How to jump-start the day with golden hour
"It's critical to your productivity," says time management expert Elliot Hayes from findtime.com.au. "There's a saying: 'well begun is half done'. If you start the day well, you set yourself up for having a fulfilling, productive day. It's like dieting. If you have an unhealthy breakfast, the mentality tends to be you will start fresh tomorrow.
"One client told me that from now on, when he hires people, he will avoid them if they are not morning people."
However, Lisa Murray from Revive Business Coaching says placing too much emphasis on the first hour limits our potential.
"I consider every minute of the day just as important and relevant," Murray says. "Most people think that whatever you set up during that hour is what sets up your day. It is only when we come to a conclusion about how our day should be that it becomes stuck or not flowing. Being spontaneous and flexible throughout the entire day will provide a creative flow that allows your day to run with a lot more ease."
Hayes says many people start the day absorbing and responding to demands.
"One big tip I recommend is to start the day with output instead of input," he says. "That means instead of taking in information - emails sent to you, favourite coffee, chats with co-workers - try getting work out. Otherwise the problem is you waste time, and by mid-morning you don't feel like doing any more.
"So first thing send the emails you need to, call the people you have to, write the reports you're required to." Hayes says getting things done "will motivate you to keep going".
"Achieve something proactive where you feel like you're in charge and on top of what you want to do. It will have a positive ripple effect for the rest of the day.
"One client changed his whole morning routine from one of coffee, reading the sports pages and chatting with colleagues to knocking out the reports he had to do - it has changed his whole working day."
Hayes says knowing what you need to get done before you sit down results in instant output.
"Have a simple plan devised the day/evening before, outlining what you want to achieve in that first hour," he says.
"I usually don't recommend planning your day that morning, because you don't want to start the day already feeling 'behind the eight ball' [because you don't already have a plan]." Murray says: "Clear your mind of conclusions.
"Start your day with a sense of what you would like to create rather than gossiping around the coffee machine or thinking about everything that is wrong that you have to fix." Acknowledge and work on what stands out as requiring attention.
"This is not about being logical, but about using your intuition to give attention to the things that are going to make the greatest difference in moving forward, or the things that are about to go haywire and that you can change."
Elliot Hayes' timely tips
Get the blood flowing and jolt your mind into gear with breathing and stretching exercises and be conscious of how bad posture affects your mood.
Set up your email system to start up in "calendar" rather than "inbox". This will draw your attention to what you're committed to doing rather than just absorbing new (and often unimportant) information.
Turn off your email alerts. Only dive into your inbox after you've done something productive. (Hayes says some clients have directed staff to use this approach.)
If you've been procrastinating on a task, get to it first thing. Otherwise it hangs around in the back of your mind and frustrates you. Use a timer - such as e.ggtimer.com - and dedicate 15 minutes to a task you've been putting off. It will be a huge weight off your shoulders.
At the end of a productive hour, reward yourself by checking your favourite news site or grabbing a coffee. Most people don't respond well to depriving themselves of things they enjoy, so don't - simply delay them until you've hit the ground running.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Time management expert Elliot Hayes says the first 60 minutes are critical for productivity because starting well sets the tone for the rest of the day, while coach Lisa Murray warns against over‑fixating on that hour and recommends treating every minute as valuable. For everyday investors, this means you can get a strong start by using that hour for proactive, focused tasks without feeling locked into a rigid plan.
Hayes recommends doing something proactive first—send key emails, make important calls or complete a short report—rather than immediately absorbing new information from news or social media. Everyday investors can apply this by prioritising one action-oriented task early (for example, reviewing a watchlist or confirming decisions) before digging into market headlines.
Yes. The article advises having a simple plan prepared the evening before so you can move into instant output in the morning instead of starting the day feeling behind. A brief checklist of what you want to achieve in that first hour helps you focus and avoid distractions.
Hayes suggests setting your email to start in 'calendar' view rather than 'inbox', turning off alerts, and only diving into emails after you’ve completed something productive. This prevents reactive behaviours and keeps you focused on tasks that move your day forward.
If a task has been lingering, tackle it first or use a short timer—Hayes recommends dedicating 15 minutes with a timer (for example e.ggtimer.com) to get going. That small win reduces mental friction and often leads to more sustained progress.
Lisa Murray advises not to over‑fixate on the first hour; be spontaneous and flexible throughout the day to encourage creative flow. Combine a light plan for the morning with openness to adjust as new priorities emerge so you stay productive without becoming rigid.
Yes—Hayes recommends gentle breathing and stretching exercises to get the blood flowing and improve posture, both of which help jolt the mind into gear. These simple physical routines can make you feel more alert and ready to tackle focused work.
The article suggests rewarding yourself at the end of a productive hour—check your favourite news site or grab a coffee—rather than denying enjoyable things. Delaying a small reward until after you’ve completed focused work helps sustain motivation without feeling deprived.
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