26 Productivity Hacks That Made Me $30M

(From Charlie Morgan’s Proven System)

This guide is based on insights shared by Charlie Morgan, entrepreneur and online business mentor, on his YouTube channel. Over the last 7–8 years, Charlie has built online businesses generating over $30 million — and he credits much of that success to how he approaches productivity.

What you’re about to read isn’t generic self-help fluff or overhyped “morning routine” nonsense. It’s a battle-tested set of strategies that actually move the needle — from someone who’s tried everything under the sun and stripped it down to what works.

Here are 27 real-world productivity hacks.

1. Stop Trying to Be “Productive” — Focus on Entering the Zone

The biggest trap in the productivity world is mistaking “being busy” for “being effective.” Many people fill their day with hacks, timers, and to-do list apps — yet never produce meaningful results. The real goal isn’t to do more tasks; it’s to get into a state of deep flow where you work at your highest capacity.

This “zone” is that immersive state you’ve felt when playing a video game, reading an intense novel, or watching a gripping movie — hours pass without you noticing. In this state, distractions don’t just fade; they cease to exist. Productivity skyrockets because every ounce of your mental energy is directed toward one thing.

How to get there:

• Clear all distractions — silence your phone, close all non-essential tabs, and physically remove anything that could interrupt you.
• Commit to starting — often, the first 10–15 minutes feel slow. Push through, and your brain will eventually “click” into focus.
• Stay on one task — context switching destroys momentum.

Once you’re in, you’ll produce more in 3–4 hours than most people do in an entire day.

2. Plan Time Off as Seriously as Work

Many believe productivity is about working longer and harder. In reality, your mind and body have limited capacity before output declines sharply. Scheduling rest isn’t indulgence — it’s maintenance for peak performance.

When you take days or weekends off, your mental processing “cache” resets. You return to work with higher clarity, better problem-solving skills, and renewed motivation. Without breaks, you’ll gradually slide into decision fatigue, burnout, and diminished creativity.

Practical tip: Treat rest days as immovable appointments in your calendar — not optional luxuries. Book them in advance so work expands around them, not into them.

3. Reduce Decision Fatigue

Every time you make a decision — no matter how small — you burn mental energy. And here’s the kicker: your brain doesn’t distinguish between deciding what to have for breakfast and deciding how to solve a complex business problem. Both draw from the same limited pool of daily willpower and focus.

This is why, by 3 p.m., many people feel mentally drained even if they haven’t done much meaningful work — they’ve already spent their mental energy on a thousand tiny, low-stakes choices that didn’t matter.

The solution is to ruthlessly remove as many unnecessary decisions from your life as possible. The more parts of your day that run on autopilot, the more brainpower you have left for work that actually matters.

Practical ways to do it:

• Wear the same thing daily — choose one or two go-to outfits and stick to them. This eliminates wardrobe decisions entirely.
• Plan your meals in advance — have the same healthy breakfast and lunch every day, and decide your dinner the day before.
• Plan tomorrow today — before you finish work, decide exactly what you’ll do the next day in 1 hour blocks.

4. Use Ambient Music or Binaural Beats to Trigger Focus

Your brain forms associations between sounds and states of mind. By pairing a specific playlist with deep work sessions, you can create a mental shortcut to focus — similar to how a certain song can instantly take you back to a memory.

Ambient music or Binaural beats are designed to encourage certain brainwave patterns, often linked to focus and calm.

Steps to use this:

1. Search YouTube or Spotify for “ambient music mix” or “binaural beats for focus.”
2. Pick 2–3 playlists and use them only during work.
3. Over weeks, your brain will recognize that when these sounds play, it’s time to work — making focus almost automatic.

 

5. Plan Tomorrow Today in 1 hour Increments

One of the biggest productivity killers is starting the day without a clear plan. This leads to decision paralysis, where you waste energy figuring out what to do instead of doing it.

By planning tomorrow before you finish today’s work:

• You wake up with purpose.
• You avoid the temptation to “check emails first” and derail your morning.
• You drastically reduce procrastination.

Pro tip: Break your day into 1 hour blocks. Include not just work, but breaks and meals. This structure creates a “default path” for your day, keeping you from drifting.

