A good plan of action that has been used at the various airlines I've been at are "30 and 10", 30 miles out plan to be at 10,000 feet. That sets up for a good descent plan.

Another example of the "think of what you can do in x situation" is when I was a relatively new fo, we were out of ord with no Apu, in active precip below temp requiring anti ice and arrived at the jet with no heating set up to warm the cabin. In the crj 200, there is a specific procedure for bleed air for takeoff with no Apu and then another procedure for setting up for getting deiced with no Apu. What would your plan be for trying to get out on time, when and where to set up the bleeds for de ice, then takeoff that would maximize pax comfort (no bleeds = no cabin heat). All of this planning for all day flying around in that muck.

And van at 6 means be downstairs at 550.

Also, depending on the carrier, it can be quite easy to track your inbound flight for delays, especially in the summer. Don't be the fo or CA to go to the airport only to find out that your plane is 4 hours delayed for thunderstorms. Unwanted airport appreciation time!