Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern in myself: I tend to rush through things.
Take my CCNP ENCOR studies, for example. I know I learn best through repetition—seeing the same concepts over and over until they click. But in my daily planning, I often try to cram too much into a single day. I end up racing to complete everything instead of giving myself the space to actually absorb what I’m studying.
The same thing happens with my daily micro-learning routine. I’ve got a 15-minute time block every morning to watch two short videos on a topic I’m exploring. But if I’m not careful, that 15 minutes becomes more about checking the box than really paying attention. I rush through it instead of slowing down and letting it sink in.
Here’s what I’m learning: discipline isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about how you get them done.
Some tasks, like workouts, can be pushed through on autopilot when energy is low. But others—like deep study, creative work, or anything meant to improve your skills—require focus. And sometimes that means doing less, but doing it better.
I’m learning that it’s okay if I don’t finish everything on the list for the day, as long as I give the important things the focus they deserve. That might mean carrying a task over to the next day, and that’s fine. Better to absorb than to rush.
As for my new schedule, I’ve realized that getting up “whenever before 8” doesn’t work for me. There’s too much variability. I’ve now committed to a consistent 6 AM wake-up time, and I’m using those quiet morning hours to knock out my focus items before the workday kicks in.
One thing I did love about the old 4 AM routine was that solitude—that stretch of calm before the world wakes up. And I’m also running into some practical issues with client site visits that occasionally require earlier starts or traffic planning. A 6 AM start gives me back some of that control.
For now, I’m staying the course until my planned October 4th reevaluation. I’m still enjoying the freedom of late-night sports and not having to shut everything down by 8:30 PM.
And while this post is about time and discipline, I can already tell my next 30-day project needs to be sleep. That one deserves its own deep dive.