You know, that scary thing everyone warns you about when you graduate from college.

So far, adjusting to the 9-5 life has been exactly that: an adjustment. And while I haven't quite reached the same levels of existentialism as some of my fellow Gen Zers (give me time), I've definitely felt that I'll never finish my never-ending to-do list.

During my first week of work, I was ready to sleep by 8 p.m. and truly couldn't fathom how anyone had the motivation or energy to work out, let alone raise a family or be social, which prompted a very empathetic phone call to my parents.

I've found a much better rhythm since then, but the experience got me thinking: What kind of productive person could I emulate to achieve my goals better?

A CEO.

CEOs are famously at the top of their games — known for their extensive industry knowledge, packed Google calendars, and ability to lead others. As someone just beginning my career, I couldn't think of a better position to aspire to.

The next question was: Which CEO? Mark Zuckerberg's daily routine starts with running and MMA training, so that was an immediate no from me. But Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes early — 4 to 5 a.m. early — responds to emails, does strength training several times a week, then showers, gets ready, and has some coffee and maybe a light breakfast. Minus the early wake-up time, his routine seemed very approachable, with realistic opportunities to integrate healthier habits into my own life.

With my decision made, I was excited to begin a weeklong challenge to see if copying Cook's routine would help kick-start my own productivity.