I’ve finally graduated and started in the “real world!” With that, though, comes a massive shift in schedule. I no longer have gaps between classes where, as long as my assignments are done, I work on what I want.

Now, it’s a 40-hour workweek tracked with bureaucratic meticulousness, so even if I’m applying the principles from The 4-Hour Workweek, I have to hit my 40 hours.

With a newborn, a stack of unread books, hobby projects brewing, flight school around the corner, etc., I’m finding it difficult to massively reprioritize now that school doesn’t determine my focus for me.

In discussing this with a mentor, he said that as long as he’s home by 6PM, his wife is happy, and he’ll go in as early as he needs to so that he can be home by that hard deadline.

I’ve also found that one of my biggest sources of frustration is unmet expectations. Now, here I’m specifically referring to not getting things done when I had plans to be productive. This is largely due to parenting commitments.

Instead of getting frustrated when things don’t work out, I’ve worked my schedule to work for me:

• 4:30AM Wake up—I established this habit long ago so that I could get work done while everyone slept and have more time at home with my family after school.
• 5:00AM Feed the baby—I wake my daughter up early, feed her, change her diaper, and put her back down to buy my wife more time to sleep in.
• 6:00AM Gym—I always feel better starting with fitness, and it’s important for me to be healthy.
• 7:00AM Start work—Most of my peers are there by 7:30AM.
• 11:30AM Lunch—I use my lunchtime to (1) recharge so that I work more effectively in the afternoon and (2) for personal development. During lunch, I read. I have articles printed out, a non-fiction book I’m working through at work, and I bring my fiction book from home. I read what I’m feeling, and I use it as a chance for “feeling productive” and fullfillment. I know I won’t get to read and take notes at home with the kids.
• 5:00PM Leave work—I’m home by 5:30PM at the latest, my wife has dinner ready, and I co-parent.

By tweaking my system to work for me and my family, I’ve felt much happier, productive, and fulfilled.