Hi,
I'm Caroline Kastryoung,
The founder of Corporate Escape Artist.
After 25 years of being stuck in corporate cubicles working for someone else,
I finally decided to launch my own business and become a career coach,
So I could help people like you get the most out of life at work.
And today we're going to talk about the 5 morning habits of successful people.
Because let's face it,
Who isn't curious to find out how Oprah,
Jeff Bezos,
Or Bill Gates starts their day?
Now most of us start the day with a ringing alarm clock,
A big cup of coffee,
And a quick check of our email.
Does that sound familiar?
But if you analyze the morning habits of very successful people,
That's exactly what they don't do.
Here's what author and businesswoman Arianna Huffington says,
A big part of my morning ritual is about what I don't do.
When I wake up,
I don't start the day by looking at my smartphone.
Instead,
Once I'm awake,
I take a minute to breathe deeply,
Be grateful,
And set my intention for the day.
Now I'm going to share 5 more morning habits of highly successful people to help you kick start your day so you can achieve greater focus,
Clarity,
And productivity.
So here we go.
Morning Habit Number 1.
Ditch the alarm clock.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos swears by 8 hours of sleep each night,
And he's also a big proponent of waking up naturally,
Without an alarm.
Oprah also wakes up on her own.
In her Wellness Diary,
She explains how she sets her internal clock.
She says,
I've never set an alarm.
I don't believe in them.
They are alarming.
I put the number in my mind and I wake up before that,
Usually between 602 and 620 because the dogs are trained to go out around that time.
My first thought in the morning is,
Oh,
I'm alive.
Thank you.
Arianna Huffington follows a similar routine.
Her early bedtime allows her to get 8 hours of sleep,
The recommended amount for most adults.
She also likes to wake up naturally without an alarm clock.
Just think about the definition of the word alarm,
She says.
A sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger.
Beginning the day in such a startling manner creates a flood of stress hormones and adrenaline as our body prepares for danger.
Not the best way to start the day.
Morning Habit Number Two.
Don't go straight for the coffee.
Grabbing a cup of coffee first thing in the morning may seem like the logical choice,
But health experts say water is better.
After going several hours without water,
A serving first thing can hydrate the body while aiding digestion and metabolism.
Water is an essential nutrient and the organs and tissues in your body depend on it to function.
Since your body loses water regularly,
You need to compensate for these losses to avoid dehydration.
Actress and author Cameron Diaz swears by this practice.
It's very important to start your day off with a lot of energy,
She says.
For me,
That starts with getting up,
Brushing my teeth,
And drinking some water.
I drink a liter of water straight down.
A refreshing glass of water can revitalize you and help you feel more positive and prepared for the day ahead.
Morning Habit Number Three.
Get your body moving.
Morning exercise is a daily habit of many successful leaders.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow,
The owner of lifestyle company Goop,
Says that she works out every morning after checking emails.
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates likes to multitask during his morning treadmill workouts by watching DVDs while exercising.
As Nikki Leandakis,
The CEO of CorePower Yoga puts it,
I've always known that you have to be physically healthy and strong to be mentally healthy and strong.
It's all connected.
Morning Habit Number Four.
Eliminate decision-making tasks.
Sometimes the best way to have a productive morning is to get a head start the night before.
Many successful people spend their evenings getting ready for the following day because it frees up their mornings to get a jump on meaningful work.
Shark Tank host Barbara Corcoran makes her to-do list before leaving the office at night.
The following day,
She rates the items in order of importance,
A,
B,
Or C.
She says the A's are where the gold is,
The things that will move my business ahead and make me money.
Creating a to-do list at night is more time efficient,
Reduces morning stress,
And marks a definitive end to the day,
Resulting in greater work-life balance.
Morning Habit Number Five.
Ask yourself this question.
Self-reflection in the morning can set you up for success the entire day.
No one knew this better than the late Steve Jobs.
Too often we go through our lives on autopilot,
Only to realize later that we've lost sight of our values,
Goals,
And passions along the way.
Steve Jobs avoided this scenario by asking himself one fundamental question in the mirror every morning.
If today were the last day of my life,
Would I want to do what I'm about to do today?
If the answer is no for too many days in a row,
I know I need to change something.
This self-awareness technique is genius.
Imagine waking up every morning not wanting to do your job and feel that way for months or even years on end.
If you're answering no to this question day after day,
It might be a sign that it's time to make a job or career change.
Consistent morning habits set the tone for a productive day.
Follow these tips and you'll find yourself achieving higher levels of success than ever before.
