My impetus for getting up early is that the mornings are the most productive times of the day due to mental freshness and lack of disturbances. It’s easier to accomplish a task at this time than at others.

I think you need more than just a ritual, you need a game plan. You can wake up and feel motivated (and pumped) but still not know where to start.

The idea is to complete one thing and more on to the next with more force. To gather momentum you actually have to accomplish tasks, so you’d be wise to lay out a few for yourself before bedtime the previous night.

I find that some of the above tips by Scott are solid and others are a bit “airy fairy”. If I want a powerhouse day, I get something serious done before most people get into the office. Some meaty or difficult task. Listening to motivation tapes may tend to get you lost in creative-avoidance Motivationville, instead of my destination, the town of Multiple Projects Getting Completed. Nothing helps getting stuff done more than getting stuff done.

Moreover, instead of Pavlov, try looking into Donald Hebb (“Hebbian learning”). Scott, I’d love to hear the same ideas with a hebbian spin instead of the hackneyed Pavlov.

BTW, for a planning method I’d suggest the list of six idea by Ivy Lee.

What do you other readers do to get the ball rolling?