The One Productivity Tip That Has Nothing to Do with Apps or Lists

Welcome to The 1% Better Productivity Letter, your weekly dose of simple, actionable strategies to work smarter, boost focus, and build a productive life that fits you.

Today at a glance:

• Why energy peaks are more powerful than any morning ritual.
• The real difference between early birds and night owls, and why both are valid.
• Why syncing with your energy is a smarter productivity move than any hack.

How I Learned to Stop Fighting My Energy Levels and Just Work With Them

Before we jump into today’s topic, I have some exciting news: The Productivity Accelerator is finally here 🎉

If you ever feel like you're constantly trying to do everything, but still end up feeling behind, scattered, or just plain exhausted, this is for you. I created this course to help you finally get clarity, make progress on the things that actually matter, and feel in control of your time, without burning out or needing to wake up at 4 am.

You’ll learn how to build a system that works around you, your energy levels, your schedule, and your real life (yes, even when it's messy). It’s designed to make your days feel lighter, more focused, and more sustainable, so that productivity feels like support, not pressure.

If this sounds like the kind of help you’ve been needing, it’s finally ready. 💛

I’ve always seen myself as a morning person. I genuinely enjoy waking up very early, sometimes at 5 or 6 in the morning, and taking full advantage of the quiet, peaceful atmosphere while the world is still asleep. And if it happens to be a summer morning with the sun already rising at 5 am, that’s simply a bonus.

In fact, as I’m writing this newsletter, it’s 7 am and I’m sitting outside on my porch with just a cup of coffee and my laptop, while both my husband and our dog are still sound asleep. It’s hard to put into words how calm and relaxed I feel in this moment.

That being said, it wasn’t always like this. Even now, I sometimes find it quite difficult to get out of bed so early. And it’s not necessarily because I’m sleep-deprived, on the contrary, I usually go to bed around 10 pm, and occasionally even at 9 pm during the colder months when it gets dark earlier. I know, it sounds like a joke, like who goes to sleep that early, especially in the summer when the sun is just beginning to set right?

One of my close friends used to laugh every time he found out I was heading to bed at 10 pm or that I was replying to group messages at 5 or 6 am that had been sent the night before around 11. For him, this kind of schedule felt completely unnatural. He’s more of a night owl, while I fall under the early bird category. Our daily routines are quite the opposite: while I prefer to sleep and rise early, he tends to go to sleep closer to midnight or even later, and starts his day around 9 or 10 am.

For a while, those little jokes he made did bother me. But if I’m honest, it wasn’t really because of him, it was more about the impostor in me whispering that maybe I was doing something wrong. Maybe I wasn’t sleeping enough. Maybe my routine wasn’t as healthy as I thought it was. After all, I didn’t know many people who chose to wake up this early (besides my two best friends, who happen to have toddlers under two, but let’s be honest, they didn’t exactly sign up for those early mornings).

So I began reading and researching, trying to figure out what’s “better,” whether it’s more ideal to be a night owl or an early bird, what time we’re really supposed to wake up, and whether going to bed early or late makes a difference.

Naturally, I stumbled into the never-ending rabbit hole of self-help gurus preaching that waking up at 5 am will change your life or that sleeping only four hours will give you enough time to “change the world.” I mean... really, what is wrong with these people?

Eventually, though, I came across some legitimate studies that discussed energy patterns: how they vary from person to person, how they function, and how we can make the most of them. And to my relief, I discovered that I wasn’t broken or doing anything wrong... shocker.

My energy levels simply peak earlier in the day. That early morning routine I’ve grown to love is what fuels me, sets the tone for my day, and helps me feel my best.

So whether you’re a morning person or someone who thrives late at night, there’s no need to worry that you’re doing something wrong. You already know my philosophy: if it works for you and fits your lifestyle, then that’s the strategy you should stick to.

From Idea to Action

Let’s talk about energy levels for a second.

You know, that thing that either makes you feel like you can take over the world at 9 am… or not even answer a text until noon.

Energy levels are basically your body’s natural rhythm throughout the day, times when you're more alert and focused, and times when you’re just mentally checked out no matter how much coffee you drink.

And here’s the thing: they’re not random. They're actually part of your chronotype, which is just a fancy term for whether you're more of a morning person or a night owl.

There’s real science behind this.

A study from the University of Leipzig showed that early birds tend to have more consistent sleep routines and feel more proactive during the first half of the day, while night owls may struggle with traditional 9-5 schedules but often hit peak creativity and focus later in the evening.

Another interesting study published in Current Biology showed that mismatching your schedule with your natural chronotype - like waking up super early when you're wired to be a night owl - can actually lead to something called social jet lag. That means your brain basically feels like it’s in a different time zone all the time. Not fun.

So why does this matter when it comes to productivity? Because energy is your fuel. You can have the best productivity system in the world, the fanciest to-do list, ten timers, and five apps, but if you’re trying to force yourself to work when your brain is half asleep, it’s not going to work.

That’s why this tip: paying attention to your energy levels, is so underrated.

We tend to think productivity comes only from techniques and hacks, but most of the time, it starts with something way more basic: listening to your body and noticing when you’re naturally more alert, more focused, more creative.

So here's your experiment for this week: over the next few days, pay attention to when you feel most energized without needing caffeine or motivation from the outside. Is it early in the morning before the world wakes up? Is it late at night when things are quiet and no one is bothering you?

Once you figure that out, try to protect those golden hours and use them for the tasks that need your best focus like deep work, creative thinking, planning. Don’t waste your peak energy window replying to emails or scrolling on your phone.

Trust me, this simple shift can completely change the way you work. And if you try it out this week, I’d love to hear how it goes, just hit reply or DM on Instagram and let me know what you discover about your own rhythm. ✨

Recommendation Zone

If building confidence feels like a never-ending puzzle, you’re not alone, I'm right here with you.

This episode of On Purpose by Jay Shetty brings together voices like Alicia Keys, Vanessa Hudgens, and even Kobe Bryant to show how real confidence is built from the inside out.

I really enjoyed it because is filled with quick, honest insights about doing scary things, handling self-doubt, and finding self-worth in everyday moments. A good one to save for your next walk or commute.

Listen here → The Confidence Experts: 7 Proven Ways To Build Confidence & Self-Worth​

🎉 The Productivity Accelerator is Here!

After months of work, my signature course is finally live, and it’s everything I hoped it would be (and more!).
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or like you’re always busy but rarely productive… this is for you.

The Productivity Accelerator is a focused, action-driven course that helps you:
✅ Get more done in less time
✅ Defeat time drains and distractions
✅ Build unshakable focus and discipline
✅ Finally follow through on your goals, without burnout

You’ll also get a workbook to apply what you learn, plus 4 powerful bonuses to help you stay on track long after you finish the course.

⚡ It’s available now at a special launch price (but only for a limited time).

👉 Click here to check out the course and enrol​
Make this the moment you finally take control of your time.

​

Remember: productivity does not mean busyness!

Loredana xx