Therapist's Morning Strategy for Daily Achievement

Sadie Salazar, an accomplished therapist and COO at Sage Therapy, identifies herself as a Type-A personality aiming to manage her perfectionism and potential anxiety. To ensure she has a productive day, she revolves her mornings around personal stability.

"I’ve discovered that rising early grants me the crucial opportunity to have some personal time," Salazar shared with CNBC Make It.

She emphasized that disregarding her wake-up schedule disrupts her day, leading to a hurried and tense morning. For her, the essential practice is to rise when her alarm signals.

The extra time in the morning is reserved for activities detached from professional responsibilities or household tasks. Salazar might choose to indulge in reading, listen to a podcast, or enjoy an unhurried walk with her dog.

As a new mother, Salazar values her time starting at 7 a.m. as a window for self-care.

She consciously avoids a rigid morning routine to prevent self-imposed stress.

"It's important to allow daily rituals to be flexible. Although the idea of exercising or listening to educational content daily is appealing, sticking to such routines can be challenging," she admits.

"Nobody wants to begin their day feeling they’ve already fallen short," she adds.

Her steadfast resolution is waking early; how she spends her subsequent creative time is an open choice.

"Having a less rigid schedule nurtures creativity and provides a refreshing start, rather than just powering through routine tasks," she concludes.

Salazar also makes it a point to dress formally for work to maintain focus, even while working from home.

"The allure of staying comfortable in loungewear is strong, but I quickly noticed a decrease in motivation and inventiveness," she notes.

By resisting the ease of staying in casual attire and preparing for the day, Salazar feels more professional and prepared, especially on consecutive remote workdays.