Packy McCormick

Packy is the Founder at Not Boring, a weekly newsletter on business strategy and pop culture. Within a year, he’s scaled the publication to 17k+ readers.

On his morning routine.

On an ideal morning, I’m up around 7, playing with the baby when he wakes up, working out, showering, and reading. 

To be honest, though, this routine has been pretty variable lately based on the little guy’s schedule. Sometimes I’ll wake up at 5 AM because he does, and just start writing when he goes back to sleep. 

I think when it comes to more creative pursuits, you really have to go all-in when a spark of inspiration hits your brain.

However, that tends to make my days pretty unpredictable.

On diving in headfirst.

It was a very gradual process transitioning from my full-time job to Not Boring. 

I’ve always wanted to start my own business, but the company’s initial direction has pivoted pretty wildly. At first, I started hosting “not boring” dinners for folks in NYC to meet like-minded people across industries.

Obviously, when Covid first hit, that was shuttered. Then I attempted to move those meetups online but it was pretty damn hard. As a result, I just started writing and publishing at a pretty fast clip.

It was just a creative outlet for me at first.

Slowly, I started to find my voice.

At the end of the day, I just enjoy writing and the freedom that comes with it. With the newsletter, I have complete control over the content. I choose what I write about and how I write about it. It’s been a ton of fun.

For each new piece, I get to dive into a new subject or area of expertise and learn a lot in a short amount of time. That’s been my “when I’m really rich” dream, and I feel fortunate that I got to speed it up. 

On boosting productivity.

Among a host of changes, the pandemic really impacted our collective pace.

It slows everything down and forces folks to be a lot more thoughtful and intentional.

As a result, I’ve discovered new ways to reset my focus and kickstart productivity when I’m fading or feeling overwhelmed.

There are two key routines that I swear by on that front.

First, I’ll pick up a book. I’m always jumping between a few different reads, and it’s become quite therapeutic to just kick back and read for 15 minutes. It’s incredibly refreshing.

Second, I’ll hop out for a walk. Sometimes I’ll throw on a podcast or take calls, but most of the time I just enjoy being myself and giving my mind room to breathe and think things through.

On eating healthier.

Over the past couple months, I jumped on the keto bandwagon.

In all honesty, the main catalyst was my wife asking me why I don’t eat healthier! Since I got into ketosis, I’ve lost around 10 pounds and immediately felt more energized and awake.

However, I don’t think keto is a healthy long-term solution, but it certainly taught me a lot about how my body works. I’m sure I’ll fall back into my old diet soon, but in the meantime, I’m hyped to see where keto takes me.

On variable training.

I prefer morning workouts, whether it’s running or hitting a digital fitness class. 

Even when I was in banking and traveling all the time, there was a 9-month streak where I didn’t miss a single day of running.

It’s probably the most important factor for my well-being.

Since the gyms closed I’ve been running every day, but in the pre-pandemic era, I’d also be lifting and mixing in heavy lifts to complement pure cardio.

Leg days are so critical for energy expenditure too.

Your leg muscles can withstand a lot more pressure and require more upfront energy, so it’s a great way to burn up caloric intake. Mentally speaking, there’s a palpable difference between days I run and days I rest.

On his evening routine.

Typically I’ll try to shut off around 7 PM, spend time with the little guy, help put him to sleep, and start unwinding. 

That usually means reading, just chilling on the couch, or catching up with my wife. A slow family dinner or calling my parents always help me relax and transition to sleep.

It’s always a mixed bag because I love writing at night.

If I didn’t write as much as I’d like that day, I’ll try to write a paragraph or two before falling asleep around 10.30 or 11 PM.