5 things successful people do before breakfast

I read this article, and decided to share. On the road to success, there are a lot of things to be put in place. We do not only have to just 'work' to become successful, but we have to imbibe the attitude of success, from already successful people.

Outlined below are 5 of the many other things successful people do before they begin each day. 

"Successful people set aside their first hours of the day to invest in their top-priority activities before other people's priorities come rushing in.

Science supports this strategy. Vanderkam cites the famous finding of Roy Baumeister, a Florida State University psychology professor, that willpower is like a muscle that becomes fatigued from overuse.
Diets, he says, come undone in the evening, just as poor self-control and lapses in decision-making often come later in the day. On the other hand, early mornings offer a fresh supply of willpower, and people tend to be more optimistic and ready to tackle challenging tasks.
So what do successful executives and entrepreneurs do when they are rested and fresh? From Vanderkam's study of morning rituals, we outline the following 5 things that the most successful people do before breakfast. It is worthy of note however, that they might not do all of these things every morning, each has been found to be an effective way to start the day."

1. They wake up early.

Successful people know that time is a precious commodity. And while theirs is easily eaten up by phone calls, meetings, and sudden crises once they've gotten to the office, the morning hours are under their control. That's why many of them rise before the sun, squeezing out as much time as they can to do with as they please.

In a poll of 20 executives cited by Vanderkam, 90% said they wake up before 6 a.m. on weekdays. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, for example, wakes at 4 a.m. and is in the office no later than 7 a.m. Meanwhile, Disney CEO Bob Iger gets up at 4:30 to read, and Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey is up at 5:30 to jog.

The bottom line: Productive mornings start with early wake-up calls.

2. They drink water

Many successful executives reach for water instead of coffee first thing in the morning.
Kat Cole, president of Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, and Cinnabon, wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning and drinks 24 ounces of water.
Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and Birchbox Man chief Brad Lande start their days with a glass of hot water with lemon.
Drinking water in the morning helps you feel more alert, rehydrates your body, and kickstarts your metabolism, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist and author of "The One One One Diet.

3.They meditate to clear their minds

Type-A personalities typically demand as much from others as they do from themselves, so it can be difficult for them to disconnect from their mental to-do lists and calm their minds. Before they head out the door, many successful people devote themselves to a spiritual practice such as meditation or prayer to center themselves for the rush of the day.

Manisha Thakor, a financial adviser and former corporate executive, practices transcendental meditation to clear her mind. She does two 20-minute sessions a day, the first before breakfast and the second in the evening, and focuses on breathing and repeating a mantra in her head. She's found it to be "one of the most life-enhancing practices" she's ever experienced, she told Vanderkam.

4. They write down things they’re grateful for

Expressing gratitude is another great way to center yourself and get the proper perspective before heading to the office. Writing down the people, places, and opportunities that you're grateful for takes just a few minutes but can make a real difference in your outlook.
For example, a pharmaceutical executive told Vanderkam she spends a good chunk of her morning "expressing gratitude, asking for guidance, and being open to inspiration." When she gets to work, she always has a clear vision for herself and her staff.
Similarly, entrepreneur and author of "The 4-Hour Workweek," Tim Ferriss, spends five minutes each morning writing down what he's grateful for and what he's looking forward to. It "allows me to not only get more done during the day but to also feel better throughout the entire day, to be a happier person, to be a more content person," he said.

5. They plan and strategize while they're fresh

Planning the day, week, or month ahead is an important time-management tool to keep you on track when you're in the thick of it. Using the mornings to do big-picture thinking helps you prioritize and set the trajectory of the day.

One banking exec turned teacher told Vanderkam she wakes at 5 a.m. on weekdays, exercises, reads a few Bible verses, and reviews her tasks for the day before making breakfast. She said this ritual makes her days more manageable and effective.

Source: Business Insider