When you do something every day, even if you enjoy it, it becomes routine. Like your morning coffee. If you have a habit you used to love that's become boring, give it up for a few days.

A day may be 24 hours long, but you have to sleep. That leaves you with less time you can actually use each day - about 100 10-minute blocks. This simple exercise can help you determine if you're spending them wisely.

Having coffee before you get started with your priority work might seem like a nice way to ease into the day, but it could also be slowing you down and making you a little jittery in the process.

Your daily commute, whether you get behind the wheel and drive or hop on a bus or train and wait, doesn't have to be sunk, wasted time. Whether you use it productively or just use it for a little solace, here are some great ways to make use of the downtime.