 

6. Run Meetings Only with an Agenda

Meetings are notorious time sinks. Without structure, they spiral into irrelevant chatter and eat hours of collective productivity.

Rule: Never hold a meeting without a written agenda that lists each discussion point. Share it with attendees beforehand so they come prepared. If a conversation drifts, pull it back to the list.

Structured meetings often finish faster — sometimes cutting a 60-minute slot to 15 minutes.

7. Use a Mouse Instead of a Trackpad

A trackpad may be fine for casual browsing, but when speed and precision matter, a mouse can increase efficiency by up to 50%.

Recommended Gear:

• Logitech G203 Wired Mouse –
  • Connection: Wired USB-A (no lag, no batteries)
  • Sensor: Optical, 200–8,000 DPI, with adjustable sensitivity and onboard memory for custom profiles
  • Polling Rate: 1,000 Hz (1 ms response) for super-fast input

The upgrade is instant: smoother navigation, faster clicks, and less wrist strain.

8. Invest in a Large Monitor

A bigger screen isn’t just a luxury — it’s a productivity multiplier. You can view multiple documents, browser tabs, or dashboards side by side, reducing time spent switching windows.

Tip: Go for at least 27 inches with 1440p resolution or higher. Pair it with an ergonomic stand so the top of the screen is at eye level.

Recommended Gear:

LG 32UN880P ERGO Monitor 32″ UltraHD 4K  –

• Screen Size & Resolution: 31.5″ IPS display with 4K UHD (3840 × 2160) for crystal-clear detail and workspace
• Panel Specs: IPS panel with 350 nits brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 5 ms response time, and 60 Hz refresh rate — perfect for productivityErgonomic Stand (Ergo): C-clamp arm offering full movement—height (130 mm), tilt, swivel (90°), pivot, and reach adjustment—for perfect eye alignment and desk comfort
• Connectivity: Includes USB-C (with 60W power delivery and data/video), DisplayPort, and HDMI—enabling a clean single-cable setup
• Additional Features: HDR10 support, AMD FreeSync, wide viewing angles (178°), and built-in speakers for multimedia flexibility

9. Use a Mechanical Keyboard for a Better Work Experience

The tools you use every day have a huge impact on how much you want to work. If your workspace feels satisfying to interact with, you’ll naturally sit down and stay there longer — without forcing yourself.

A mechanical keyboard is one of the simplest upgrades that can dramatically improve your typing experience. Unlike cheap membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards use individual switches for each key, providing tactile feedback and that satisfying click sound with every press. It’s a small sensory reward that keeps your brain engaged while you work.

Recommended Gear:

• Royal Kludge RK98 Mechanical Keyboard — Compact layout, hot-swappable switches for easy customization, and a premium typing feel at a reasonable price.
• Layout: 98-key compact full-size — includes number pad while saving desk space.
• Switch Type: Hot-swappable — lets you change switches without soldering, so you can swap between clicky, tactile, or linear switches.
• Connectivity: Triple mode — wired USB-C, Bluetooth 5.1, and 2.4GHz wireless. Choose between zero-lag wired mode for work or wireless for a clean desk.
• Battery: 3,750 mAh — lasts up to 200 hours of use without backlight, so you recharge less often.
• Keycaps: Doubleshot ABS or PBT (depending on version) — legends won’t fade over time.
• Backlighting: Full RGB with multiple lighting effects for aesthetics or low-light typing.
• Weight & Build: Sturdy plastic frame with adjustable feet for ergonomic typing angles.

 

• Royal Kludge RK84 Mechanical Keyboard — Slightly smaller version, great for portability without sacrificing quality.

 

• Layout: 84-key compact (75% layout) — smaller footprint for minimal desk setups or travel.
• Switch Type: Hot-swappable — same easy switch replacement as the RK98.
• Connectivity: Triple mode — USB-C wired, Bluetooth 5.1, and 2.4GHz wireless.
• Battery: 3,750 mAh — long-lasting battery for wireless use.
• Keycaps: Doubleshot ABS or PBT, depending on model, for durability.
• Backlighting: Full RGB with adjustable brightness and effects.
• Extra Features: Side-mounted USB pass-through ports for charging devices or plugging in accessories.

