What’s the difference between us and millionaires?
Ok, aside from… let’s see, $1 million. Answer: they see things and do things differently.
One of those things is how they start their day. It’s different to ours. So, if we examine the millionaires morning routine and learn how to implement it ourselves, we can boost our own productivity and success.
But before we do that, let’s see how some well-known millionaires do it.
Famous Millionaires
Taylor Swift
Not as swift a start as most. She rises at the same time every day.
Most famous millionaires build family time into their morning routine. And Tay Tay is no different, spending time playing with her cats each day.
A nutritious breakfast fuels her morning, usually fresh fruit and yogurt, accompanied by tea.
Her workout routine was designed by her personal trainer. However, we know that she splits her time between cardio or HIIT for stamina and aerobic fitness, and strength training to build muscle and core strength.
Taylor works out at a local gym near her homes in New York and LA, but makes sure she is back home and ready to start work at 11:00.
Elon Musk
This is a rough start time because he prioritizes sleep, so it depends on his bedtime.
First check of the phone to scan for emergencies that need his attention – a habit he’s trying to break. This is accompanied by a couple of bites of a doughnut for an early energy hit.
He credits his early shower as the morning routine habit with the biggest effect, getting his brain working and thinking about what’s to come late
Coffee is a Musk must, but breakfast is optional, depending on how busy the morning is. He’ll ideally start the day with an omelet.
After taking his kids to school, he heads for the office… usually SpaceX, if not Tesla. He tries to avoid email and phone calls during the morning in order to focus on deep work.
He fits in 20 minutes of exercise every day wherever he can in his morning schedule. This can be Karate, Jui Jitsu or running on a treadmill.
Mark Zuckerberg
Another comparative late riser, he gets up at 8 every single morning.
He begins his morning routine by checking his phone, starting with his Facebook app.
He replaced his running routine with mixed martial arts and jiu jitsu sessions. He trains 3-4 times per week. He also focuses on strength training by lifting weights.
He cites his morning shower as important for feeling recharged and ready to start the work day.
To avoid decision fatigue, he always starts his day with the same thing: peanut butter on toast.
He commutes to work each day, working 50-60 hours a day. He spends much more time thinking about his business outside of office hours, including devoted time for reading. An hour-long meeting must include an hour before for reading related notes and an hour afterwards to follow up with employees.
Mark Wahlberg
He can be up as early as 03:30 if he wakes early. As part of getting older, he now prioritizes a good night’s sleep and has stopped getting up at 03:00 anymore.
He starts each day with a cold plunge for 5 minutes using his ice bath. If he’s away from home, he’ll take a cold shower instead. That’ll wake you up at 4am!
He builds spirituality into his daily morning routine with 30 minutes of early morning prayers.
He begins with a protein shake to help build muscle. Then, he focuses on both strength training and cardio each time, but crucially takes two rest days per week to recover.
Breakfast is post-workout and high in protein for muscle repair. He eats eggs, smoked salmon, and also berries with yogurt. Then it’s shower time.
He often speaks about his love of being a Dad, so spending time with the kids and family before school is really important to him.
Golf is a big part of his day, combining physical activity with time to think and time with friends.
He needs to split his time between creative and entrepreneurial disciplines. Of course, there’s character research and script readings for movie projects. He also has many business interests across investments and brand partnerships.
Tim Cook
Yes, he’s definitely an early bird. Sometimes, he’ll lie in until 04:00!
He begins his morning routine by reading and responding to as many emails as he can before 05:00 – both colleagues and customers.
He spends an hour in the gym every day with his trainer, focusing on strength training to build muscle and improve endurance. He has a long day!
After a refreshing shower, breakfast consists of sugar-free cereal and almond m,ilk, followed by scrambled egg whites and bacon.
He uses his morning commute by car to mentally prepare for the day ahead, picking up a coffee from Starbucks on the way.
It’s an early start in the office, too, usually beginning with very long, focused meetings and discussions with employees. A five-hour discussion is not unusual.
Richard Branson
No matter where in the world he is, he rises at the same time. He leaves the curtains open so that the natural light wakes him.
If he’s somewhere with a tennis court, he’ll play “a hard couple of sets of tennis”. Otherwise, he’ll go for a run, a walk, or a bike ride… occasionally, a quick kitesurf.
A high-fibre breakfast, usually muesli and fresh fruit. He’s a Brit, so tea is never far away!
Another cup of tea with his wife, Joan (he can drink up to 20 cups a day). Together, they check in with their children and their families, either by phone or video call.
