Need a Good Morning Routine? Try Borrowing From These 4 Successful People
A good morning routine can make or break your day. Your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. If you get a chance to rejuvenate yourself in the morning, you'll find your day chock full of motivation. If you have to rush through your morning, you're likely to feel harried and rushed for the rest of the day.
But everyone is different, and finding the right morning routine that works for you isn't always easy. So why not seek out some inspiration from the pros? Here are four famous, successful people who have their morning routines down to a fine art. By borrowing tips from them, you might just get your own perfect morning routine and kick your motivation into high gear!
#1 - Barack Obama
If you have an ambitious heart and mind, there's no better place to start looking for motivation inspiration than the former president of the United States. Barack Obama was a civil rights attorney and law professor before he ran for Congress and became a representative for the 13th district of Illinois in 1997. He served in that position, helping to make legislation for the nation, before he ran for president in 2004. President Obama served for two terms and is still often beloved even now.
So what does the former president do to start his day? According to interviews, Barack Obama loves to start his morning by reading. For him, that often means news: keeping himself informed on what's going on in the world and reading blogs. But for you, that can be anything from a motivational non-fiction to a few chapters of a romance to your favorite poetry book. Reading in the morning allows you to pause and reflect, as well as relax, before you start your day. It can help your mind shift into the right setting for the day, too.
#2 - Ariana Huffington
Ariana Huffington is the co-founder and namesake of the Huffington Post. But she didn't stop there. She's also the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, a tech company with a focus on behavioral change, and the author of no less than fifteen books. It's no wonder that Time Magazine has referred to her as one of the world's 100 Most Influential People and why Forbes counted her among the Most Powerful Women list.
Despite her claim to fame in the news media, Ariana Huffington does not roll out of bed and immediately check her phone and social media. In fact, she makes a point not to look at social media at all during her morning routine. Instead, she practices gratitude and meditates in order to center and connect with herself. She also doesn't use an alarm. Because she typically sleeps about 8 hours regardless, she prefers to wake naturally.
#3 - Tim Cook
Tim Cook is the second CEO of tech behemoth, Apple, Inc. He had been COO during the CEO-ship of founder Steve Jobs, then took over after Jobs' death. He is a strong believer in waking up early in order to be most productive, backed by studies that those who wake up early are likely to procrastinate less than those who stay up late. Cook wakes up at the wild and impressive time of 3:45am every day. He gets right to work on his most important tasks and then heads off to the gym by 5am.
This might seem crazy if you're the type who wakes up around 9:00am or later each day. But if you like the idea of Cook's morning routine, consider easing into it. You can set an alarm for 8:50, and then 8:40, and so on until finally you've gone as early as you can. It doesn't have to be before 4am to be effective!
#4 - Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso might not be around anymore, but it's clear his morning routine must have worked the way that his art has stood the test of time. The Spanish artist and sculptor often used the moment to engage his senses and seek inspiration. He liked to experiment with his craft in the morning and see what stuck. He also worked on multiple projects at a time and allowed his morning to flow seamlessly into the rest of his day.
Picasso started his morning by indulging in the flavor of his coffee and listening to music, finding inspiration in his every day life. Then he began preparing his studio, organizing his materials and furniture in whatever way was most conducive to the creative flow that day. From there, he got to work and kept working throughout the day.
Even if you aren't naturally a morning person, you can still get the most out of mornings by finding the perfect morning routine for you. Motivation Depot is here to help, with nuggets of inspiration and insights into motivation when you need them most. Check out the rest of our blog for more!
