Something I've seen quite often are motivational speakers telling people that the best way to start changing their lives for the better is to wake up early in the morning, take time to meditate and think, plan their day then go for it.

On the surface it might sound good, but I take a totally different approach to it. I don't believe there's a one size fits all when it comes to things such as self improvement or getting things done. I believe it's best for everyone to understand their own patterns, biorhythms if you will, and to try to find ways to work around them.

I'll take myself as an example. I live two different lives depending on whether I'm at home or on the road. When I'm on the road, I try to get to bed by 1:30AM at the latest, and then wake at least an hour before it's time for me to be wherever I have to be by whatever time that is. Most of the time I haven't had to be anywhere until 9AM, which means if all goes well I've given myself 6 1/2 hours of sleep time, which is more than I usually average when I'm at home.

At home, I tend to get to bed between 3 and 4AM, and I usually wake between 9:30 and 10AM. That's because my biorhythms have me at my most productive usually between 8PM and 2:30AM; I don't know why. Not that I don't work during the day when I'm home. I plan my days around certain activities to make sure I get to what I need to get to. If I have a big project, I always make sure I'm on it by 11AM at the latest; earlier if I don't work out (I need to get back to that). And I work steadily during the day, but I'm still at my best later in the evening.

However, Mondays are a different matter entirely. I have always hated Mondays for some reason. I hated them in school, I hate them now. When I'm on the road, Mondays are usually travel day, which is a blessing because that does give me time to get my mind going. When I'm home, Monday mornings are murder. I usually can't get my mind working properly until around 4PM at the earliest. Isn't that a shame?

However, because I know my patterns, I set my work schedule up differently on Mondays than I do every other day. I'll try to set up appointments for Mondays instead of planning to work on projects. I do the same on Friday afternoons, as I know my mind is getting into weekend mode around that time, but on Friday mornings, I'm ready to finish with a flourish.

That's the point about knowing oneself. You don't have to fit into someone else's idea of how you should begin to make yourself successful all that specifically. You take what someone else tells you they do, then modify it to fit your lifestyle. You'll feel better, and if you notice positive changes, good for you. Also, make sure to build some time in every day for yourself. After all, if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else either.