S U CC E SS F U L

M OR NING
RI TUA L S

THE EXACT MORNING ROUTINES 18 SUCCESSFUL

HIGH-ACHIEVERS IMPLEMENT TO START THEIR DAY

You will never change

your life until you
change something you
do daily. The secret of
your success is found
in your daily routine.
~ JOHN C MAXWELL ~

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE JACK CANFIELD

AMERICAN AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

WAKE-UP
MEDITATE

20 MINS

5 MINS

GRATITUDE
Writing down what Im grateful for
or rampage of appreciation

3-4 MINS

VISUALIZATION
Goals on Front (Written as Affirmations) with an image on
Back. Example, Google search a picture of Bali:
Im so happy and proud about running a workshop in Bali
for 20 people, having earned $3000,000 profit

EXERCISE
30 Minutes of Aerobics
20 Minutes of Weights

SHOWER

BLENDER DRINK
LEAVE FOR WORK

Protein
Supplements

90 MINS OF FOCUS
Uninterrupted time spent on my #1 goal

EVENING RO U TIN E
REVIEW GOALS
DAILY RITUAL
APPRECIATION
My wife and I go back and forth with 5 appreciations.
I appreciate this about you, she appreciates this about
me. We always end the day appreciating each other.

I close my eyes and ask my higher self to show me places

today where I could have been better/more efficient/more
loving. The key part is to recreate that movie in your head
of doing the thing right, this puts a blueprint into your
subconious mind so you do it right the next time.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE IVANKA TRUMP

REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE + ENTREPRENEUR

WAKE-UP & MEDITATE

I meditate for twenty minutes, ideally twice daily.
Sometimes I miss the afternoon session, but I always make
the morning one. Its been invaluable in terms of calming
my mind and allowing me to think more clearly.

WORK OUT
When Im in town, I like to work out at the gym in
my building. My trainer, Peter Monge, put together a
workout program for me.

SHOWER & TED TALK

I shower and listen to a TED Talk while I moisturize and do
my makeup (eight minutes!)

READING NEWSPAPERS
I dress and read the paper always the New York Post,
The Wall Street Journal, and the front section of the
Times. I like getting my news in the morning and I prefer
the paper to online, with the exception of Observer.com,
which I read when I get into my office each day.

BREAKFAST
We eat breakfast together as a family. I walk Arabella to
school a few mornings each week, but if Im going directly
to the office, I usually head in between 7:45 and 8:00am

EVENING RO U TIN E
INBOX ZERO
I answer email at night my goal is to achieve
inbox zero before I go to bed. Some days Im
successful, other days, less so. Regardless, I aim
to wake up to a clean slate.

SLEEP BY 11PM
I aim to be in bed by 11:00pm each night, but that doesnt
always happen.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE PAT FLYNN

FOUNDER & HOST OF SMARTPASSIVEINCOME.COM

I have not always had a morning

routine but now that I have it, I feel
more accomplished by 7am then

when I didnt have a routine.

5:30

WASH UP + RE-HYDRATE

WAKE-UP
Wake up using an app called Sleep Cycle (might
wake you up as early as 5am)

Wash My face and brush teeth and then drink

some water to rehydrate

MEDITATION

GRATITUDE

I head to my office with my pajamas still on. Sit in

the a special chair that is dedicated to mediation..
the meditation chair. Using the Muse Headband
and the Calm App- I meditate for 7 minutes.

I turn on itunes radio- Motoart Channel.

While listening to classical music, I write in my
5-Minute Journal

EXERCISE
I either bike or I run (30 minutes)

SHOWER + COFFEE
Turn on the hot pot that is used to make
coffee and while that is heating up I jump in the
shower. Come back downstairs after getting
dressed and make some coffee (bulletproof).

READING
While I drink my coffee I read for about 20
minutes. Then by that time it will be 7am and my
son will just be waking up.

I have recently injected a morning routine in my life over the past couple

months, and it has made a dramatic difference in my productivity, creativity,

my focus, my business life, my personal life, and all different ways.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE JOHN LEE DUMAS

FOUNDER & HOST OF ENTREPRENEUR ON FIRE

I refer to my morning
routine as First 80.
My first 80 minutes are
VERY regimented.

WAKE-UP
Sleep Cycle wakes me up between 5:10 5:40
am, according to my Sleep Cycle app

INNER BATH
I take an inner bath of 18 ounces of water
with lemon, himalayan salt, and trace minerals.

30-MIN POWER

SMOOTHIE
I make a killer green smoothie with 14
ingredients (mostly veggies) as well as a green
matcha tea mixed with Ghee.

Snaggin my iPod and hitting a 35 minute

power walk around the bay is my next move,
making sure to take DEEP breaths during the
walk to really oxygenate my blood.

EXERCISE
Uses the 7-Minute Workout app

JOURNALING

START WORK

My routine sets me up for success because it prioritizes my

agenda, which is rest, hydration, fitness, nutrition, and
quiet time. After these blocks are checked, I am ready to
take on other peoples agendas.

CASE
CASESTUDIES:
STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE ANDREW WARNER

FOUNDER & HOST OF MIXERGY.COM

6:00

COFFEE
Coffee maker starts at 6am.
My phone alarm goes off
6:05am in the kitchen

READING

6:05 - 6:30

6:30

WALK THE DOG

RUNNING

7:15 - 8:00

PLAYTIME
I play with my 13-month-old
son Shep for 45 minutes and
chat with the nanny from 8:00
- 8:15.

8:15

I put my running backpack

on (which I packed the night
before) and run to the gym.
I listen to audiobooks or
podcasts. I rarely listen to
music.

ARRIVE AT WORK

I change into my running

clothes, which are in the
bathroom, where I left
them the night before. I
shave. Etc.

6:45

By about 7am the dog is walked.

The cat & dog are in the backyard
with their food and water for the
day.

DRESS / SHAVE

9:15

SHOWER + CHANGE
I get to the gym where I
shower and change into the
clothes in my backpack

9:45

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE CARL MATTIOLA

CLINIC METRICS, BREAKTHROUGH PT & CLINIC RISE

Without my morning
routine I dont know
if I would have gotten
where I am today

WAKE UP
I get an average of 6-7 hours sleep per night
and wake up at around 6am each day

COFFEE + FOOD
I grind some coffee beans, occasionally I make it
Bulletproof and make 4 eggs.

DIRECTIONAL STATEMENT
While Im eating, I read through my direction
statement. My direction statement is a list of the
things I value in life. What I want in my life and
What I dont what in my life.

JOURNAL
- 3 Things Grateful For
- 3 Things That Would Make Today Great
- The Most Important Thing to Do Today which comes omes
out of MAP and must Align with Core Values

- Reason Why Im doing what Im doing

- My core Values
- Reasons Im existing
- Why Im going after my goals

MEDITATION

EXERCISE
If Im not surfing Im doing PeakState fitness which
is working out with positive affirmations

START WORK

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE TAYLOR PEARSON

AUTHOR OF THE END OF JOBS

I recommend meditation every

morning.
It helps you handle the endless
choices that confront you, and
focus on whats truly important.

5:30

WAKE-UP
I dont set an alarm, but Ive learned that my
natural sleep schedule is about 9:30pm to 5:30am

COFFEE + SUPPLEMENTS
Creatine, Vitamin D, Fish Oil, Coconut oil,
Potato Starch

TIDY UP ROOM

READING

After reading Washington: A Life and The Japanese

Art of Decluttering and Organizing both inspired
me to start attending to the details of how my
living and work space are organized. Ive noticed a
tremendous difference in how the space feels and
how creative it lets me be.

5:45 - 6:45

One of my hard life rules is that I read for an

hour everyday. I agree with Charlie Jones that,
You will be the same person in 5 years as you
are today except for the people you meet and
the books you read

6:45 - 6:55

EXERCISE
5 pullups, 25 pushups and 3 sun salutations to get
my blood flowing and loosen up for the day.