10. Get a Height-Adjustable Desk

This isn’t about “standing all day”. The real power of a height-adjustable desk is the control it gives you over your posture and workstation setup throughout the day.

When you can raise or lower your desk by a few centimeters, you can keep your head, neck, and arms in the perfect ergonomic position no matter what you’re doing. Whether you’re typing, reading, drawing, or using a second monitor, small adjustments prevent neck strain, shoulder tension, and slouching — problems that creep up after hours at a fixed-height desk.

Recommended Gear:

Desktronic HomePro Height-Adjustable Desk

Why It’s a Game-Changer

• Ergonomic Mastery: Adjustable height range from 62 cm to 127 cm with smooth dual-motor lift at 50 mm/s. The three memory presets let you instantly switch between your ideal sitting and standing positions without manual readjustment.
• Rock-Solid Stability: Built with a reinforced steel frame and T-shaped legs, the desk supports up to 160 kg without wobbling — even when fully extended. Perfect for heavy setups with multiple monitors, desktop PCs, and accessories.
• Convenience Built-In: The control panel isn’t just for height — it includes USB-A and USB-C charging ports, so you can power your phone, tablet, or accessories directly from your desk without extra adapters.

11. Use an Ergonomic Chair

A poor chair forces your body into bad posture, leading to neck pain, back strain, and shoulder tension. Over time, these micro-discomforts drain your focus and energy, making it harder to work for long periods without feeling fatigued.

An ergonomic chair is designed to support the natural curvature of your spine, encourage proper posture, and adapt to your body’s shape and movements. This isn’t a “nice to have” — if you spend hours at your desk, a good chair is as essential as your laptop or monitor.

Top Pick: Herman Miller Aeron Remastered

Why It’s a Game-Changer

• Engineered Comfort: The 8Z Pellicle and PostureFit SL work together to support your spine’s natural alignment, helping you sit comfortably for hours.
• Adaptive Movement: Harmonic 2 Tilt ensures movements like leaning or reclining flow smoothly, letting you stay focused without physical interruptions.
• Custom Fit: Three sizes and fully adjustable components ensure this chair aligns with your body—not the other way around.
• Built for Long-Term: Extremely durable with a strong warranty and high recyclability—this is a tool that supports your productivity for years.

12. Acoustic-Proof Your Workspace

Sound isn’t the first thing most people think of when they set up their workspace — but if you notice echoes, harsh reflections, or a “hollow” sound when you talk, type, or play music, it’s worth fixing. These sound issues subtly irritate your nervous system, making your environment feel less comfortable and your focus harder to maintain.

If your office already feels acoustically “soft” — maybe because you have carpets, curtains, and furniture that naturally absorb sound — you might not need to change much. But if your space is full of bare walls, glass, or hard floors, even light background noise can start to wear on you over time.

How to improve acoustics (if you need to):

• Install acoustic wall panels — Place them where sound bounces the most, usually the wall behind your desk or the one you face.
• Add soft furnishings — Rugs, curtains, and fabric-covered furniture naturally absorb sound.
• Seal gaps — Use weatherstripping on doors and windows to keep outside noise from leaking in.
• Break up reflective surfaces — Even adding bookshelves or wall art can help scatter sound.

Recommended Amazon Gear:

• Acoustics Panels — Professional-grade sound absorption for home offices or studios.

Key Specifications:

• Material: High-density poly-fiber panels, 5.9 oz/ft² (1800 g/m²) — precision-cut for a perfect fit.
• NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient): Up to 95, meaning they absorb 95% of sound waves in the tested frequency range
• Design: Beveled-edge hexagon panels available in multiple colors; customizable and easy to cut for a tailored fit.
• Eco-Friendly: Each panel contains the equivalent of 4 recycled water bottles pulled from oceans.
• Safety: Odorless, formaldehyde-free, flame-retardant, and free from harmful gasses.
• Installation: Adhesive not included — best results with strong double-sided tape or construction adhesive applied at each corner.
• Dimensions: Compact and lightweight for easy mounting on walls in home offices, conference rooms, studios, or living spaces.