He does a social media sweep, logging into Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram. It allows him to post about what’s going on in his life and read other people’s feedback.
He likes to be online early so that he’s accessible and available to his offices around the world in other time zones. He says he’s constantly connected and engaged.
Tap on any of the names above to find out more
Understanding the Millionaires Morning Routine
A millionaire morning routine is not just about waking up early and, therefore, getting more stuff done.
It’s a deliberate strategy designed to optimize energy and focus, setting the stage for a productive day. This preps your mind and body – a clear head and a sense of purpose. It turbo-charges your peak performance hours and channels them towards high-value tasks.
What’s unique about a millionaire morning routine is the mindset it creates. It empowers people to take charge of their day, increasing efficiency and productivity. Establishing a routine that targets high-value work sets the tone for a day filled with focus and significant productivity.
A bonus is the added sense of control and motivation. When you start your day with intention and purpose, it also boosts your confidence. This proactive approach can significantly impact your overall performance and drive you to push harder towards your goals.
Key Elements of a Millionaire Morning Routine
So, let’s build a powerful morning routine. These are the key elements that successful individuals swear by. They’re designed to optimize energy, enhance focus, and ensure a productive start to the day.
Early Wake-Up Call
Up to 64% of successful business leaders wake up by 6 am, according to a survey of CEOs from Inc. magazine’s latest ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.
Waking up early is a very common trait among successful individuals. We’ve all been up really early at some point to finish a presentation for 9 am. And what did we find? The quiet hours of the morning offer a completely undisturbed time to really focus on important work.
Tim Cook, a true morning person, rises at 3:45. Michelle Obama starts her day at 4:30. However, sleep is incredibly important to good health, so we should only consider an early start if we can get to bed early too.
Oprah Winfrey, for example, wakes up when her body is ready (usually around dawn), so experiment with different wake-up times to find what works best for you.
The goal is to find a time that allows you to capitalize on the day ahead. For most people, that’s around 5-6 in the morning.
Once you find your sweet spot, get up at that time every morning – even at weekends. Sleep expert Tim Walker says in his brilliant book Why We Sleep that it’s really important for maintaining your circadian rhythm.
Prioritize Exercise
Incorporating exercise into your morning routine can lead to increased energy levels that last long into the day. Morning exercise enhances cognitive function by promoting blood vessel growth in the brain, as well as maintaining overall fitness and health.
Most well-known millionaires tell us they incorporate exercise into their daily morning routine.
We all know the long-term health and productivity benefits, so establishing a morning exercise routine is a win-win.
Practice Mindfulness
Practising mindfulness seems to be another cornerstone of a successful morning routine. Now, I rolled my eyes when I first heard this several years ago. A lot of woo-woo BS, I thought. And then I tried it.
Meditation and mindfulness/reflection are great stress relievers. It works, and I increasingly find myself saying, “Whatever!” in stressful situations.
Lots of people find greater mental clarity and focus as well, so worth trying before you dismiss it. It’s part of my perfect morning routine, but I don’t do it every day.
Arianna Huffington, Bill Gates, Joe Rogan, and Jerry Seinfeld meditate every morning.
Try it for 10 minutes each morning for a week. I was really surprised that I noticed (any) benefits in such a short time.
Nutritious Breakfast
A nutritious breakfast is important for fueling a productive day. Tim Ferriss and Oprah Winfrey both talk about the benefits for maintaining energy and focus throughout the morning. Basically, when you eat breakfast, it can lead to a notable boost in productivity.
Lewis Howes and Beyonce prefer protein shakes and green smoothies, which are easy to prepare and packed with essential nutrients. A healthy breakfast sets a productive tone for the day, fueling both body and mind.
Recently, I would have disagreed, as I have tried intermittent fasting (only eating during a 6-hour window each day). However, the longevity doctor Peter Attia writes in his book, Outlive, that the latest research shows there is little evidence of any benefits to fasting over such a short period.
Hydration First Thing
We don’t drink enough water. It’s reckoned that the majority of people are dehydrated.
And according to a 2016 study, even minor dehydration can have adverse effects on cognition.
So, starting your day with a glass of water is essential for staying hydrated and boosting mental performance. So many nutrition experts and well-known millionaires and billionaires say they start their day with a glass of H2O – many with a pinch of Celtic sea salt for the daily dose of minerals.