MEDITATE

6:55 - 7:20

I use the Headspace app for guided meditation

7:20 - 7:30

3 THINGS
- 3 Things Im Grateful for
- 3 Priorities for the day
- Personal Affirmations

6:55 - 7:20

VISUALIZATION
Ive explicitly written out the most important
goals I have in my life and business. I read it each
morning before I do my planning for the day to
force myself to ensure my priorities for the day
line up with long term priorities.

Getting an extra hour of work done each day wont dramatically

increase the impact I have, but coming from a place of confidence
and equanimity and executing on the most important, highest

leverage tasks will. Thats what I get from my ritual.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE TONY ROBBINS

AMERICAN AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

WAKE UP

HOT & COLD WATER

I jump in a jacuzzi which loosens my muscles
and then I jump in freezing cold water , a 57
degree plunge pool.

PRIMING
Version of Meditating
- Breathing Pattern
- Listening to Music (Oneness Meditation)
- 3 minutes of getting back into body
- Thinking Gratitude
- Total Focus of God
- Three Things That are Going To Make Happen

CRYOTHERAPY
Nitrogen Chamber for 3 minutes (3 Times
Per Week) for recovery, it lowers your body
temperature. It resets your nervous system and
takes all the inflammation out of your body.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE LEO BABUTA

CREATOR OF ZEN HABITS

4:30

WAKE-UP

DRINK WATER
PRIORITIZE
I set 3 Most Important Things (MITs) for today. The MITs that
I set for the day concern at least one item towards one of
my goals, and probably the 1-2 things I MUST complete at
work. There will be more that I do during the day, but my
focus will be to finish at least these three MITs.

PREPARE LUNCH
Fix lunches for kids and myself.

BREAKFAST + READING

EXERCISE OR MEDITATE
Run, bike, swim, strength, or yardwork

SHOWER
WAKE WIFE & KIDS

6:30

Run, bike, swim, strength, or yardwork

The reason I like having a morning routine is that not only

does it instill a sense of purpose, peace and ritual to my day,
but it ensures that Im getting certain things done every
morning namely, my goals.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE NOAH KAGAN

FOUNDER OF APPSUMO & SUMOME

Set yourself a morning routine

so you can set yourself up for a

really great day.

WAKE-UP

SETTING INTENTIONS
I sit down and ask myself

I dont use alarm and sleep in dark room so

naturally waking up around 8:30 helps me not
need / have caffeine in the morning.
I leave phone in different room

What would make today great?

It helps me be aware of what Im trying to
do today that guide me.

BREAKFAST

EXERCISE
- 130 Situps
- 50 Push ups
- 10 Hand Grip exercises on both hands
- Weigh myself

I make egg whites and a protein shake.

READING - 30 MINS
I try to do this before I get on the computer. I find
it really helps to stimulate my mind

COFFEE OR TEA
Coffee or tea. I do caffeine every other day.
Today is a tea day, I like Tazo Zen green tea

3 THINGS
I try to write on moleskine the 3-5 things I want
ot get done that day

Thats my morning routine that helps me have better days.

Dont copy exactly what I do... Go experiment.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE GARY VAYNERCHUK

ENTREPRENEUR & CEO OF VAYNER MEDIA

You have to use every second

you get in a day.

WAKE-UP
I wake up at 6am Literally. Every day.

CONTENT CONSUMPTION
The first thing I do when I wake up is grab my
cellphone and take it to the bathroom with me, where
I start my day by consuming quite a lot of information.
TechMeme, MediaREDEF, Nuzzel, Twitter, Instagram

EXERCISE
After all this comes my workout with my trainer
Muscle Mike. I usually work out for 45 minutes to
an hour.

PERSONAL TIME
After the workout, I head back home to say bye
to my kids before they go to school.

CALL FAMILY

WINE LIBRARY CALL

The last call of the morning is to Brandon Warnke at Wine
Library, who is the vice president. We review the Wine
Library strategy for the day ahead.

This is where, I think, one of the more original

aspects of my morning routine happens. In the
car to the meeting, I call my mom, dad, or sister,
depending on who I called last.

FIRST MEETING
You have to use every second you get in a day.
For example, later, when Im in the car, Ill use the
travel time for phone meetings or talking with my
team.
By the time I step into that first meeting, so much
is going through my head already. The day started
the minute I opened my eyes.