13. Switch from Harsh LEDs to Warmer Lighting

Light affects more than just visibility — it directly impacts your mood, energy, and even your body’s hormonal signals. Harsh, cool-toned LED lighting (like you find in supermarkets or old office buildings) can cause eye strain, headaches, and mental fatigue, especially after long exposure.

Instead, aim for lighting that mimics the natural warmth of sunlight. Warm white (2700K–3000K) is softer, more inviting, and helps your body relax into a state where focus feels natural rather than forced.

Recommended Gear:

• Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance Smart Bulbs — Adjust brightness and color temperature with an app or voice control.
  • Color Temperature Range: 2000K (warm amber) to 6500K (cool daylight).
  • Brightness: Up to 800 lumens (equivalent to ~60W incandescent).
  • Control: App, voice (Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit), or wall dimmer.
  • Color Options: 16 million colors plus tunable white.
  • Connectivity: Requires Hue Bridge for full functionality, Bluetooth control for basic features.
  • Lifespan: ~25,000 hours.

• LIFX Smart Bulbs — No hub required, wide range of warm-to-cool options.
  • Color Temperature Range: 1500K (extra warm) to 9000K (ultra-cool).
  • Brightness: Up to 1100 lumens (equivalent to ~75W incandescent).
  • Control: App or voice — no hub required.
  • Color Options: 16 million colors plus adjustable white tones.
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi direct (no bridge).
  • Lifespan: ~25,000 hours.

• LED Desk Lamp — Specifically designed to reduce eye strain during long work sessions.
  • Color Temperature Range: Usually 2700K–5000K adjustable.
  • Brightness Settings: Multiple levels or stepless dimming for precision.
  • Special Features: Flicker-free output, glare reduction, CRI (Color Rendering Index) ≥90 for accurate color reproduction.
  • Form Factor: Adjustable arm or gooseneck for targeting light exactly where needed.
  • Power Consumption: Typically 5–15W, very energy-efficient.

Making this switch isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about reducing nervous system strain so you can work longer without fatigue

14. Bring in Natural Light and Greenery

Humans are wired to thrive in natural environments, yet most offices trap us in artificial lighting and sterile spaces. Natural light is one of the most powerful mood boosters — it helps regulate your circadian rhythm, improves vitamin D production, and makes your workspace feel more open and energizing.

Adding plants is another simple but powerful upgrade. Research shows that even a few plants can lower stress, improve air quality, and increase overall feelings of well-being — all of which feed into better productivity.

Low-maintenance plant picks:

• Snake Plant (Sansevieria) — Nearly impossible to kill, tolerates low light.
• Pothos — Grows quickly, thrives in most conditions.
• ZZ Plant — Very hardy, perfect for low-light spaces.

Even if you only have space for one plant and a bit of sunlight, these small touches transform the feel of your workspace and make it somewhere you actually want to spend time.

15. Pomodoro Technique is Bullshit

The whole 25-minutes-on, 5-minutes-off “productivity hack” is, frankly, bullshit if you actually want to do great work.

Here’s the reality: you cannot get into a true state of flow if you’re breaking your focus every damn 25 minutes because some timer tells you to. Deep work takes time to build — and the moment you’re actually locked in, the last thing you should do is stop.

Think about the people who are the best at what they do — directors, elite athletes, top-level artists. Do you think they set a phone alarm mid-session and say, “Oh, hang on, I need to take my scheduled five-minute break now”? Absolutely not. They’re too busy being immersed in their craft to even notice the time.

If your goal is to produce exceptional results, you need to stay on the hunt. Human beings evolved to track prey for hours on end without stopping. When you’re locked in, it’s like chasing a buffalo — you don’t suddenly stop mid-sprint and say, “Let’s rest for a bit.” You keep going until it’s done.

16. Value Sleep Over Extra Work Hours

When it comes to productivity, most people obsess over time management, but energy management is just as — if not more — important. You can have all the hours in the world, but if you’re running on half a tank, the quality of your work will nosedive.

