I changed one thing and suddenly research made sense before coffee

Part of me wanted the fancy version with all the tools. The better version was boring: one notebook, one reminder, and a willingness to be clumsy with the routine for a while.

Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.

My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 9 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.

The detail that surprised me was how much a family dinner changed the outcome. Same plan, different setting, completely different energy.