SOURCE

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE LEWIS HOWES

FOUNDER AND HOST OF SCHOOLOFGREATNESS.COM

WAKE-UP
GRATITUDE
Express to myself what Im grateful for

11 MINUTES MEDITATION

STRETCHING
Light stretching/yoga poses-15mins

MAKE BED + BRUSH TEETH

EXERCISE
Exercise for at least 60 mins doing something
uncomfortable every day

BREAKFAST
Smoothie, green juice, and supplements

GET TO WORK
Crush the day in home studio

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE JEFF GOINS

AUTHOR - GOINSWRITER.COM

Whats important is not what your

routine looks like, but that you
have one. Everyones is different,
but creating your own process
for starting the day is a helpful
discipline.

WAKE-UP
MAKE BREAKFAST

Usually around 5 or 6 am (whenever our son gets up). The

first thing I do is make a bottle and feed the baby, letting my
hard-working wife sleep in a little.

Usually eggs (I try to start the day with protein, not

carbs). Start boiling water for French press coffee.

WRITING

CHECK EMAIL
Reply to the most important items. Delete everything I
dont need from the previous day.

This can be a blog post, book chapter, article, or just some

random notes to myself. For me, its not about what I write as
much as it is important just to write. Usually, I wrote around
1000 words; sometimes less, sometimes more. As I do this, I
drink coffee and listen to music while my son plays.

SOCIAL MEDIA
If Ive written a post for the day, this is when I
would share it.

READING
This may be a novel, the Bible, or one of many nonfiction
books I am in the middle of. Whatever it is, it must be
analog. I find holding a book activates a different part of my
brain than reading on a screen. I also enjoy audiobooks but
listen to those throughout the day.

GO FOR A WALK
I often use taking the dog for a walk as an excuse
to get some exercise. I use this time to think, pray,
and collect my thoughts for the day.

TAKE A SHOWER
Then get dressed and get ready to begin the day

DRINK WATER
Drink a large glass of water (at least a liter).

START WORKING
Then sit at my desk (i.e. the kitchen table, couch, or
actual desk) and start working.

SOURCE

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE JAMES CLEAR

ENTREPRENEUR, WRITER AND WEIGHTLIFTER

WAKE-UP + SHOWER

DRINK WATER
I pretty much only drink water and I drink
a lot of it.

GRATITUDE
Write down three things Im grateful for

MEDITATION
Ill usually sit in silence and do some deep
breathing for a minute or two before I start
reading my twenty pages.

READING
I read twenty pages of a book

START WORK

I think a morning routine should be simple and repeatable

(at some point, if you add too many pieces to the mix, youre
not really doing a morning routine anymore, but simply a
daily routine).

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE MATTAN GRIFFEL

CEO OF ONE MONTH

Ive tried a lot of different

routines, but this is whats
worked best for me.

WAKE
CUP OF TEA
Coffee too early in the morning gets me a little too
wired, whereas tea lets me ease into the day

MEDITATION
Ill meditate for twenty minutes using the Headspace
app I used to meditate at night but now I find that Im
more likely to actually do it in the morning; and I have
to do it before I consume any media.

I use an app called Sleep Cycle to measure my

sleeping patterns and wake me up at the ideal time.

STRETCHING
Ill spend fifteen minutes or so doing nine stretches as
part of the Starting Stretching program this warms
up my body while my brain doesnt want to function.

BREAKFAST
Im on a Soylent kick so thats my breakfast

WRITING
Ill write 750 words using 750words.com I mostly
write my thoughts, its pretty incoherent but sometimes
this turns into a blog post later.

SHOWER + DRESS

EXERCISE
I do starting strength on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays. I swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My workout
program is very simple I do starting strength which
means just three exercises each day: squats, deadlifts, and
either military press or bench press every other day.

WALKING W/AUDIOBOOK
Ill walk to work with my headphones and listen to an
audiobook as I walk.

GET TO WORK

I try not to look at email until my most important task of the day is done, at

least until about 10:00am. There are always a ton of urgent and important

tasks to do. Ive found that checking email usually derails me from all of the

things that arent in my inbox.

