I tried productivity guru Tim Ferriss' strict morning routine and found it incredibly energizing - but equally unrealistic

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It left me energized every day. Tim Ferriss pictured.

• Tim Ferriss follows a strict - and elaborate - morning routine.
• I tried the routine for a single work week and found that it was energizing, though it was somewhat challenging to start the work day after 11 a.m.
• I also learned the importance of taking care of yourself, whether you do it before or after work.

Tim Ferriss' morning routine is long. If you're the kind of person who needs to ease into the day (my hand is raised), his schedule is probably for you.

Ferriss is the bestselling author of "The 4-Hour Workweek," a podcast host, an entrepreneur, and an investor.

I followed Ferriss' routine for a single work week and found that, while pushing back my schedule several hours so I could drink tea and meditate was a challenge, I felt pretty great. Plus, it beats waking up at 5:30 a.m. a la Donald Trump, whose daily routine I'd tried two weeks prior.

Throughout this experiment, I kept a running log of what I loved - and loathed - about the routine. Here's what I learned: