Like laying out tomorrow’s clothes last thing at night – which I still never remember to do – make a short note about the first thing you’ve got to do. Well, the first thing after breakfast and all that. The first thing that needs to be done when you get to your desk.

Then do it. Get to that desk, do that thing. Do it before you check emails, do it before you look at the rest of the day.

Don’t write a very big note but do write exactly enough so that when you sit down and read that scribble, you can immediately begin the work.

This does a lot for you. It starts you off well, it means you’ve got something important done right off the bat, it means you’re deep into your day before you’ve properly woken up. And it also keeps you away from your email which is a brilliant tool but also a very destructive one.