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Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Here’s what we’ll talk about today:

● A Quick Update

● How to Find Your Biological Prime Time

● How to Remove Distractions with the Freedom App

● The 18 Best Investing Blogs

● The Resource Roundup

● Unlock This Free Stuff

Let’s get to it…

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A Quick Update…

You might have noticed that the name of the newsletter has changed from Introvert Millionaire Habits to 1% Habits.  

I made this change for a few reasons:

1. After polling my subscribers, I discovered that more than half of you simply aren’t interested in the “millionaire habits” concept. Instead, you want to learn small wins that can be immediately applied to your life. 

2. I feel the “1% Habits” is more aligned with the products that I am currently creating. Specifically, I am currently compiling a list of 100+ habits and ideas that can improve your life. My hope is that this product (and future ones) will help you with the challenges that you are currently facing.

For now, the format of the newsletter won’t change all that much. It will still have: One featured article, two or three actionable idea sections, and a resource roundup section.

I’ll probably keep this format for the next few weeks to see how people respond to this change.

Stay tuned for more details. 

📈 How to Find Your Biological Prime Time

Have you found it difficult to be consistent with your performance when it comes to achieving your goals?

Do you find that on some days you effortlessly slide through the day and on others, everything feels like a momentous task?

Human beings are not robots, the systems that underpin what we can do on a given day are cyclical.

Depending on how in tune you are with your body's rhythms, you can either benefit from this or become controlled by it.

Fortunately, with just a little tinkering and awareness you can find out how your physiology operates and use it to your advantage.

One way to do this is to identify your biological prime time.

In today’s featured article, I’ll define this concept and provide a four-step process you can use to take advantage of this framework.

What is Your Biological Prime Time?

Biological prime time is a method originally developed by author Sam Carpenter - he lays everything out fully in his book Work the System. 

So, what is it?

Simply put, your biological prime time is the hours of the day when you feel most energized and focused.

Every human is governed by circular systems - the circadian rhythm (the waking and sleeping cycle) is one such example.

Your hormones, brain waves, and organ function are all dependent on how these systems function and they control what hours of the day you perform at your best.

This is why some of us are “early risers” and some of us are “night owls.”

Here’s why understanding your Biological Prime Time can help you:

● Know the best time of the day so that you can tackle the most difficult tasks with the greatest efficiency and lowest stress.

● Identify when you can put the pedal to the metal and work hard, and when it’s time to ease off.

● Feel frustrated and more patient with yourself (which leads to better productivity and lower stress in the long run).

If understanding your peak operating hours sounds good - here’s how to do it.

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Step 1: Early or Late

Instead of diving head-first into journaling, or measuring your energy levels throughout the day, let’s start with a simple question:

Are you an early bird or more nocturnal?

One is not better than the other, some scientists theorize that night owls evolved to watch over the tribe while they were sleeping (when predators are out) and early risers are ready for action in the morning quickly (which is more likely to lead to a successful hunt and everyone gets to eat sooner).

To determine if you prefer early, think about these questions:

● Do you prefer to go to bed earlier?

● Did you/do you enjoy the early morning classes most as a student?

● Do you get tired by the mid-afternoon?

● Do you find yourself unable to function without a set sleeping routine?

If you answer yes to two or more of these you are most likely a morning person.

And if you think you’re a late riser, think about these questions:

● Do you find it difficult to wake up in the morning?

● Do you enjoy or find it easier to study in the evening and late afternoon?

● Do you need an army of alarms to wake you up in the morning?

● Are you able to function with little or no sleep?

If you answer yes to two or more of these you are most likely a vampire (sorry, night owl).

Step 2: Make an Energy Log

Okay, so what if you’re not full-on nocturnal or a chipper early riser?

That applies to most people - the step above is just to give you an idea of where you’re most likely to be more productive.

The next step is to create an energy log of the day.

Do this for a week at least, but you might want to go up to 3 weeks for the best insights (you could be having a weirdly good or extra stressful week). 

You can do this in any journal/notepad or even on a word processor.

Simply bullet point you’re waking hours as follows (add or remove hours as necessary - there’s no point tracking the hours you’re asleep):

● 6 am

● 7 am

● 8 am

● 9 am

● 10 am

● 11 am

● 12 pm

● 1 pm

● 2 pm

● 3 pm

● 4 pm

● 5 pm

● 6 pm

● 7 pm

● 8 pm

● 9 pm

● 10 pm

● 11 pm

● Sleep

Now as you go about your day, mark hours from 0 - 5 (5 being the highest level of energy).

You’ll find that over a week or so the hours where you had the most energy stabilize around similar times.

Bonus: If you’re interested in taking action on this step, then here is a folder where we offer free energy audit worksheets. Simply review the options in this folder and print one out the matches your personal preference. 

Step 3: Journal

Now that you have a good idea of your energy levels throughout the day, take some time to notice any patterns and then record your observations down.

You can do this with good old pen and paper, but apps like Clockify work great here.

Did you notice that you had times when your motivation was high but your energy and focus were not as high as you thought?

Note down any surprising trends:

● Are you a night owl that had greater bursts of energy earlier in the day than you thought?

● Are you a morning lark with more focus in the evening than you realized?

Note down how you feel before and after any meals.

All of these observations don’t have to be detailed entries, just simple sentences about different hours in the day and how you felt compared to what your energy rating was in the previous step.

Always note down the times you feel most motivated, happiest, resilient, and focused.

Over time, you are likely to find that these hours all converge around the same time.

Congratulations - you’ve figured out your biological prime time.

Step 4: Remove Stimulants (optional)

This is an optional step, but it can yield some truly fascinating insights.

