Being a successful entrepreneur is way more than the sparky image of a person who’s got their life together. It is about being an example of how building a business and living healthy is not just possible but a must.
And if you ask most of the successful people you know around you if their morning routine has played any role in their personal growth, you’d be surprised to hear that… they didn’t even realize it until you asked them.
Yes, a morning routine is just that – something we all have and practice with at the start of every day, and most of us don’t even realize how important it actually is. However, studies have shown that the way we start our days easily determines how successful it is.
And looking at these 20 things successful entrepreneurs do in the morning will convince you the same.
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20 Morning Habits Successful People Practice Daily
1. Drink lemon juice
Chris Dufey, an online business owner, isn’t only an entrepreneur. He’s also a personal trainer and a health coach. So trust him when he says to drink 1 liter of water with lemon juice right after you get out of bed. Although lemon juice in the morning isn’t a revolutionary discovery, it’s a simple but healthy element that we should incorporate into our routines.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast
You can’t only fuel your body with lemon juice and water. You should also have breakfast. Some people, myself including, prefer to skip breakfast and jump right into lunch after they’ve had several coffees. However, that’s not a good idea, according to the fashion designer and entrepreneur Zandra Rhodes. She says that she loves to start the day with a bowl of porridge and cinnamon.
3. Meditate
Meditation has become a common practice in recent years. It boosts your mood, enhances your awareness, reduces worry, and it even improves productivity. So making meditation part of your morning routine can do wonders. And don’t take that from me; take it from the world-famous producer and TV host Oprah Winfrey. She swears by her morning meditation practice that helps her stay on top of her empire.
4. Take Vitamin C supplements
Even if you’re not a fan of lemon water (let’s be honest, it’s not as refreshing as it might sound), it’s still important to take some Vitamin C. Craig Ballantyne, a writer, and entrepreneur recommends taking Vitamin C supplements. An ideal way would be to take your supplement first thing in the morning, 30-45 minutes before your meal. This way, your body has time to digest it and boost your day.
5. Take an ice bath
Now I know that this one sounds a bit extreme. And it is. But if you want to be as successful as Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, you might want to consider it. After doing his morning exercise, he always takes an ice-cold bath to shock his system into action. Suddenly lemon water doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
6. Jump into work
Working right after you wake up goes against some wellness principles. But not according to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors. According to him, if you start your workday before you even have your coffee will increase motivation. But while this tip might work for some people, it could be damaging for others. However, we can all agree on another piece of advice that he shares – “Don’t sleep in. Sleeping in will result in less energy during the day.”.
7. Go for a jog
The pros of running in the morning are countless. It can improve your heart health, jump-start your metabolism, and even contribute to better mental health. That’s why Mark Cuban, billionaire investor, and Shark Tank star recommends jogging in the morning. It turns out that the early bird really does catch the worm, as the old saying goes.
8. Read the news
After he goes on the treadmill for an hour, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, starts his morning off reading news and business headlines. When you think about it, engaging your brain in some reading while still keeping it away from the stresses of your job is a great way to fuel it. Another idea is to sign up for email newsletters. This way, you can filter the content that you’re consuming according to your personal interests.
9. Check email inbox
Some experts say that you have to avoid electronic devices for the first half an hour after waking up. However, according to entrepreneurs, that is one of the keys to success. For example, Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, makes sure that he has no unread messages by the time he gets to the office. He says, “I’m in bed for 30 minutes swiping, replying, and deleting.”. In that case, it’s up to you to decide if you want to take his advice or not.
10. Do skincare
As a working individual, you need to take care of yourself. And one of the most common self-care practices is taking care of your skin. The morning skincare routine of Pharell Williams, an entrepreneur, and musician, became incredibly popular in recent years. According to him, taking care of your skin in the morning is beneficial for your physique and your mental health. And it shows! The guy is 48, and he looks like he just got his undergraduate degree.
11. Do housework
You need to take care of your surroundings as well. After all, no matter how much time you spend at the office, you’ll get unmotivated if you come home to a dirty house. And it makes sense to do it before you leave for work. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is known to enjoy “putter” around the house in the morning. Another interesting fact about his morning routine is that he doesn’t set up an alarm. He just wakes up when his body decides to do it as he believes that your body needs to get enough sleep.
12. Drink iced Coca-Cola
I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t this list supposed to teach us how to lead a healthier life to progress in our jobs? Well, developing your career doesn’t always involve a healthy lifestyle. Take it from Warren Buffet, former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. The billionaire goes for a can of Coca-Cola with ice in the morning. This is sort of logical – instead of drinking coffee, just enjoy a can of soda. The sugar will give you a boost while still enjoying your all-time favorite flavor. I would skip on that one but definitely will do the next one.
13. Follow a structure
You have probably heard that a lot. In order to be successful, you need to be organized. The best way to go is to develop a structure and follow it every morning. And plan everything to the minute. Take that from the former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs. He was known for wearing the same outfits every day – a black turtleneck and jeans. Have you ever wondered why? Well, that’s his way of combating “decision fatigue.” He doesn’t want to lose time in choosing clothes in the morning.
14. Read
Kenny Dichter, founder and CEO of Wheels Up combines exercise and reading. I’m not entirely sure how he does them simultaneously, but I know for a fact that reading in the morning will help you start your day inspired and motivated. Many people turn the TV on right after they wake up, but replacing that with reading is definitely the right way to go. After all, reading is the key to accelerating your personal growth.
15. Outline goals
When you write down your goals, it’s more likely to engage and connect with the result emotionally. And doing that in the morning will change your life. Elliot Weissbluth, founder and CEO of HighTower, says that when you commit to achievement first thing in the morning, you’ll make real progress every day.
16. Make bed
Making your bed in the morning helps to prepare your mind for the day and get focused. At least that’s what the bestselling author Tim Ferriss shares about his morning routine. He says that starting your day off on the right foot is the most important element of having a successful day. And in case nothing goes right during the day, at least your bed will be nicely made when you return home.
17. Journal
According to Pat Flynn, an online entrepreneur, everybody should incorporate journaling into their morning routines. He also shares that in the beginning, it was hard for him to start journaling, and that’s why he uses The Five Minute Journal. He recommends it to anyone who wants to practice some gratitude in the morning.
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18. Socialize with family
We all live busy lives. But we should always prioritize our closest people. That’s why Kim Kardashian, an entrepreneur, and public figure, likes to spend some time with her family before she goes to work. She talks to her children while she makes them breakfast, leaving her feeling energized and ready to start the day.
19. Walk
If you have a dog, you know you have to take it out in the morning regardless if you feel like it or not. But you have to admit that you feel refreshed after you’ve done it. It leaves you refreshed, and it gets your head into the right space. At least that’s what Jessica Ennis-Hill, an athlete and an Olympic gold medalist shares. At 7.30 am, she likes to kick things off by walking her dog and thinks that you should start walking in the morning even if you don’t own one.
20. Shower
People who love morning showers will tell you there is no better start to the day. And Marilyn Monroe used to agree. She has said in interviews that taking a shower in the morning is her secret to her glow. Well, one of her secrets, at least.
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