For years, I lived with a strange heaviness.

On paper, my life looked great. I had built a successful online business, lived in two amazing cities (Singapore and Saigon), and had all the freedom in the world. But internally, I was running on fumes. Most mornings, I’d wake up feeling tired—even after 8 hours of sleep. I struggled to focus, and even small tasks felt like climbing a mountain.

Eventually, I hit a wall and decided something had to change.

After a lot of trial and error, I discovered that it wasn’t about working harder. It was about creating daily rhythms that supported my energy, clarity, and motivation. I want to share the 7 habits that genuinely changed everything for me.

1. I started doing the hardest thing first

This one was a game-changer. Every morning, instead of diving into emails or social media, I’d tackle the thing I was most likely to avoid—whether it was writing, making a difficult decision, or starting a workout.

Why does it work? It builds momentum. Once you’ve done the hardest thing, everything else feels easier. Plus, you avoid the mental drain of procrastination. If you’re feeling stuck, try flipping your day—do the tough stuff first.

2. I got sunlight before screens

Most of us wake up and immediately look at our phones. That was me too. But I learned that exposing your eyes to natural light in the morning resets your circadian rhythm, boosts your mood, and helps you feel more awake and focused.

Now, the first 10 minutes of my day are screen-free. I step outside—even if it’s just to drink coffee on the balcony—and let my body sync with the natural light. It sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly powerful.

3. I started practicing mindfulness (without being weird about it)

When I first got into mindfulness, I thought I had to sit cross-legged and empty my mind. That never worked for me.

Instead, I started practicing a more grounded form of mindfulness—just noticing what I was doing while I was doing it. Whether it was brushing my teeth, riding the exercise bike, or even making breakfast, I tried to stay present instead of zoning out.

This habit helped me break free from the constant chatter in my head—and it gave me more energy to be intentional with my time.

In fact, my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego dives deep into how you can use timeless mindfulness principles to live with more clarity, less stress, and deeper meaning. I wrote it because I wish I’d had something like it back when I was feeling lost.

4. I moved my body (even when I didn’t feel like it)

Some days I was too tired to run. So instead, I biked. Or stretched. Or went for a walk.

I learned that it wasn’t about crushing a perfect workout every day—it was about sending a message to my brain: “We move. We show up.”

This small daily commitment to physical movement gave me mental clarity and emotional stability. It also helped me sleep better, which created a positive loop.

5. I stopped letting other people’s moods control mine

I used to absorb people’s energy like a sponge. If someone was negative, it would throw me off for hours. If I saw a bad comment online, it’d stay with me all day.

Then I learned a crucial habit: emotional boundaries.

Now, when someone around me is in a bad mood, I pause and silently remind myself: “Their mood is not my responsibility.” I’ve found that protecting your own emotional state is one of the most underrated skills in modern life.

6. I ended the day with a ‘done list’

At the end of each day, I take 2 minutes to write down what I actually did—not what I didn’t do.

This simple habit rewired my brain to focus on progress instead of perfection. It gave me a sense of accomplishment, even on “unproductive” days.

If you’re constantly feeling behind, I highly recommend trying this. The results are subtle but powerful.

7. I gave myself permission to unplug

We live in a culture that glorifies productivity and hustle. I used to feel guilty any time I rested. But burnout taught me a hard truth: if you never rest, you eventually break.

Now, I schedule downtime like I would a meeting. I take short tech-free breaks during the day. I put my phone on airplane mode when I eat with my wife. I allow myself to do absolutely nothing—without guilt.

Oddly enough, this made me more productive in the long run.

Final thoughts

If you’re constantly feeling tired, unmotivated, or just a bit off… I get it. I’ve been there. But you don’t need a total life overhaul. You just need small, daily habits that support your mind, body, and soul.

And if you’re looking for a deeper way to align your life with peace, purpose, and presence, I genuinely think you’ll find value in my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego. It’s a no-BS guide to living meaningfully in a chaotic world.

Because at the end of the day, motivation isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build—habit by habit.