I'm curious... how do you guys/gals set up your day?

Yes, I do. I usually work 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening. I couldn´t work longer even if I wanted to...

I am an early riser. Wake up at 3AM. Run/jog/swim. Hit the forums for 1 to 2 hours. Write. Read stuff that helps with my writing. Write. Create stuff for my own projects. Write. The rest of my time I spend with my newborn son and my wife. Thank the Lord for a great day and start the next day.

I am similar to the way you work.
I tend to find myself working for about 2 hours at a time, and then take a break. The break is usually working out, eating something or reading a book.

Doing marathon sessions usually makes me less productive.

You are absolutely right. It's always easier to work in cycles. I haven't even thought about it but I am doing the same things. It is too hard for me to work like 9 hours in a row and be productive in this way. Moreover sometimes it is even depressive for me to think that now I will be working 9 hours in a row.

I quit my daily job because I didn't love those limitations so why should I have them working on my own?

I usually think of my day as a succession of projects, rather than one long go. I take a break after every project/task i complete.

I'd love to be able to do. I think this is exactly how I would work if I worked for myself. While having a typical 9-5 it's not quite as feasible.

I setup my day and list all the activities I want to accomplish ahead of time. Now unless I have scheduled appointments, I go through and try to work through my list without any set break times. The key is to see how long I can work in a flow state until the brain tells me that it's time to recharge. When it tells me that it's time to break, then I will break (OK, occasionally I will give in to my dog and break when he gives me the sad look! )

Sometimes it's a 6 hour continual session and other times it's 1 hour. But either way, you have to strike while the iron is hot so yes planning the activities out is good but considering the multitasking/creative nature of this business, you have to have some flexibility!

Great question and I wish more people - especially the struggling and newbie ones - would quit trying to work in such a strict format.

Even in an office 8-5 job, we see people breaking - not even officially, just getting up to stroll and chat and waste time.

I personally flit around all day and I'm one of the most productive people I know, running several income streams and enjoying my family, finding time for entertainment and cleaning house. I don't use egg timers or blocks of time.

I'm personally not cut out for that. I might write this post here and then get up to do the dishes, then sit down, write a page of content, get up and play with my daughter, etc. I flit all day and it's amazing and enjoyable.

I never feel like I'm working because half the time, I'm not! And when I am, well I know it's not for long, so I never dread it.

Most people think this is an "organization" or "show me your schedule so I can copy it" kind of thing but it's not - it's about your mindset and how you accomplish your tasks and goals.

Thats exactly how I work. 10am to 12 midnight, staggered throughout the day. Work when I want, stop when I want. Its this kind of freedom that is the real appeal to working online (at least for me)

11: Getting out of bed
12: Eating breakfast and reading news, mail, etc etc, AKA "morning routine"
13: Working
15: Making dinner
16:30: Back to work
20:00: Hits The Gym
22:30: Back to work
23:30: Night dinner
00:00: Back to work
03:00: Bedtime

Then history repeats itself day after day, except for weekends

Something like this ...

1. Walk the dog
2. Eat breakfast
3. Watch morning news on the box
4. Check/action emails
5. Write post
6. Do a bit of research
7. Have lunch
8. Walk the dog
9. Sit for a while on Exmoor or by the beach just thinking
10. Go to the pub
11. Dinner
12. Blob out

As they say, 'rinse and repeat' ... with slight variations but never without walking the dog and thinking.

Will

I work at my 9-5 (not quitting. I LOVE my freaking job and I don't care if I make more in my business). Gym. And then I work from 10 pm to 2 am.

5 days a week. Weekends I shut down.

My routine is more of a straight shot, but that's just because lately i've been applying the 95/5 rule lol...

I spend 95% of my time on one particular marketing strategy, and 5% on all the rest... which is only like 3 strategies that can each be completed within 5 minutes. Then i chill for the rest of the day, and do what i want.

Fact...

You can't produce inspired, effective work - IF your autonomic nervous system is fried (keeping you tragically stuck in the sympathetic mode.)

So the question is:

How can I maximize production, while maintaining a calm, vital body?

The answer?

It ain't sitting in front of the computer all day.

Shawn's right. You have to stagger your work time... with plenty of rest and play time too.

Shawn mentioned hitting the gym. That's great. I'll do yoga, meditate or even convince my wife to have sex with me;-)

Generally...

I'll write from about 9am - 1pm. Take some time off. Come back in a few hours for the administrative part of my business, like answering emails and returning phone calls, then I'll write from about 6pm - 8 or 9pm.

That's not my routine everday, but most.

Mark

P.S. Most million dollar ideas come when you're far away from the computer. Remember that. Don't convince yourself you need to work... just to work. There's a big difference between being productive and just spinning your wheels (which is a great way to get burnt out in a hurry.)