10 Best Morning Routines of the Most Successful Entrepreneurs

A solid morning routine is a great way to start a successful, productive day. 

But which ones are right for you? 

In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 of the most powerful morning routines for entrepreneurs. Let’s jump in.

Top takeaways: 

• The “secret” to a successful morning routine is to find a morning routine that works for you and commit to it 
• Successful entrepreneurs are good inspiration sources but only use their routines as far as they work for you 
• My own morning routine is around 2 hours – design yours around your schedule 

The top morning habits of successful entrepreneurs 

Look: 

Morning routines can help you feel happier and be more productive at work. 

But you’ve probably heard of successful people practicing some pretty wild morning routines.

Many CEOs are indeed up and out of bed around 5 am. According to a survey, 69% are up by 6am. Some, like Apple’s Tim Cook, are even up by 4 am.

But…

Waking up early doesn’t work for everyone. 

In fact, it can even cause higher stress levels.

I’m here to tell you not to worry about waking up at the crack of dawn. I certainly don’t!

So… what is the best time to wake up for entrepreneurs? 

There’s no right or wrong answer to that question. 

The real key to a successful morning routine is finding what works best for you. That’s because you’ll do the best work when you feel good — physically and emotionally. 

Still, finding the right routine requires some patience. 

I spent YEARS developing mine.

But when I figured out what’s best and committed to it, I saw just how important my morning routine is to the overall success of my business.  

Here are some of the top morning routines for entrepreneurs, including a few of my favorites: 

1. Set an intention 

One great way to start a successful morning routine is to think about your goals after you wake up. 

Research shows that specific, challenging goals can produce a range of benefits. Those include improved mental health and higher levels of personal and professional success. 

Of course, goal setting can take many different forms. And there’s no need to work on your long-term business goals first thing in the morning. 

Personally, I set a timer for 5 minutes and close my eyes. 

I try not to think about any of my problems or other things that might be stressing me out. 

Instead, I ask myself: What do I want to get done today? How do I want to feel? Based on the answers, I try to come up with one intention for the day.

That intention doesn’t need to be anything too complicated or specific. But try to keep it positive and personal. 

It could be something like…

• Today, I intend to celebrate the achievements I’ve made. 
• Today, I intend to take risks. 
• Today, I intend to be intentional with my time.
• Today, I intend to be forgiving to myself and others.

This ritual has become SUCH an important part of my routine. 

On days when I don’t do it, I’m not as much in control of myself throughout the day, I don’t feel as positive, and that affects everything in my day.

Once you’ve set an intention, don’t forget about it.

Check in with yourself throughout the day and reflect on whether you’ve been able to fulfill your intention. 

Don’t worry if you haven’t — there’s always tomorrow!

2. Journal 

Next, I spend anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes journaling.

This is another great way to reduce stress and improve productivity later in the day. 

In fact, research shows that journaling reduces anxiety levels.

Often, my thoughts feel like a jumble of random things going on in my head.

Journaling is how I get clear on what I’m thinking and identify what I need to prioritize, which thoughts aren’t serving me because they’re not helpful, and which thoughts I want to dig deeper into.I like using pen and paper. But you can use your phone or computer or a journaling app.

And remember: 

You don’t need to journal about work. You can journal about literally anything. 

One technique you can try is known as a “brain dump.” 

Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and simply write down EVERYTHING that comes to your mind. Don’t second-guess yourself or skip over anything. 

The brain dump might include items on your to-do list, business goals, creative ideas, or emotions that you’re feeling. 

If you prefer to take a more targeted approach, try gratitude journaling. 

That’s when you write down various things (big or small) that you’re thankful for.

You can use these prompts to get you started. 

3. Meditate

For me, setting an intention and journaling are the best ways to start the day. 

But many other entrepreneurs are big on meditation.

Studies show that meditation is effective at treating a handful of conditions:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain
• Insomnia

Now, if meditation sounds like an impossible task, don’t worry. You don’t need to be a monk to get it right. 

Mindfulness, for example, is a meditation practice that’s just about being aware and accepting of your feelings in the moment. 

You could practice mindfulness as part of your morning routine through simple breathing exercises, a short walk, or even mindful eating. 

For example, take Oprah. 

When the weather is suitable, Oprah meditates outside at some of her favorite spots. But meditation can be done anywhere — in bed, on the couch, at the kitchen table. 

