Ultimate Productivity - Small habits to increase agency

What is agency?

Agency is the sense that your choices can change what happens next.

You cannot control everything—but you can choose your next move. High-agency people see a problem, take action, learn from what happens, and try again. That is why so many great leaders and entrepreneurs seem able to make things happen.

Nobody is born with this skill. Agency is a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Here are five small habits to help build yours.

1. Build a routine you can keep

Everyone’s day looks different. Find a routine that works for you, then stick to it more often than not.

That might mean exercise before work, walking the dog, Netflix, then bed. Or it might mean working first, then training and family time later. The routine does not need to look impressive—it just needs to work for you.

This is where I introduced N. 
My day right now, up at 6am, roll a refreshing glass of N to kickstart the morning, get some energy and well needed hydration - then i head to the gym and get a workout in and my day moves from there. It's usually just computer work from then on out - finish up around 8pm for wind down. cook some food, shower and then read for 30 minutes - 1 hour before i get to sleep. 
I'm used to working long days and this, by far is the most sustainable I've ever felt.

2. Set one daily priority

The night before, or before your day begins, name one priority you will move forward no matter what else happens.

Make it concrete. There should be no grey area: either you did it or you didn’t.

3. Do one task at a time

Multitasking does not really work. Every time you switch tasks, your brain has to reset—and that drains energy.

Block out 20–60 minutes for one task. Close the extra tabs, move your phone out of reach, and make real progress before you switch.

4. Keep track of what you actually did

At the end of the day—or the end of the week—ask yourself: What did I actually do?

You will quickly see the difference between being busy and being productive. I have only recently started doing this myself, and it has helped me work out what is genuinely moving the needle each day.

5. Protect your energy

Nobody makes their best decisions when they are running on empty.

Sleep, good food, daily movement, and breaks are some of the best foundations for feeling and performing well. I use the sleep schedule on my phone religiously: I try to stick to the wind-down, sleep, and wake-up times.

When my sleep consistency is high, I feel like a Ferrari of productivity—probably a Volkswagen compared with some people I know, but still.

Eat nutrient-rich food. Get outside. Move your body when you can. These small things can make you feel like a new person.

Building a company in an industry I knew almost nothing about eight months ago has been incredibly demanding. These are a few small habits I have adopted along the way, and they have genuinely helped.

Try one. Keep it simple. See what changes.

Jarrod | NexAM