If you’re a habitual consumer of coffee, energy drinks, or anything else with stimulants, give it up for at least 1 week. 

Stimulants impact your sleep and wake cycle greatly and can drastically impact your focus, motivation, and energy throughout the day.

You want to figure out what your natural cycles are, not artificially extend or (potentially harm) them with chemical assistance.

However, if you are likely to lose your job without your morning coffee, it’s possible to skip this step.

Final Thoughts on Your Biological Prime Time

Understanding your biological prime time can take a lot of stress out of your day-to-day life.

It can help you plan your day and give you a good idea of when to do the most difficult tasks or when you can sit down, focus, and more easily give a demanding project or goal your all with the least amount of effort.

The big lesson here?

Instead of trying to fight against your natural physiology, you can use it to your advantage by knowing when you work best and structuring your day around this time. 

⚙️1% Habit Idea

Today’s 1% habit is another idea from a database that I am currently building. This technique focuses on a simple tool you can use to remove distractions while working. 

Lost your focus again?

If you’re tired of being constantly distracted by digital chaos or simply need a break from doom scrolling, one app can help.

Meet the Freedom app. This clever tool helps you block out the noise so you can stay focused on what truly matters.

Whether you're studying, working, or simply need a break from an overload of digital information, Freedom gives you the power to reclaim your time and boost your productivity.

How the Freedom App Is Helpful

Freedom stands out by providing users with the ability to block distracting websites, apps, and even the entire internet if necessary.

By reducing digital noise, Freedom helps in the following ways:

● Enhance work quality

● Improve concentration

● Reduce stress associated with information overload

Customizable blocklists help set up a digital environment to suit your productivity needs.

The app's session scheduling feature allows you to plan distraction-free periods in advance, ensuring that focus time is built into your daily routine.

Additionally, Freedom syncs across multiple devices, making it easier to maintain consistency whether you're on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

This multi-device feature is crucial when you work across various platforms.

How to Get Started

To get started, follow these 4 steps:

1. Download and install. Visit the Freedom website or app store, download the app, and follow the installation instructions on your device.

2. Create an account. Open the app and sign up by entering your email and creating a password.

3. Set up block lists. Customize which websites and apps you want to block during your focus sessions.

4. Start a session. Schedule or manually start a session to activate your block lists, helping you stay focused and productive.

The Freedom app is a powerful tool for blocking distracting websites and apps, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.

💲Millionaire Habits

Looking to improve your personal finance education, but don’t know where to start?

This article from The College Investor profiles the 18 best investing blogs to check out in 2024. 

It compiles some of the best blogs to help you navigate various investment strategies, from stocks and real estate to cryptocurrency and personal finance advice. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned investor, these blogs offer invaluable insights and tips to guide your financial journey.

The article highlights a variety of blogs, each with a unique focus and expertise.

For example, it features “The Simple Dollar” for personal finance advice, “Afford Anything” for insights on real estate investing, and “Mr. Money Mustache” for frugality and financial independence tips.

Each blog is selected based on its ability to provide practical, actionable advice, making them accessible for readers at all levels of financial literacy.

The article emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with the latest financial trends and tools.

It encourages readers to explore different perspectives and strategies to build a well-rounded understanding of investing.

Whether your goal is to save for retirement, pay off student loans, or simply grow your wealth, the blogs featured on the list offer the guidance and motivation needed to achieve financial success.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

💰 The Levers That Money Can't Pull – In this article, Lawrence Yeo discusses how money, while powerful, can’t buy everything. He points out the intangible aspects of life like personal fulfillment, genuine relationships, and inner peace, which money cannot influence directly. He emphasizes that true happiness and meaning come from experiences and self-awareness, not just financial success.

✅ Task-Based -Vs- Time-Based Productivity – This article discusses how task-based approaches focus on completing specific tasks regardless of time, while time-based methods prioritize allocating time slots for different activities. By weighing the pros and cons of each approach, readers can better tailor their productivity strategies to suit their individual needs and preferences.

🎵 Apprenticeships: Earn AND Learn Simultaneously – In this podcast episode, Ryan Craig discusses how apprenticeships offer an alternative to traditional college education by allowing people to earn a living while gaining job skills. Craig's book, “Apprentice Nation,” presents the benefits of apprenticeships for workforce diversity and mobility. He also explores why other countries excel in apprenticeship programs and how these programs can be a valuable path alongside or instead of college.

💀 Six Ways to Thrive Before You Die – Tom Greene emphasizes making the most of life by creating meaningful experiences. Drawing inspiration from Bill Perkins’ book “Die with Zero,” he highlights the importance of investing in experiences early, maximizing positive life events, and planning to enjoy your resources before it’s too late. Embrace risks when young and recognize life’s seasons to live a fulfilled and memory-rich life.

🤖 How I'm Using ChatGPT in My Everyday Tasks – Hrishikesh Pardeshi shares practical ways to integrate ChatGPT into everyday tasks. He discusses how ChatGPT can simplify research, assist in coding, and more. Remember: Set clear intentions and frame questions effectively to maximize the AI’s potential in making work and life more efficient and productive.

That’s it for today.

I hope you’re having a great week!

Cheers,

Steve Scott 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:

#1. 90 Days to Your #1 Goal: How to Achieve a Breakthrough Goal in Under 3 Months: Whether it's starting a business, getting in shape, or writing a book, this course is your step-by-step framework to make it happen.

#2. Steve on Twitter: Get up-to-date messages and threads. I publish a few times a day on this platform.

#3. What is Your #1 Challenge?: Are you struggling with something specific? If so, can you take a few minutes to answer this one-question survey. It's a simple question, but your answer is a big deal. This will help me create reports, guides, and free content that tackle your biggest challenges.

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