Sacrificing an hour of sleep to “get more done” is a false economy. You might physically be at your desk longer, but your brain will be slower, you’ll make more mistakes, and tasks will take longer to complete. In other words, you’re trading rested, high-quality hours for tired, low-value hours.

Aim for:

• 8–9 hours of sleep most nights.
• Going to bed and waking up at the same time daily to stabilize your body clock.
• Sleeping in a cool, dark, quiet environment to maximize deep rest
• Waking without an alarm whenever possible — a sign your body has had enough rest.

Think of sleep as a performance enhancer. Elite athletes guard their rest because they know recovery drives results. The same is true for mental performance.

17. Use Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Noise is one of the most underestimated productivity killers. Even small background sounds — traffic outside, a colleague typing, your neighbor’s dog barking — constantly pull your brain’s attention away from the task at hand.

A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones doesn’t just muffle sound; it creates a mental bubble where you can stay locked in for hours. Pair them with ambient music (see point 4) and you have a powerful one-two punch for focus.

Top Picks:

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — Industry-leading noise cancellation, long battery life, and excellent comfort.
  • Noise Cancellation: Industry-leading ANC with eight microphones and two processors for adaptive noise control.
  • Battery Life: Up to 30 hours (ANC on) or 40 hours (ANC off).
  • Quick Charge: 3 minutes charge = 3 hours playback.
  • Weight: ~250g — lightweight for over-ear headphones.
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint pairing (connect to two devices simultaneously).
  • Audio Quality: 30mm driver unit with high-resolution audio support (LDAC codec).
  • Extra Features: Adaptive Sound Control adjusts ANC based on your location and activity; Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses music when you start talking.
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra — Lightweight, balanced sound, and perfect for all-day wear.
  • Noise Cancellation: World-class ANC with adjustable levels plus Aware Mode for hearing surroundings when needed.
  • Battery Life: Up to 24 hours (ANC on), quick 15-minute charge gives ~2.5 hours playback.
  • Weight: ~250g — ultra-light with plush ear cushions for all-day comfort.
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint support.
  • Audio Quality: Bose Immersive Audio for spacious, natural sound reproduction.
  • Extra Features: Touch controls on earcups for volume, playback, and ANC adjustment; built-in voice assistant support.

If you work in a noisy environment or at home with kids, pets, or street sounds, these can easily double your focus time.

18. Remove Social Media from Your Phone

Every notification is an interruption — and even if you ignore it, your brain still registers it. The moment you give in and check, you risk losing 15–20 minutes of focus before getting back into the flow.

The simplest fix is to remove temptation entirely:

• Delete non-essential apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit.
• If you must keep them for work, log out so it takes extra steps to access them.
• Turn off all notifications except for urgent channels (e.g., calls, calendar alerts).

It’s not about being anti-social media — it’s about protecting your focus from one of the most addictive, attention-fracturing forces in modern life.

19. Physically Separate Yourself from Your Phone

If deleting or logging out of apps isn’t enough, take it a step further: make your phone physically inaccessible while you work.

Ideas that work:

• Leave it in your car.
• Put it in a drawer in another room.
• Use a timed lockbox (like a kitchen safe) to keep it out of reach for set hours.

The simple fact is that if your phone is within arm’s reach, your brain will keep thinking about it. Adding physical distance creates just enough friction to break the habit of “quick checks.”

20. Have a Simple Morning Routine

Your first 1–3 hours after waking are your peak cognitive hours — your brain is fresh, your willpower is full, and distractions haven’t had a chance to sneak in yet. The worst thing you can do is waste that window on a 90-minute “self-care” marathon of meditation, yoga, journaling, and slow breakfasts.

You don’t have to skip your routine entirely — just strip it down to the essentials

21. Group Trivial Tasks into a Weekly Session

Small, low-effort tasks — paying invoices, scheduling appointments, updating files — are deceptively damaging to productivity when scattered throughout the week. They break your flow, force context switches, and eat into prime work time.

The fix: batch them. Keep a running list of these “micro-tasks” and handle them all at once in a single block, ideally on a low-energy day or weekend morning. This keeps your high-energy hours free for high-value work.

