Dan Pink on getting the most out of mornings: "Our brainpower does not remain constant over the course of a day."

If you listen to Hello Monday regularly, you'll notice something that our guests have in common. Most of them have given a lot of thought to their morning routines.

Most recently, there was career coach Jerry Colonna: 

I wake usually between five and six. I make coffee or tea and I journal, usually for 45 minutes, maybe an hour, and then I will sit in meditation. 

Eat, Pray, Love’s Elizabeth Gilbert devotes her mornings to writing:

My best self is between 6 am and 8:30 am. I wake up really sharp. I take those two hours for me and then I give a much-degraded version of myself to the rest of the world for the rest of the day.

For a lot of folks, mornings are our most important and productive time, and starting them off thoughtfully can set us up for more powerful days.

Today, we’re dedicating a whole episode to mornings, and our guest is Dan Pink. His most recent book is When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Dan’s done a lot of research on timing. He groups people into three categories: there’s the larks – or the morning people; there’s the night owls; and then there’s the third birds, who are in the middle--but they kind of skew morning, too.

Our conversation gave me lots of ideas on how I want to shape my mornings. I hope it does the same for you. You can download the episode to hear about it. Then, please, share your own thoughts and tag them #HelloMonday so I can jump into the conversation.

Here are some highlights….

On morning coffee: "I don't believe in having coffee right when you wake up. I think the evidence shows that coffee is more effective, not immediately upon waking, 60 minutes afterward."

On why timing matters so much: "Our brainpower does not remain constant over the course of a day."

On "owls" who are programmed for late nights: "A disproportionate number of them become self-employed because they can't abide by the traditional kinds of schedules."

On getting to important people while they are thinking most clearly: " If you can avoid it, do not go into the hospital in the afternoon. The evidence is overwhelming. Nobody in my family is allowed to have an important medical appointment or go to the hospital in the afternoon."

I want to hear from you...

This week, I’m trying something new. I want to chat with you about morning routines. Here, it’s important to say that not everyone has the privilege of time in the morning. Maybe you have little kids, or a parent you are caring for. Or roommates and no space of your own. If that’s the case, I’m even more interested. Join me for a live video on Wednesday afternoon. Follow me on LinkedIn for the exact details.

Or, write to me at [email protected], or post on LinkedIn, using the hashtag #HelloMonday.

And, If you enjoyed listening, subscribe, and rate us on Apple Podcasts – it helps new listeners find the show.