8 Inspiring Morning Routines of Successful People
A morning routine is one of the most powerful ways of impacting your long-term success. But what morning habits are worth pursuing? In this article, we’ll look at the morning routines of successful people to get you inspired and help you create your own.
1. Arianna Huffington: No Social Media or Alarm Clock
The founder of Thrive Global focuses her morning routine on what she doesn’t do. Because she usually gets the recommended 8 hours of sleep, she doesn’t need an alarm clock to wake her. In Huffington’s opinion, getting up naturally is a much more relaxed way to begin the day.
Then, she makes it a point to not jump to her phone or social media in the morning hours. Instead of getting distracted with notifications, she uses this time to connect to herself, practice gratitude, and meditate.
2. Oprah Winfrey: Cardio Workout and Healthy Breakfast
Not long ago, the iconic TV host and author Oprah Winfrey lost 42.5 pounds. This isn’t due to a diet regimen but rather because of her commitment to a morning cardio workout.
In one of her interviews, Oprah said that she usually starts her day with an hour in her home gym, working out on a treadmill and elliptical. Of course, not everyone will have that much time to exercise in the morning. However, even short daily workouts can significantly boost your mood, energy levels, and performance.
3. Cameron Diaz: A Glass of Water Instead of Coffee
After a whole night of sleep, it’s important to rehydrate your body. Many successful people make it a point not to start their day with coffee, but go for water instead.
Cameron Diaz is someone who takes this very seriously, as she gulps down one liter of water right after waking up.
Starting your day with water improves your mental performance, benefits your skin, and boosts your mood. You don’t necessarily need to drink a whole liter in one go. A glass of water as part of your morning routine is enough.
4. Steve Jobs: Self-Reflection Through a Simple Question
The late Steve Jobs certainly was very deliberate about how he spent his time. Every morning, his routine included one non-negotiable element. He stood in front of the mirror, looked himself in the eye, and asked:
"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? If the answer is ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."
Asking such a powerful self-reflection question in the morning prevented him from straying off-track. You can also do that as a way of checking in with yourself.
5. Jack Dorsey: An Hour-Long Meditation Session
Meditation is one of the most powerful practices to clear the mind, relieve stress, and prepare for the day ahead. Research points to benefits such as better concentration, resilience, and emotional regulation.
Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter knows those benefits very well. That’s why, every morning at 6:15 a.m, he kicks off with an hour-long meditation session. This helps him create a clean slate to tackle the day ahead.
If you want to incorporate mindfulness into your morning, you can start by using apps such as Headspace or Calm.
6. Benjamin Franklin: Journal About What Good You’ll Do Today
There’s a ton of research on the benefits of journaling — from relieving anxiety to improving performance. And it’s even better to do it in the morning. When you have a chance to do some goal-setting or emotional processing first thing after waking up, you’re setting yourself up for success.
A classic example of how journaling can help you be successful is Benjamin Franklin. He started his journal at the age of 20 and continued using it throughout his life to develop moral virtues in himself. Almost 300 years later, his process can still serve as a blueprint to incorporate morning journaling into your day and help you be a better person.
7. Tim Cook: Simply Wake Up Early
In 2013, The Guardian conducted a series of interviews with famous CEOs and entrepreneurs. Every single one of them turned out to be an early riser — and most claimed to get out of bed as soon as they woke up.
There’s proof that people who wake up early tend to procrastinate less than night owls. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook seems to be taking this very seriously. Reportedly, he wakes up every day at 3:45 a.m. to tackle the most important tasks and hit the gym by 5 a.m.
If you don't want to be as extreme as Cook, you can still set yourself up for a productive morning. Try waking up 10 minutes earlier at first and gradually work your way toward your desired wake up time.
8. Barack Obama: Read in the Morning
Reading in the morning reduces stress, enhances cognitive performance, and has a host of other benefits for your health. It’s also a great way to learn something new, especially because at this time of day, your brain is still fresh and relaxed.
Former President Barack Obama is a fan of morning reading. He uses early hours to catch up on what’s going on in the world and read blogs. Other people known for their morning reading habit are Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.
If you have a self-improvement or fiction book you want to read, try reading just five to seven pages each morning. This way, you can read up to one book per month just during your morning routine!
Blog post adapted from RIZE