5 Morning Habits of Highly Successful People

5 Morning Habits of Highly Successful People

If you’re aiming for success in your life, it may be time to examine whether your morning habits are helping you achieve the goals you’ve set. Here’s a quick look at how five highly successful people begin their days.

1. Quiet Reflection

Billionaire John Paul DeJoria, founder of two super-successful businesses, always sets aside the first five minutes after he wakes up to focus on being present. During that time, he doesn’t think about work, but instead muses on the gratitude he feels for his having his family, his health and being alive. He feels that those few meditative minutes provide him with a grounded serenity that carries him through whatever his day brings.

2. Intense Exercise

Kevin O’Leary is chairman of O’Leary Financial and a successful investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” After taking a quick glance at Asian and European bond markets, he gets on his elliptical or exercise bike and puts the next 45 minutes into serious aerobic exercise. He points out that taking good care of your body is one investment that’s guaranteed to yield a worthwhile return.

3. One Central Question

Steve Jobs said that for 33 years, he looked in the mirror every morning and asked himself the same question: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” He noted that if the answer was “No” for enough days in a row, he had to change something about the way he was living.

4. An original idea

One aspect of success is not letting yourself get bogged down in a mental rut. Catalyst and GroupM director Paul Shapiro says that he takes 10 minutes at the start of each day to drink a cup of yerba mate tea and come up with one fresh creative idea. It doesn’t have to be connected with his daily tasks; rather, it simply has to be something entirely fresh that helps him remain inspired and agile while he engages in his day’s business.

5. High-Protein Breakfast

Heather Anne Carson, president and co-founder of Onboardly, says that she used to just start checking email as soon as she woke up, until she realized that this habit interfered with her ability to be productive. Now she makes herself a healthy breakfast with protein, a green juice and coffee — and finishes it before she opens up her email inbox.Being successful results from a series of good life choices, and the very first choice you make after waking up can be one of the most important.

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