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The Real Rules of Getting Things Done
Getting things done isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up — early, consistently, and with purpose.
Wake Up Early
What do Apple CEO Tim Cook, Oprah Winfrey, and Jocko Willink have in common? They wake up before 6AM. Waking up early brings a myriad of benefits. First, it gives you more time in the morning. This can mean time to reflect, start the day with exercise–a ritual believed by researchers at Harvard School of Medicine to boost metabolism, take time to make a healthy breakfast rather than hitting the Starbucks drive-through, or even put more time into one's appearance thus leading to increased confidence. It takes the brain around an hour longer than the body to fully wake up. This is why we often wake up feeling groggy. Waking up early makes it possible for your brain to catch up with your body before it is time to start the day. Additionally, waking up early provides one with a sense of achievement, further building the confidence necessary to act boldly.
Make Your Bed
Though it seems like a menial chore, making your bed is the first step to a successful day. Retired Navy SEAL and four-star Admiral William McRaven theorizes that by making your bed, you have accomplished one thing at the very beginning of your day. This will provide mobility, leading you to accomplish another and then yet another. If you return home, and the day did not go in your favor, you have freshly made bed to crawl into. A made bed is a tenet of a tidy living space. A tidy living space is directly linked to better mental health and productivity. Additionally, a made bed is directly linked to better sleep quality. Better sleep quality is linked to a decreased chance of experiencing depression, anxiety, strokes, type two diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Additionally, it can strengthen both your immune system and athletic performance. Making your bed is a two minute task with far-reaching upsides.
Embrace, But Don’t Accept Failure
Some of the most successful people in history initially faced abject failure. Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper for “not being creative enough”, now the Walt Disney company is synonymous with books, films, TV channels, amusement parks, and even cruises. As of October 2025, it has a $200 billion net worth. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscripts were rejected 12 times before being published. During this time, she lived in poverty and survived domestic violence. Now, she is a billionaire, despite the egregiously high taxes in Britain and her substantial charitable donations. Abraham Lincoln began fighting the Black Hawk War as a captain and was discharged as a private. Following his military career, he had several failed business ventures and political runs before being elected president. Known as the president who freed the slaves, Lincoln’s face is carved into Mount Rushmore. Regarding the adversity that he faced, Lincoln remarked, “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”
Embrace your failure. Let it fuel you. Let the feeling of discontent drive you further. Look at the people who doubt you and succeed out of spite. However, do not accept failure. When something goes wrong, have the humility to hold yourself accountable. Take time to reflect and analyze. Do this enough, and you may uncover a pattern pointing to something holding you back, whether it is disorganization, a toxic relationship, or analysis paralysis. When I surfed competitively, my coach would record me. Watching myself flail like a fish and wipe out after losing a contest while still wet and cold is humbling. However, I started to notice patterns that I was able to address when I practiced. After a period of time and conscious effort, those patterns broke. Accept that you will fail, but do not accept yourself as a failure.
Lean on Others and Allow Others to Lean on You
Disclaimer: I am not a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, billionaire, or Navy SEAL. However, this is probably one of the most crucial lessons that I have learned in my adult life.
My first semester of graduate school was a time of trial and tribulation. In August 2021, I began my first semester of graduate school at the University of San Diego. This was my first time attending an in-person lecture since February 2020. My undergraduate degree was in English and History and this was an International Relations program, so I was on unequal footing with some of my classmates. One of my parents constantly reminded me they were unsure if I would be able to successfully complete the program. Additionally, I was having major health problems. For the cherry on top, I was in a rapidly deteriorating relationship with my first and only serious boyfriend. Some of my books are still stained with tears.
I realized that I was not the only one struggling. At this point, I had an understanding of where each of my classmates were particularly gifted, so I asked in our group chat who was sharing classes with me in the coming semesters. Through the remainder of grad school, we played off of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Where one fell short, another would cover with their skillset. We would schedule coffee groups, carpools, and even discuss ideas over beer. Today, I am healthy, happily single, and proudly the first of all of my siblings and cousins to earn a graduate degree. I could not have done it without my classmates.
Whether it was academic achievements, being part of a college cheerleading team, or completing the lifeguard academy, some of my biggest challenges were not overcome alone. However, this also means that you are obligated to help others as well. Be a beacon of light. In this increasingly cutthroat and individualistic world, take pride in being known as someone who can be counted on.
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