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE BRYAN HARRIS

CREATOR OF VIDEOFRUIT

WAKE-UP
SHOWER

My alarm usually goes off at five oclock, usually up and out

of bed by five-thirty. Ill sit in bed for ten or fifteen minutes,
check email, check Twitter, go to Facebook, just mindless of
waking up. Ive found that helps me just wake up and be able
to actually hit the floor at five-thirty.

PRAYER + YOGA

BREAKFAST

I have a short prayer time and I do a short yoga routine,

just to, kinda stretch the body, to get mind engaged, get
guidance for the day.

I eat breakfast, I cook the same thing every morning

turkey, bacon and eggs, three eggs two pieces of bacon.

DAILY CHECKLIST

CREATE ZERO-BASED CALENDAR

I set-up my to-do list for the day. So every, every moment
of the day, is planned out before the day starts. And I call
this the zero-based calendar. So every moment of the day
until five-thirty, which is I start at seven-thirty and end up at
five-thirty, and every moment is take- is accounted for.

My daily checklist just really sets up my entire day.

.. But its just a list of 31 things. Im always adding
to and taking away from this. The majority of it
stays the same.

START WORKING

SOURCE

[With Zero-Based Calendar] ...all I have to do during the day is not think of
what I need to do next, I just do what Ive already planned to do next. And I

found this works extremely well, and it helps me stay productive

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE ALLEN BROUWER

ENTREPRENEUR. CO-FOUNDER OF BESTSELF.CO

WAKE
WEATHER + COFFEE
There is hardly anything negative
happening on the weather channel.
Growing up my dad would watch Jerry
Springer in the morning and it would
me sick to start my day like that

WORKOUT
Varies by day

I get up around 5:30. My first alarm

wakes me at 5, then my second alarm at
5:20 is the one that really means its time
to get up.

MEDITATION

(20 - 30 min)

Sometimes guided meditations with the

Headspace app, other times just silence
with occasional chimes

3 mile run
30 min of Yoga
Weightlifting & pullups

BREAKFAST
3 eggs over easy with 4 pieces of bacon

SHOWER + AFFIRMATIONS
I enjoy an ice cold shower as I read my
personal affirmations aloud. My affirmations are
around business, friendships, relationships, and
health

READING
I read 3 different books in the morning, spending
15 minutes on each. The books are based around
each topic, personal development, business and
ideas/future growth

GRATITUDE & GOALS

I use the Self Journal to do my daily
gratitude, I write one thing Im grateful for
each day and 3 reasons why. I also write
my goal statements so Im mindful of
what Im working towards

I use the Self Journal to map out my day, what

my 3 big things of the day are and time block
when they will be completed

CASE STUDIES:

M OR N I N G R OUT INE CATHRYN LAVERY

ENTREPRENEUR. CO-FOUNDER OF BESTSELF.CO

WAKE
I use Sleep Cycle app to wake up

ICE COLD WATER

I drink 16oz of ice cold water to re-hydrate
and get my metabolism kickstarted.

7 MIN WORKOUT
Uses the 7-Minute Workout app

COLD SHOWER
When I first heard friends talk about taking
cold showers in the morning, I thought they
were nuts. Then I tried it. Yes it sucked at the
time but I felt so energized and alive after it
that Ive been doing it every day since.

MEDITATION
I use the Muse headband to meditate for
between 7 - 12 minutes each morning.

BULLETPROOF COFFEE
MORNING PAGES

READING

I write a 3 page stream of consciousness of

whatever is on my mind, this gets my brain
working and thinking more creatively.

20mins of reading every morning, books

on mindset, personal growth,and business
inspires me in the beginning of my day and
gets the creative juices flowing

GET TO WORK
I start my day by doing the hardest task on
my prioritized list in the Self Journal first

I use the Self Journal to map out my day in

30 min increments, what my 3 big things of
the day are and time block when they will be
completed

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror

every morning and asked myself:

If today were the last day of my

life, would I want to do what I am
about to do today?
And whenever the answer has been No for too
many days in a row, I know I need to change
something.
- STEVE JOBS -