy.com
“I do at least one thing before head hits pillow to fill the pipeline with new business to stave off the feast or famine roller coaster most entrepreneurs endure.”
I think that's how Kennedy put it in Renegade Millionaire.
Close to what you propose with doing something self-promotional. Not always sending out an offer but taking a step toward bringing in new business… returning a phone call, replying to an email inquiry, writing a blog post, etc.
It mirrors the lead gen beast, Matt Bacak's belief that…
“An email a day, keeps bankruptcy away.”
And hey, I don't know if you've ever tried it, but ever since I very first drank a cup of French Pressed coffee, I've been a coffee snob.
I was already anti-7 Eleven coffee preferring anything custom roasted, but the French Press took me up to the next 'pickiness' level.
If you haven't tried a cup of French press coffee before, do it. It's as easy to make as a regular drip cup, but sooo much tastier. And I think you can get them for like $4o bucks from Starbucks or online somewhere.
Check it out for yourself. My press was given to me 4-5 years ago and it goes down as one of my all-time most useful/favorite Christmas gifts EVER! Maybe you'll enjoy it this much too.
Note Taking Nerd #2
Great suggestion, Shel. I have bought fair trade coffees at times, but have not been consistent about it. Thanks for the reminder!
Ryan
Hey Brian!
Great to see you here. :-)
I totally agree with the value of short bursts of focused time. It's far better than staring at the computer screen in a semi-funk for hours, wondering what to do next.
Take care,
Ryan
Hey Matthew,
Library study rooms are one of my favorite hangouts.
I'm often WAY more productive with a pad of paper and pen than I am on my computer.
Ryan
Jeremy,
Regular exercise is so important for maintaining that mental edge. I've often come up with great copy ideas while working out.
That's one thing I appreciate about you: your commitment to staying fit!
Ryan
Haha thanks buddy!
Believe it or not I've actually edited copy while I was on the treadmill (back when I was in college going to school full-time, copywriting part-time and another job part-time so I had like no time for anything and was forced to multi-task).
Staying fit isn't even about going on a treadmill either. Today I'm climbing a mountain by my house, which serves several purposes.
#1 – clears your head, which sparks ideas
#2 – gets blood pumping which sparks ideas
#3 – relaxes you, which helps spark ideas
Probably more, but you get my drift :)
Jeremy
P.S. I also might meditate in the woods for a few minutes while I'm up there. While it may sound strange…it's probably the best thing I've ever done for sparking creativity :)
Great suggestion, Shel. I have bought fair trade coffees at times, but have not been consistent about it. Thanks for the reminder!
Ryan
Hey Brian!
Great to see you here. :-)
I totally agree with the value of short bursts of focused time. It's far better than staring at the computer screen in a semi-funk for hours, wondering what to do next.
Take care,
Ryan
Hey Matthew,
Library study rooms are one of my favorite hangouts.
I'm often WAY more productive with a pad of paper and pen than I am on my computer.
Ryan
Jeremy,
Regular exercise is so important for maintaining that mental edge. I've often come up with great copy ideas while working out.
That's one thing I appreciate about you: your commitment to staying fit!
Ryan
Haha thanks buddy!
Believe it or not I've actually edited copy while I was on the treadmill (back when I was in college going to school full-time, copywriting part-time and another job part-time so I had like no time for anything and was forced to multi-task).
Staying fit isn't even about going on a treadmill either. Today I'm climbing a mountain by my house, which serves several purposes.
#1 – clears your head, which sparks ideas
#2 – gets blood pumping which sparks ideas
#3 – relaxes you, which helps spark ideas
Probably more, but you get my drift :)
Jeremy
P.S. I also might meditate in the woods for a few minutes while I'm up there. While it may sound strange…it's probably the best thing I've ever done for sparking creativity :)
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