22. Replace Meetings with Asynchronous Updates

Meetings can be useful, but most are bloated time-wasters that could have been summarized in a few lines. The problem isn’t just the meeting itself — it’s the preparation, the interruptions, and the recovery time after.

Instead, whenever possible:

• Ask for a written summary via email.
• Request a Loom video so you can watch at your convenience.
• If you must attend, keep it short and agenda-driven (see point 6).

By defaulting to asynchronous updates, you protect your calendar and allow everyone to manage their own time.

23. Automate Your Schedule with Motion

Keeping track of what to do next can be a productivity drain in itself. Motion is a smart scheduling app that automatically reorganizes your tasks when plans change.

Benefits:

• Tasks are prioritized for you, so you don’t waste time deciding what to tackle.
• If something gets delayed, Motion adjusts the rest of your day automatically.
• Integrates with your existing calendar and task list.

This isn’t about being lazy — it’s about outsourcing the mental effort of constant micro-planning so you can stay focused on execution.

24. Push Carb Intake to the Evening

Carbs aren’t bad — but eating them early in the day can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes that leave you feeling sluggish and foggy.

If you want stable energy for work:

• Stick to proteins, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables during work hours.
• Save carbs (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes) for your evening meal.
• This helps you avoid the dreaded mid-afternoon slump and lets you enjoy carbs when they won’t impact productivity.

Many people also find they sleep better when they eat carbs at night, thanks to their natural calming effect.

25. Check Emails and Messages in Batches

Every time you “just quickly check” your inbox, you risk derailing your focus for 15–30 minutes. Multiply that by a few times a day and you’ve lost hours.

The fix:

• Set 1–2 dedicated windows to process emails and messages (e.g., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
• Close your inbox completely outside those windows.
• Use email rules or filters to prioritize urgent messages so you’re not tempted to scan everything constantly.

Batching this way not only saves time, it also keeps your mental energy directed where it matters most.

26. Master Sleep and Nutrition — The Foundation of Productivity

If you only take one thing from this entire list, let it be this: you cannot out-hustle bad sleep or a bad diet. No app, no gadget, no “hack” can compensate for a brain and body running on low-grade fuel. This is the bedrock — everything else in your productivity system sits on top of it.

When sleep is dialed in and your body is properly nourished, focus becomes easier, motivation feels natural, and your output is higher with less effort. But when either is neglected, you’re essentially trying to run high-performance software on a failing battery.

Sleep — The Ultimate Force Multiplier

• 8–9 hours, every night — non-negotiable if you want consistent performance.
• Dark, cool, quiet room — aim for 17–19°C (63–66°F), blackout curtains, and total silence.
• Wake naturally — without an alarm when possible. This signals your body has completed its full recovery cycle.
• Wind down deliberately — dim lights and cut screens 30–60 minutes before bed to allow melatonin production.

Think of sleep as your daily brain and body reset. The sharper your reset, the sharper your output.

Nutrition — Fuel for Sustained Focus

• Base your meals on:
  Lean proteins (chicken, fish, turkey, eggs)
  Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds)
  Non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, spinach, zucchini, peppers)
• Avoid:
  Processed sugars — cause spikes and crashes that wreck focus.
  Greasy or fried foods during work hours — slow digestion = sluggish mind.
• Stay hydrated: Drink water throughout the day. Even mild dehydration impairs concentration and mood.
• Time your carbs: Save heavier carb meals for the evening (see point 24) to avoid mid-day crashes.

Good nutrition isn’t about being “perfect” — it’s about minimizing the chemical chaos in your system so your brain can operate in a stable, high-performance state.

 

Final Words

Productivity isn’t about cramming more into every second — it’s about structuring your environment, energy, and habits so high-value work happens naturally and consistently.

The key is to start small. Pick one or two hacks from this list that feel most urgent, make them part of your daily rhythm, and let them run on autopilot. Once they’re second nature, add more.

Over time, these small changes stack up. In a few months, you’ll look back and realize you’re operating at a completely different level — producing more, stressing less, and doing it all with the same 24 hours you’ve always had.