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We are all striving to be the best versions of ourselves. We give our all to our relationships, careers, finances, and health, but despite all of our effort, it can feel like our goals are still just out of reach. (There are only so many hours in a day, after all!) That’s why the “Top 1% Woman Routine” caught my attention. Designed to help you live and perform like the top 1% of women in the world, the productivity method has been embraced by multiple creators across YouTube and TikTok and is quickly going viral for its results.
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Dr. Faye Bate, a U.K.-based influencer, was one of the first to share the routine in a YouTube video, where she broke down her personal step-by-step guide for staying productive. She shared quick tips for feeling more accomplished and overcoming feelings that keep you bogged down. Ever since, this routine has become about more than just productivity. It’s about maintaining work-life balance, increasing cognitive function, and prioritizing other aspects of life that fill your cup, like your physical and social health.
As a Type A Capricorn who works multiple jobs, I’m exactly the type of girl who wants to live like the top 1% of women in the world. So naturally, I had to try the routine for myself. Not only has the routine increased my productivity, but it’s also helped my mental health in a variety of ways. Read on to learn how to adopt the Top 1% Woman Routine, plus my tips for fitting in all the steps and making it stick.
In this article 1 What is the Top 1% Woman Routine? 2 How to try the Top 1% Woman Routine 3 Did the Top 1% Woman Routine make me more productive?
What is the Top 1% Woman Routine?
The Top 1% Woman Routine is a step-by-step guide to help create your dream life. Each habit is designed to improve a different area of your life. There’s a structured morning routine to help you stay organized and aligned with your goals, mid-day habits meant to keep you energized and focused, and evening rituals that encourage boundaries and decompression. Together, these steps are meant to help you become the best, highest-performing version of yourself.
Yes, it sounds so aspirational, it almost feels out of reach, but when broken down, this routine is highly applicable, no matter how productive you already are. It is aimed at helping you slow down and thrive each day, while also feeling accomplished and stress-free. Through it, you’re able to say goodbye to that out-of-control, chaotic feeling and the to-do lists that keep you up at night.
How to try the Top 1% Woman Routine
1. Start your day with a brain-dump
If you’re someone who, right upon waking, immediately checks your inbox or stresses about all the forthcoming due dates you’re behind on, you are certainly not alone. But waking up to an anxious state is never a good way to start your day. In fact, spending all your sacred energy worrying about tasks or things that are outside your control will only deplete your energy and cause decision fatigue.
Starting your day with a timed brain dump (writing out every little worry, to-do item, task, or thought coming up for you) will help to externalize your stress and reduce the mental load that can weigh you down. Timing your brain dump helps you get your thoughts and ideas out of your head and onto paper without spiraling and spending too long on it. I like to think of this as an internal clean of your life, much like how you clean your home. Starting each morning with a fresh slate frees up your energy for the tasks that actually matter, keeping you focused and productive.
2. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to plan your tasks
I love a to-do list; my notes app is full of them. However, listing all your “to-dos” is not necessarily the most productive way to plan out your days. This is where the Eisenhower Matrix steps in. This method, popularized by Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, asks you to divide your tasks into four quadrants: what’s urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not important and not urgent.
At first, it can take a little getting used to. I spent admittedly too much time trying to figure out which tasks fit where, but this method is very helpful when prioritizing deadlines, dividing which tasks are the most time-consuming, and ensuring that all deadlines are met. The best way to approach this method is to list every task you need to complete, then place them in each relevant category. That way, you can decide what needs to get done and when.
3. Incorporate exercise to boost your cognitive function and mood
We’ve all used the excuse “I don’t have time” when it comes to exercising, because let’s be honest, sometimes work or our personal lives do take priority. It’s easy for exercise to fall to the back burner when we don’t think of it as a necessity in our lives. The Top 1% Woman Routine asks us to rethink that mindset altogether. Instead of thinking “I don’t have time to exercise,” reframe your thinking to “I don’t have time NOT to exercise.”
Movement throughout the day, even taking a walk around the block or stretching, boosts cognitive function and improves mood and overall mental health. Research has shown that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in those who don’t. While these studies have not discovered which type of exercise is the most beneficial, all of the studies have looked at walking as beneficial. If you have ever experienced the afternoon brain slump, then you might not be surprised to learn that movement is the ultimate cure. Productivity isn’t just about a good to-do list; it’s about optimizing your body to produce the best results.
4. Engage in continuous learning
The top 1% of women in the world never stop learning. We live in a society where mindlessly scrolling or binge-watching TV is normal, but to maintain brain health and boost neuroplasticity, you have to engage in active learning. Picking up a hobby is an effective and fun way to do this. You can learn to needlepoint, learn a new language, or even start playing games like Sudoku. These will all engage the memory and problem-solving parts of your brain.
