The Morning Routines of Highly Successful People: Unleashing the Power of Intentional Morning Rituals.

The Morning Routines of Highly Successful People: Unleashing the Power of Intentional Morning Rituals.

 

A successful day starts out with a successful morning! For highly successful individuals, mornings are not waking up early and going through the motions of brushing your teeth, taking a shower, etc. mornings are about being intentional, purposeful, and focusing on harnessing the momentum of a brand new day, to gain an advantage on your goals. If you look at the most successful people, regardless of whether they are CEOs, athletes, writers, world leaders, you will find one common thread: they all live by a purposeful morning routine.

 

In this article, we will study the shared characteristics and personalized practices within the morning routines of highly successful people. You will discover how their routine contributes towards enhanced productivity, well-being, and clarity, and how you can develop your own routine.

 

Why Have a Morning Routine?

 

Mornings determine the entire day. Having a routine in the morning can improve your mindset, increase productivity, decrease stress, and create alignment with those bigger long-term goals. In contrast, chaotic and unplanned mornings can produce scattered focus and lower productivity.

Scientific studies support the findings that early risers are usually more proactive, hopeful, and goal-oriented. Harvard biologist Christoph Randler and his coauthors published a study that found early risers are more likely to adopt the challenges of the day.

Common Things in Productive Morning Routines

Morning routines are, of course, relative depending on one's lifestyle or profession, but there are a few common things that tend to occur for performers at the top of their game:

1. Early Rising

Specific to highly productive performers, most wake up between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. This is when it is quietest, allowing those performers to jumpstart their step and routine before distractions arise.

As an example, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, begins his day at 3:45 a.m., so he can read customer feedback, and develop a plan for his priorities.

2. Physical Exercise

Exercise in the morning assists the increase of energy, mood (from endorphins), and focus related to upcoming tasks for the day.

As an example, Barack Obama had a workout first thing in the morning, alternated cardio one day with strength training the next.

3. Mindfulness and Meditation

Meditation helped improve the ability to firm-up and clear the mind early and for reducing stress that can come with decision-making processes.

As an example, Oprah Winfrey typically has 20 minutes of meditation as a part of her morning ritual.

4. Healthy Nutrition

Nutrition in the form of a breakfast is primary fuel for the body and mind. A breakfast can be comprised of protein, complex carbs, and hydration. 

As an example, Richard Branson routinely eats a fruit salad with muesli each morning.

5. Planning and Prioritization

Many of the successful spend time each morning to align themselves with their objectives for that day, either in the form of a review of their schedule, goals for the day, or journaling.

A classic example to the recent point is that Benjamin Franklin asked himself each morning, "What good shall I do today?"

Anecdotes and Examples of Others

Now, let's see how some famous people set up and shape their mornings to make them the super productive, fulfilling and successful days they desire.

Elon Musk

The CEO of SpaceX and Tesla gets out of bed around 7:00 a.m. He skips breakfast and goes straight to emails regarding engineering matters. Essentially, he starts work immediately. Musk does not schedule unnecessary meetings and tackles priority items first, which he identifies in the first half of the day.

Michelle Obama

The previous First Lady wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to workout, (what a great way to prioritize one's health and wellness - no distractions), before her daughters wake up. She purposely follows this routine to keep her strength and balance every day, while have a hectic schedule.

Tim Ferriss

The author of The 4-Hour Workweek has explored a number of morning routines and has been able to assimilate them into a doable and flexible routine of his own: making the bed, meditating, journaling, exercising, and drinking tea. He firmly believes in the adage of "consistency over intensity".

Create Your Morning Routine

Creating a morning routine does not mean you take someone else's morning and just do that. The secret is to test it, change it, and build the routine that works for you. Take a look at the steps outlined: 

Step 1: Purpose

What is it you want to accomplish in the mornings? More productivity? Better health? More mental peace? Let the goal you decide drive your routine.

Five Sample Morning Routine Templates

Template A: The Hour of Power (60 minutes)

Wake up 6:00 a.m. 

➡️10 minutes: Hydration and stretches 

➡️20 minutes: Light workout or yoga 

➡️10 minutes: Meditation 

➡️10 minutes: Review goals 

➡️10 minutes: Healthy breakfast 

Template B: Quick Start (30 minutes)

Wake up: 6:30 a.m. 

➡️5 minutes: Hydration 

➡️10 minutes: Exercise 

➡️5 minutes: Planning for the day 

➡️10 minutes: Coffee and reading 

Template C: Deep Work Preparation (90 minutes)

Wake up: 5:30 a.m. 

➡️15 minutes: Journaling and affirmations 

➡️30 minutes: Exercise 

➡️15 minutes: Shower and dress 

➡️15 minutes: Review work goals 

➡️15 minutes: Light breakfast 

Common Traps

1. Over-Scheduling

If you try to cram too much into a short amount of time, you will become burned out too quickly. Make it sustainable!

2. Skipping Sleep

Avoid skimping on sleep to rise early (Rising early should not rob you of adequate sleep). Aim for 7–8 hours of sleep at night.

3. Over Scheduling 

Life will throw curve balls. Be flexible if you can. Flexibility and allowing for change is an essential tool to maintaining this consistency long term. 

The Science of Morning Routines 

Chronobiology is the science of biological rhythms. Research shows that human cognitive functions related to memory, attention, and alertness are mostly at their peak during the morning hours. When we first wake up in the morning, cortisol, a hormone that also helps with alertness, is typically also higher during the first few hours after waking.

Also, predictable behaviours in the morning also take the guesswork out of a morning routine, and allows you to focus the rational part of your mind on more complicated decisions later in the day, rather than making unnecessary decisions as you get your day started. 

How Morning Routines Impact Mental Health

It is well established that more productivity is one of the great, utilitarian reasons to craft a structured morning, but it can also be the difference between a good day and a great day! There is evidence to suggest that when you meditate, exercise and journal in the morning you will reduce your anxiety and depression. Awareness of time can create a much greater sense of control over your life than awareness of options.

Morning Routines Around the World

Cultural context can also inform morning routines. In Japan, community exercise commonality called "Radio Taiso" has been around for decades. In Scandinavia and in some other cultures the concept of being outdoors as part of a routine or "friluftsliv" takes precedence even before a workday starts. These practices may have some hidden gems for all of us to consider.

Final Thoughts: Designing Your Success

Morning routines can be a really powerful framework to create your ideal life. From clarity to productivity, you can determine how thick the boundary between work and life is. There does not need to be perfection, but consistent action with intention is key. Rather than looking at your mornings to launch you awake, think of them as your launch into life!  

Whether you are an entrepreneur, student, artist, or working parent, a thoughtful morning routine can lead to tremendous impact in how you see your day unfold. So start planning tomorrow's morning with purpose -          and it will become part of your daily success ritual.