Starting your day with intention can transform not just your productivity, but your entire outlook on work. After watching Jensen Huang describe his morning routine, I’m convinced more than ever that tackling high-priority tasks first thing is a game-changer for professional success.
I’ve struggled for years with the temptation to check emails first thing in the morning, only to find myself three hours later having accomplished nothing of substance. The most valuable hours of our day are often squandered on reactive work rather than proactive priorities.
The Power of Priority-First Mornings
Huang’s approach is refreshingly straightforward: “I begin each morning by doing my highest priority work first. I have a very clear priority list, and I start from the highest priority work first.”
This method creates a powerful psychological advantage. By completing important work before the workday officially begins, you’ve already secured a win. The rest of the day becomes a bonus rather than a desperate race against the clock.
What strikes me most about this approach is how it flips the traditional workday on its head. Most of us spend our mornings catching up – responding to overnight messages, attending early meetings, and putting out fires. By the time we get to our most important work, our energy is depleted.
Why This Method Works
The priority-first approach works for several key reasons:
- It leverages your peak mental energy when you’re freshest
- It ensures important work doesn’t get pushed aside by urgent but less important matters
- It creates momentum and confidence that carries through the day
The psychological impact shouldn’t be underestimated. There’s something powerful about knowing your most crucial work is already complete before most people have even started their day.
From Success to Generosity
Perhaps the most profound insight from Huang’s routine is what it enables: “Before I even get to work, my day is already a success. I’ve already completed my most important work and can dedicate my day to helping others.”
And when people apologize for interrupting me, I always say, I have plenty of time, and I do.
This represents a fundamental shift in how we might approach our professional lives. When our own priorities are secured, we can be genuinely available to others. We move from a scarcity mindset about time to an abundance mindset.
I find this particularly compelling because it addresses one of the greatest tensions in professional life: the pull between individual productivity and collaborative availability. By front-loading our priorities, we create space for both.
Implementing Your Own Priority-First Morning
Adopting this approach requires some preparation:
- Identify your 1-3 highest priority tasks each evening
- Block uninterrupted morning time before meetings or emails
- Create physical or digital barriers to distraction during this time
- Track your results to reinforce the habit
The key is consistency. Huang emphasizes he does this “every single morning exactly the same way.” Routines build momentum over time.
While this approach won’t work for everyone’s schedule or job requirements, the core principle can be adapted: identify what truly matters and give it your best attention before the day’s demands take over.
The Ripple Effect
What fascinates me most is how this simple habit creates cascading benefits. By securing your priorities, you become more present with colleagues. You listen better because you’re not mentally cataloging all the important work you still need to complete.
You become more generous with your time because you’ve already taken care of what matters most. This generosity builds stronger professional relationships and often leads to unexpected opportunities.
The priority-first morning isn’t just about productivity—it’s about creating the conditions for both personal success and meaningful contribution to others. And in today’s fragmented work environment, that combination might be the most valuable skill we can develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How early do I need to wake up to implement this priority-first approach?
You don’t necessarily need to wake up earlier. This approach is about sequence, not timing. The key is tackling your priorities before diving into reactive work like emails and meetings, whenever your day begins.
Q: What if my job requires immediate responsiveness in the morning?
Consider negotiating a compromise – perhaps 30 minutes of priority work before checking messages, or handling only truly urgent matters before your priority block. Even a small window of focused work can make a difference.
Q: How do I determine what actually counts as a “high priority” task?
High priority tasks typically advance your most important goals, have significant consequences if delayed, and require your best thinking. They’re often important but not urgent, making them easy to postpone indefinitely if not prioritized.
Q: Does Jensen Huang really have “plenty of time” with his responsibilities as NVIDIA CEO?
While Huang certainly has enormous demands on his time, his point is psychological rather than literal. By securing his priorities early, he can be mentally present rather than distracted during interactions. This creates a perception and reality of availability that most busy executives struggle to achieve.
