Productivity Tip:

Ask This Powerful Question

There’s no shortage of advice on what to reflect on as you move into a new year, but here’s one that particularly struck us. Anne-Laure Le Cunf at Ness Labs suggests asking yourself this question as a way to approach 2026 with curiosity:

What skill or topic am I willing to look bad at while learning this year?

It’s ok not to always play the expert. Says Anne-Laure, “In 2026, break free from the shackles of perceived expertise and start learning in public. Pick a skill or topic you’re truly curious about, and allow yourself to make mistakes, iterate, and embrace the inherent messiness (and sometimes cringe!) of lifelong learning.”

So, over to you: what are you willing to look bad at while learning this year?

(By the way, there are 5 more questions and a great template to fill in here.)

Routine Breakdown

Kevin O’Leary, Entrepreneur & TV Personality

How a Shark Tank Investor Keeps His Priorities Straight

Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary–sarcastically nicknamed “Mr. Wonderful”–says that if he gets an opportunity that’s completely outside his comfort zone, he’ll always do it. That’s why he took on a role in the movie Marty Supreme. Here’s how the 71-year-old spends his days when not on set.

The Routine:

• Wakes at 5, checks his business feeds, then rides 12 miles on his bike. “I don’t need an alarm. It’s just a natural rhythm for me to get up at 5 a.m.”
• Fasts but drinks coffee. “I fast for 16 hours and only have two meals a day.”
• Works out. “I generally work out for about an hour and a half every day. It’s for longevity and mental acuity; I have to do that, otherwise bad things happen.”
• Uses Steve Jobs’ “Signal and Noise” technique, where 70% of your day is signal (three main things you must do) and the other 30% is noise. “So, I pick three things I want to get done that day, and I don’t let anything get in the way until those three things are done.”
• Has lunch. “I try to eat 130 grams of protein a day. I do track my diet very closely… You can really change your productivity and how you feel with your energy by just eating a better diet and drinking less.”
• Allows himself some wine with dinner. “I like to eat around 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. I really try not to drink three hours before I go to bed. Because that screws up your sleep.”

Why it works:

• The benefits of intermittent fasting are still under debate: many find it helps control weight and blood sugar, but it all comes down to what works individually.
• No debates about exercise: it is good for longevity and mental acuity.
• Setting three key tasks for the day is a really powerful way to stay on track with your goals. That’s why our Panda Planner daily section includes space to set your day’s priorities. 
• Getting enough protein is crucial for a healthy diet. Note that the quality of the protein source also matters.
• Alcohol does disrupt sleep, so keeping a gap between your last drink and bedtime is the way to go.

One thing Kevin doesn’t do? Answer emails. “I don’t do emails anymore because I get anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 a day,” he says. It’s all part of choosing to spend his time where it counts. “People who need to get a hold of me know that they are going to do that through messaging.”