5 things all successful people do before 9 A.M.

Having a well-organized life is a definite sign of success. People who know how to prioritize tasks are bound to be more successful than people whose daily life is a heap of haphazard tasks. Having a well-organized life doesn’t just mean prioritizing your work but also your personal commitments as well. This includes keeping in line your house chores, eating habits, and sleep schedule.

We recently talked about the importance of having sound sleep habits. Sleep helps you rejuvenate and revitalize and successful people like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Ariana Huffington, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, despite their busy schedule, get at least 6 hours of sleep every day. But what you do before you sleep and after you wake up is also of great significance. Before you go to sleep, it is imperative that you reflect on your day, visualize your personal and professional goals for the future, and read a good book.

So, what should a person do after they wake up? You’ll often find that waking up late gives you a very rocky start to the day. There is so much you can do in the early hours and that can only happen if you wake up on time. We did a lot of research on what successful people do after waking up and we discovered a pattern. So, here are five things all successful people do before 9 A.M. and you should too.

1. Make your bed

As ridiculous as this may sound, we have to start with this one. Making your bed is a habit that has been linked with an increase in productivity. Charles Duhigg writes in his book The Power of Habit that making your bed won’t suddenly make you get more work done but it triggers a chain reaction that helps other good habits take hold. So in the morning, take a minute to make your bed yourself.

2. Exercise and have a healthy breakfast

Once you’re up and out of the bed, start your day with a glass of water and then proceed to do any type of exercise you prefer. This can be anything from running, aerobics, or yoga. If extremely busy entrepreneurs can find the time to exercise, you can too. You’ll find that adopting this habit will help you stay more focused throughout the day. Once you’re done exercising, proceed to have a healthy breakfast.

3. Visualize/write down your goals for the day

Keep a journal in which you write down your long-term and short-term goals, whether they are personal or professional. Go through them every morning and align your daily tasks in a way that they contribute to your bigger goals. This will help you keep a hold on your life.

4. Check your email

While you should steer clear of technology for a long as you can, a survey from Robert Half Management Resources suggests that top executives check their email first thing in the morning. This can help you plan your day accordingly and focus on more important things when you get to work.

5. Read the news

American business mogul Warren Buffet spends 80% of his time reading and begins the day by reading The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and USA today. While continues reading newspapers and other books throughout the day, the important takeaway from his habit is that keeping up with the news helps you stay ahead of the curve.

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• 3 things all successful people do before going to sleep
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