Setting Daily Intentions and Goals
Setting daily intentions and goals is an obvious key part of a productive morning routine. This sets out a structure for the day and influences overall productivity. Daily intentions serve as reminders to keep you aligned with your goals and general values while slowly developing a millionaire mindset.
Create a To-Do List
A prioritized to-do list will keep you on track and make sure the important tasks get done first. Because the early hours of the day are free from distractions, you can really focus on the significant tasks.
Bill Gates, for instance, organizes his day into time segments and applies this increment system to prioritize the important stuff.
Reflect and Plan
Reflecting on long-term goals and setting daily intentions helps focus energy on what is truly important – those actions that will move the dial each day on your long-term aspirations.
Taking time to reflect and plan not only boosts productivity but hopefully increases motivation and reduces stress throughout the day. Hopefully! Taking a few moments each morning to plan your day can make you feel more in control and remind you where you’re headed.
Incorporating Self-Care and Personal Time
Incorporating a bit of self-care and personal time into your morning routine really helps overall well-being. It reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances mental resilience.
I know this all sounds a bit ‘San Francisco’, but millionaires can have a lot on their plates, so maintaining mental health and preventing burnout is important.
Pursue Your Passion
Dedicating specific time in the morning to pursue your passion, whether it’s a hobby, side hustle, or creative pursuit, can really boost motivation and happiness, as well as creativity. It can set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
For Warren Buffet, it’s reading. This not only fuels his passion but also contributes to his long-term success and fulfillment. Find something you look forward to getting up for.
Spend Quality Time with Family
Spending quality time with family or friends in the morning strengthens relationships and contributes to overall happiness and satisfaction. Maybe not at 5 am, though! Once you’ve got several hours of work out of the way, what better reward than a nice breakfast or coffee with those you’re close to?
How often have you heard that behind every successful person is a strong relationship or partner? Everyone needs a supportive environment to make it, and those relationships take work.
Tips for Sustaining Your Millionaire Morning Routine
Here are some tips to help support your routine and make it a permanent part of your daily life.
Prepare the Night Before
Preparing the night before really helps. Time is money! You don’t have to think about what you’re going to wear when you get up, and you’re on your way quicker.
Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and, while in office, President Obama have all simplified their wardrobes in the past to conserve brain power in the morning.
Other items to prepare include workout clothes, a water bottle, breakfast if you can, and setting up the coffee maker. Having these items ready reduces stress and gets you where you want to be faster.
Stay Consistent
To sustain a millionaire morning routine, consistency is key. It’s all about developing positive daily habits that contribute to your long-term success and ultimately help you make more money.
For instance, if you want to get up at 5 am every day, you might think that’s just impossible. I know I did! So, I told myself that I could do it for only two weeks and then give up. That was long enough to shift my body clock and make 5 am starts easy. Ok, not every morning, but most!
Reduce Distractions
Minimizing distractions is crucial to maintaining focus and enhancing the effectiveness of your morning routine. And that’s the beauty of the early start.
So, either set a strict time limit for looking at social media or use it as a treat to reward a morning’s focused work. Malcolm Gladwell batches his email, only checking twice per day.
Start your day with the stuff that moves the dial and takes solid concentration. Email can be done later in the day when you’re tired and need less focus or energy.
Cal Newport says in his brilliant book Deep Work that multitasking decreases work productivity by up to 40%. Focusing on important tasks without interruptions can significantly increase what you get done.
Summary
Crafting a successful millionaire morning routine involves several key elements that set the stage for a productive and fulfilling day. From waking up early and prioritizing exercise to practising mindfulness and staying hydrated, each aspect of the routine contributes to optimizing energy and focus.
Setting daily intentions, incorporating self-care, and sustaining these habits through consistent practice is essential for long-term success. By learning from the routines of successful individuals like Tim Cook and Bill Gates, you can create a personalized morning routine that drives you towards a prosperous and balanced life.
Further reading on RichardRiviere.com…
If you’re interested in reading more about morning routines, you might want to try my article about billionaire morning routines. I’ve also got an article about late bloomers: millionaires after 60.
Editorial Process
We believe in writing honest and unbiased reviews based on real-world experience. For more details, read our editorial process.
Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can compensate us at no cost to you if you make a purchase. These are products we’ve personally used and tested. This site is not intended to provide financial advice. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.
Richard Riviere is a former wage slave who decided there must be more to life. Turning 50, he quit his job to try earning an income online and get his life back. From knowing zero about e-commerce, he managed to replace his 9-5 income within a year. He now teaches other midlifers how to start living life on their own terms.