You can also take classes through platforms like Skillshare, MasterClass, or YouTube. Looking to learn how to play mahjong or perhaps practice your creative writing? There’s a video or course out there that can teach you. Whatever path you choose, continuously learning strengthens neural connections and enhances cognitive reserve, which helps the brain maintain function despite aging or disease.
5. Take mindful breaks throughout your day
When your goal is to be more productive, it can feel counterintuitive to press the pause button. If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that slowing down and pausing can actually save time. Consider all the times you sent an email or submitted a project too quickly and ended up having to clarify or correct things later. When you are always on the go from one project or meeting to the next, it’s easy to forget that your brain needs a moment (maybe more than one) to pause and reset.
Taking time throughout your day—whether that’s to pause and take a few deep breaths, put on a five-minute meditation, or even walk around the block—will actually increase your productivity. Research shows that mindfulness affects stress pathways in the brain and may even alter activity in areas tied to attention and emotional regulation. Think of it like a car running on empty: eventually, you have to pull over and refuel. Your body deserves the same kind of reset.
6. Set firm boundaries at work
We spend most of our lives working, so it can be difficult to set boundaries around it. However, one of the biggest differences between highly productive women and everyone else is their ability to say “no.” Research shows that even implementing small actions or changes can help improve your boundaries. This can look like blocking off your calendar during lunch hours so you can truly take a break or enabling Do Not Disturb on your work emails at 5 p.m. so you can enjoy your evening without notifications pinging.
In the long run, setting firm work boundaries will prevent burnout and increase job satisfaction. Remote work has made this increasingly difficult, with a recent survey showing three out of four remote workers struggle to switch off after work. This is why implementing tools like “Do Not Disturb” or other tactics is incredibly beneficial. We’re human after all, and burnout is a real detriment to maintaining a productive routine.
7. Prioritize time with family and friends
No matter how busy life gets, I always prioritize a few nights a week to spend time with my family and friends. Being with people I care about lowers my stress levels and makes me happier, which, at the end of the day, productivity and routines aside, is the entire point. If we’re striving to live like the top 1% of women, that lifestyle should also prioritize community and connection.
Not only does social connection boost oxytocin, but it can also reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia. Studies show that people with the highest levels of social connectedness and engagement had the highest scores on cognition tests. If you are like me and work from home part-time or full-time, maintaining positive social connections is even more crucial! Socializing is not only beneficial for your overall health and well-being, but it also creates a foundation for a fuller life.
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8. Perform a nightly audit
While it’s important to decompress at the end of each day, it is also nice to recap your day with a visual understanding of how productive you were. Creator Bec Stewart incorporated a nightly audit into her version of the Top 1& Woman Routine with this in mind. To perform a nightly audit, spend five minutes making a list of what went well and what could have gone better. Then, list the top three things you want to accomplish the next day to help reduce stress over upcoming tasks.
As someone who is working a little harder to celebrate my accomplishments, I love this step because it is an easy way to remind myself just how productive I am each day. My advice is to incorporate it into your nightly wind-down routine to help signify it’s time to turn off your electronics and get ready for bed. To romanticize it, try lying with your legs up the wall, sipping on peppermint tea, or listening to music while you do it. This can definitely make you excited about tackling the next day, as opposed to feeling anxious or worried about it.
Did the Top 1% Woman Routine make me more productive?
I was initially drawn to the Top 1% Woman Routine because it felt aspirational, as most of the trend-based routines we see online do. Although I’m usually skeptical about their long-term effectiveness, I found that many of these steps significantly improved my productivity. Don’t get me wrong, I am still actively trying to set and maintain firm boundaries around work, and some days I forget to do a nightly audit, but these steps combined have changed the way I approach work-life balance. Plus, they have reminded me to celebrate my wins, no matter how big or small. With all that in mind, I do feel like I’ve become more productive.
Overall, I learned that the Top 1% Woman Routine is something that has to be created and catered to your own goals and aspirations. So, if you want to give it a try, here’s my advice: Take from this list and incorporate some other life hacks you love. Living like the top 1% can look different for everyone. Enhancing happiness, fulfillment, and productivity doesn’t come from a one-size-fits-all routine.
If you’re looking for more productivity methods, try these:
- This 3-Step Method Helped Me Finally Follow Through on My To-Do List
- Your Sunday Reset Isn’t Complete Without This 5-Minute Productivity Step
- 8 Work Hacks That Save Me From Staying Late at the Office