Whether people are in their 50s or well into retirement, they often feel they have more to do than hours in the day.
Maybe they are trying to do too much, or realize time is short and they want to cram as much into this life as they can.
In an article appearing in GQ magazine, Arthur C. Brooks talked about his new book titled, “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in the Age of Emptiness.”
Now in his 60s himself, Arthur has had a lifetime to perfect his idea of the perfect routine to a more fulfilling life. Many of them are spot-on — for other people.
Become a morning person
I know so many people who love to wake up early, jump out of bed a get started on a busy day ahead. I am not one of them. I would much rather stay up past midnight than to get up before 8 a.m.
“Mornings are just absolute magic time for productivity and creativity and happiness,” Arthur wrote.
He suggested if you get up one hour and 38 minutes before dawn, you get to take advantage of special properties that will affect your day. Those include more focus, productivity, creativity and happiness.
That may very well be true. But, I remain someone who believes the early worm gets the bird.
I will admit that when I get up and witness an actual Arizona sunrise, it does positively impact my mood and outlook. So, perhaps I need to follow Arthur’s advice.
Limit caffeine and booze
Avoiding alcohol has never been a problem for me. Diet Dr. Pepper is a much different story.
Against all sound medical advice and even conventional wisdom, I should limit my caffeine intake, if not cut it out entirely. But, I like the taste and the little shot of energy I get from drinking it.
Arthur explained that as we age, caffeine impacts us differently. He said if he drinks coffee after 11 a.m., he will still be up cleaning the garage at 3 a.m.
Perhaps, that’s why I have always felt more productive at night.
To combat the effects of coffee, Arthur suggests not having any for 90 minutes after waking up. He explained the delay allows your brain to wake up naturally instead of being shocked awake by caffeine. When you wait, the caffeine helps you focus.
He may have a point. If I have my first soda before 9 a.m., I will almost certainly be ready for a nap by 1 p.m. But, if I wait until closer to 10 a.m., I can generally be productive all day and still well into the night.
Keep the phone out of your bedroom
Here is another area where I defy conventional wisdom. Experts suggest removing all electronics from the bedroom, and to particularly avoid staring at screens at night.
Arthur suggested the more time spent on devices, the more meaningless life feels. That may be true as well.
He said devices work to keep the left side of your brain active, which is generally used for problem solving. Yet, the creative side of your brain needs stimulation, too. The right side is where attention is focused on mystery and meaning.
I’ll admit, I have been faced with non-stop technical problems for the last few years, which requires more left-side thinking. And, as a result, I often feel exhausted and on the edge of wanting to drag my computer behind my car by its power cord most days.
So, perhaps, Arthur’s advice is sound. Especially, his suggestion to avoid even looking at your phone for the first hour of the day. It’s my alarm and, after shutting it off, I almost always check email to see if I have an early appointment or cancellation.
Living in Arizona, which does not fiddle with Daylight Savings Time, 8 a.m. is already 11 a.m. Eastern. If I am going to serve clients and podcast guests, I must adapt to their schedule.
Schedule no-phone time
Now this is a suggestion of Arthur’s I can get fully behind!
My most productive time is when I intentionally block out three hours of uninterrupted time to do my writing and planning.
It is also true, or so I have heard repeatedly, that avoiding any screens — television, computer, tablet or phone — in the last hour before going to bed does work to improve the ability to fall asleep as well as the quality of sleep.
I still like to watch a movie before bed, so this is difficult to put into practice. But, of all of Arthur’s suggestions, this one is probably the most practical for me to follow.
He even recommended a complete detox of phones and technology for four complete days every year. I can’t tell you the last time I went without accessing a phone or tablet for more than a day. Even on the cruise my family took in September 2025, we used phones to text each other and make plans.
The interview with Arthur on GQ is worth the read.
Tell me, what routines work best for you and which of Arthur’s suggestions would be hard for you to implement. I’d love to read your comment. Feel free to email me at greg@forwardfrom50.com.
His book, “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in the Age of Emptiness,” is available on Amazon and in other bookstores.
If you order Arthur’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