Oprah’s advice to others is to “start small.” 

“When you’re in the shower or tub, simply be with the water,” she says. 

Next up: 

Exercise. 

4. Exercise

Richard Branson (Virgin Group) and Payal Kadakia (ClassPass) are a few entrepreneurs who exercise in the morning. 

Studies have shown that morning exercisers feel more productive at work and more satisfied with their jobs.

But: 

You need to find a form of exercise that works for you.

Otherwise, you’ll struggle keeping it up. 

For me, I love walking my German Shepherd, Falco, as part of my morning routine. 

It may not be quite as intense as a daily cold plunge, which seems to be a popular choice among some entrepreneurs these days. 

But it gets me out of the house and breathing some fresh air, no matter the weather. 

5. Read

Another part of my morning routine is reading. 

Most days, I manage to read for about 30 minutes.

This helps me ground in the big picture of what I’m wanting to learn or read about before I’m caught up in my day-to-day to-do’s and emails.

My preference is to read business-related books because they help me keep an eye on the bigger picture and stay motivated.  

One of my favorites is “Pyscho-Cybernetics,” Maxwell Maltz’s book about how to develop your self-image so that it better aligns with your goals.

I discuss that book and a few other excellent choices in this video:

6. Write 

Now that we’ve discussed several ways to prepare yourself for a successful day, let’s look at one way to ease into the work itself: Writing.

Starting off with a writing task ensures that you’re getting content out to the world on a regular basis, whether it’s a blog post, Instagram story, or email. 

My first official task of the day is to write the daily weekday newsletter that goes out to my email list. 

I usually share things that are on my mind. 

For example, I might share a quote from the book I’m reading or discuss the intention that I picked for the day. 

I do my best to keep this under 30 minutes.  

In this video, I share more about creating content every day: 

7. Check emails

Only after having created content do I log in to my email. 

Unless there’s anything urgent though, I won’t respond to anything. This is more for my own peace of mind and so I know what’s going on.

That said, don’t check emails right when you get up. 

Instead, save it for a bit later in the morning. 

One of my mentors once told me, “Everyone in your inbox wants something from you,” and I think that’s really important to keep in mind. After all, you don’t want to let others take control of your day before it’s even begun.

8. Eat breakfast

Okay, it’s finally time to discuss breakfast. 

Numerous studies show that a morning meal has a positive impact on memory recall, mood, cognitive function, and work performance. 

So if you want to be at the top of your game every day, don’t skip this crucial part of any morning routine. 

And be mindful of what you’re eating as well.

For the biggest energy boost before work, stick to a balanced meal that combines proteins, carbs, and fats. 

Some nutritious, tasty foods to consider include:

• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Greek yogurt 
• Avocado
• Protein pancakes
• Smoothies

I’m personally the kind of person who eats the same breakfast every morning. (In case you’re wondering: Eggs with truffle oil and salt and sweet potatoes.)

9. Spend time with people you love 

Mornings are also an opportunity to spend some time connecting with those you care most about.

The good news is that, just like most of these routines, social connections can actually help you perform better on the job. 

That’s because they strengthen your overall well-being, including your ability to overcome work-related stress and anxiety.

But how can you fit socializing into your morning routine? 

Maybe it means eating breakfast with your partner and kids, like Obama does. 

Or maybe you’d like to connect with someone remotely. 

I usually take Falco for a walk and if my husband Stephen isn’t working at the hospital, he’ll join us. 

10. Learn

One of the key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is to stay curious. 

Some prefer to read the news, including people like Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, and Bill Gates.

That’s something you can do with news digests like Morning Brew and The Daily Skimm.  

Or if you’d rather have something to listen to, try playing a podcast or a YouTube video in the background as you go through your morning routine. 

In fact, 63% of self-made millionaires listen to audiobooks in the morning, according to a study of 200 self-made millionaires. 

Either way, make time for learning every day.

Next steps 

There you have it!

Now you’re familiar with 10 time-tested morning routines for entrepreneurs.

Remember: There’s no need to adopt routines that don’t fit with your lifestyle. 

Instead, choose what works best for you, and COMMIT to it. 

Once you’ve got a solid routine, you’ll be able to better focus on scaling your business profitably. 

Check out this FREE PDF that shows you how:

Read more:

Mindset Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

How to Run a Successful Business

Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs