What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

1. Mornings are crucial for success and productivity

If it has to happen, then it has to happen first.

The power of mornings. Successful individuals leverage early hours to accomplish their most important tasks before the day's distractions take over. This time is often free from interruptions, allowing for focused work and personal development. By prioritizing crucial activities in the morning, you set a positive tone for the rest of the day and ensure that your most vital objectives are met.

Overcoming morning madness. Many people struggle with hectic mornings, rushing to get ready and out the door. However, by reframing this time as an opportunity for productivity and self-improvement, you can transform your mornings from chaotic to purposeful. This shift in perspective can lead to increased achievement and satisfaction in both personal and professional realms.

2. Willpower is highest in the morning, making it ideal for important tasks

There seems to be a general pattern that major self-control failures and other bad decisions occur late in the day.

The science of willpower. Research shows that willpower, like a muscle, becomes fatigued with use throughout the day. In the morning, after a good night's sleep, our supply of willpower is refreshed, making it easier to tackle challenging tasks and resist temptations. This scientific insight provides a compelling reason to schedule important activities early in the day.

Optimizing decision-making. By capitalizing on high willpower levels in the morning, you can make better choices and exercise greater self-control. This is particularly beneficial for tasks that require internal motivation or long-term thinking, such as exercise, strategic planning, or creative pursuits. Leveraging this natural advantage can lead to improved outcomes and reduced stress throughout the day.

3. Successful people use mornings for career advancement

I can accomplish more before breakfast than I used to do in a day.

Focused work time. Many successful individuals use early mornings for uninterrupted, high-value work. This might include:

• Strategic planning
• Writing or content creation
• Tackling complex problems
• Reviewing and responding to important emails

Professional development. Mornings can also be used for activities that enhance your career prospects:

• Reading industry publications
• Networking (e.g., breakfast meetings)
• Skill development or online learning
• Personal branding (e.g., updating LinkedIn, writing blog posts)

By consistently dedicating morning hours to career advancement, you can make significant progress over time, potentially outpacing competitors who don't leverage this valuable time.

4. Mornings offer opportunities for nurturing relationships

Family breakfasts—when treated as relaxed, fun affairs—are a great substitute for the evening meal.

Quality family time. Mornings can be an excellent opportunity to connect with family members, especially for those with busy schedules. This might include:

• Sharing breakfast together
• Having meaningful conversations
• Helping children prepare for their day
• Creating special morning rituals or traditions

Strengthening partnerships. For couples, mornings can provide valuable bonding time:

• Enjoying coffee or breakfast together
• Discussing plans and goals for the day
• Exercising together
• Sharing intimate moments before the day's demands take over

By prioritizing relationships in the morning, you ensure that important connections are nurtured, even when evenings are hectic or unpredictable.

5. Early hours are perfect for self-care and personal growth

Anything I did on Wall Street did not prepare me to teach classes of twenty-five to thirty boys.

Physical well-being. Morning exercise offers numerous benefits:

• Increased energy throughout the day
• Improved mood and mental clarity
• Better sleep patterns
• Higher likelihood of maintaining a consistent routine

Spiritual and mental growth. Many successful people use mornings for activities that nourish their inner selves:

• Meditation or mindfulness practices
• Prayer or religious study
• Journaling or gratitude exercises
• Reading inspirational or educational material

Investing in self-care and personal growth during the morning hours can lead to increased resilience, creativity, and overall life satisfaction.

6. Track your time to identify areas for improvement

Part of spending your time better is knowing exactly how you're spending it now.

Self-awareness through time tracking. By meticulously recording how you spend your time, you gain valuable insights into your daily habits and routines. This practice can reveal:

• Time-wasting activities
• Inefficient processes
• Opportunities for consolidation or delegation
• Alignment (or misalignment) with your priorities

Data-driven improvements. Armed with accurate time-use data, you can make informed decisions about how to restructure your days. This might involve:

• Eliminating non-essential activities
• Reallocating time to high-priority tasks
• Identifying peak productivity hours
• Streamlining routines to create more time for important activities

Regularly tracking and analyzing your time use can lead to continuous improvement in productivity and life satisfaction.

7. Craft your ideal morning routine and make it a habit

Turning a desire into a ritual requires a lot of initial willpower, and not just for the first few days.

Visualize and plan. To create an effective morning routine:

1. Envision your ideal morning
2. List the activities you want to include
3. Determine the necessary logistics (e.g., wake-up time, preparation needed)
4. Start with small, manageable changes
5. Gradually expand your routine as you build consistency

Habit formation strategies. To transform your desired routine into a lasting habit:

• Set up your environment for success (e.g., laying out exercise clothes the night before)
• Use positive reinforcement (e.g., rewarding yourself for sticking to the routine)
• Track your progress to stay motivated
• Be patient and persistent, understanding that habit formation takes time

By thoughtfully designing and consistently implementing a morning routine that aligns with your goals and values, you can dramatically improve your productivity, well-being, and overall quality of life.

Last updated: January 22, 2025