I’ve all the time puzzled what separates individuals who persistently earn seven figures from the remainder of us. Is it luck, relentless hustle, or one thing hidden of their on a regular basis routines?
Thankfully, I had a reasonably candy strategy to discover out. In my circle of buddies, there are already three millionaires, and I made a decision to make the most of that.
I requested them if we may all keep in a single home for every week, simply so I may observe how they transfer by way of these first, fragile hours of the day. They agreed, we rented an enormous Airbnb on the coast, and so they let me tag alongside—no questions off-limits, so long as I didn’t sluggish them down.
For seven mornings I wakened once they did, ate what they ate, and sat quietly within the nook whereas they labored by way of their routines.
And what I discovered was that there have been no secret productiveness apps or sophisticated bio-hacks—only a handful of repeatable habits they deal with like non-negotiable appointments.
By the point most individuals had been nonetheless debating a second snooze, they’d already checked off the pillars that preserve their well being, mindset, and cash on monitor.
Listed here are the 5 issues each single one in every of them had completed earlier than the clock struck 7 a.m.—and why they matter greater than any fancy automotive or nook workplace.
1. They get up at a constant time
The very first thing I observed? They don’t hit snooze.
Every of my buddies set their alarm for a similar hour, day in and day trip, together with weekends.
I’m not saying they stand up at 4am or another punishing time. However they do have a set hour—typically between 5 and 6—and so they honor it it doesn’t matter what.
On the second day, I requested one in every of them how he resists hitting snooze. He mentioned it’s simply muscle reminiscence at this level. He went on to say that breaking his personal phrase very first thing within the morning (by hitting snooze) would have an effect on his confidence for the remainder of the day.
That caught with me.
I’ve examine this concept earlier than—that protecting small guarantees to ourselves types a sort of self-trust. After we set an alarm and truly stand up, we’re coaching our mind to consider we’re able to following by way of on larger targets.
In line with the Harvard Division of Sleep Drugs, constant sleep schedules can enhance temper regulation and total psychological resilience. It’s straightforward to see how that is likely to be helpful for entrepreneurs and high-achievers who face continuous pressures all through the day.
In apply, it doesn’t look dramatic: no moaning, no rolling round. The alarm goes off, they stretch for a second, then they’re away from bed. It’s each easy and surprisingly impactful.
2. They plan out their day in writing
I’ve all the time been a list-maker, however these people take day by day planning to a different degree.
Generally, they have already got a to-do checklist from the evening earlier than, so the morning is about refining it.
Every day, over a fast cup of espresso or tea, they revisit what must be executed, word any adjustments, and guarantee they’re aligned with their weekly or month-to-month targets.
One good friend makes use of a digital planner, whereas one other swears by a pen and paper. However the precept is identical: map out the priorities earlier than the day’s chaos takes over.
I requested why they don’t simply preserve all of it of their head.
The reply: writing it down saves psychological bandwidth.
That strains up with what research present – folks carry out higher once they write down what they should do.
It has to do with our mind’s want for group. Writing down our duties dampens the nervousness in regards to the “chaos of life” and makes us really feel extra in management.
One other factor I picked up was that they preserve these lists seen all day—on a desk, on a cellphone widget, or pinned to a bulletin board. They don’t tuck them away, as a result of out of sight typically means out of thoughts.
Personally, I discovered that going by way of my plans very first thing saved me centered on what genuinely mattered, somewhat than drifting into unproductive duties. It’s straightforward to see why it’s a staple of their routines.
3. They transfer their our bodies
Each single particular person I stayed with had some type of train constructed into their morning.
It wasn’t all the time a hardcore exercise. For one good friend, it was a brisk stroll along with his canine earlier than the solar was totally up. One other swore by a 20-minute yoga session. The third hit the fitness center in his basement for a brief however intense weightlifting routine.
Bodily exercise appeared non-negotiable, even when that meant fewer minutes of sleep or pushing different duties to the facet.
They noticed motion not simply as a strategy to keep match, however as a way to clear their minds.
There’s loads of analysis backing this up. Harvard Medical College has reported that common morning train can enhance psychological readability, cut back stress, and increase artistic considering.
After I requested in the event that they ever skip, the response was a agency no.
Certainly one of them joked that he feels off-balance all day if he doesn’t get his muscular tissues working early.
That’s a sense I can relate to—after I’m per morning train, I have a tendency to pay attention higher on writing initiatives.
By 7am, every of them had completed at the least some type of bodily exercise. They weren’t posting about it on-line; they had been simply doing it for themselves, day after day.
4. They replicate or apply mindfulness
I’m not speaking about lengthy meditation retreats or chanting in a nook. However every morning, there was a interval—anyplace from 5 to twenty minutes—devoted to some kind of psychological readability train.
One good friend does respiratory drills.
One other writes in a gratitude journal.
A 3rd simply sits quietly with a cup of inexperienced tea, specializing in deep respiratory.
They every have their distinctive method, however the objective is identical: mentally reset earlier than diving into emails, calls, and choices.
I requested if this was only a stylish behavior they picked up. They assured me it predates most mainstream mindfulness actions.
In truth, one good friend mentioned he began journaling in highschool to handle stress and by no means stopped.
By the point they attain their desks or morning commitments, they’ve already taken a second to floor themselves. It’s a buffer towards the frenzy that may erupt of their busy lives.
One thing else I observed: none of them touched social media earlier than this mindfulness interval. They appeared eager on defending their consideration from the barrage of notifications till they’d correctly centered themselves.
It’s a small day by day apply, nevertheless it seems to have an enormous affect on how they method all the things else.
5. They deal with a high-priority process or private objective
Lastly, by the point the clock is nearing 7am, they’ve often devoted some vitality to a high-priority process.
This might be a business-related exercise or one thing private they’ve been that means to work on.
One good friend makes use of this window to learn monetary reviews or compose necessary emails. One other devotes the time to training a overseas language he’s been studying.
The secret’s that it’s one thing that issues—and it’s executed earlier than the day begins throwing curveballs.
They name it “front-loading productiveness,” guaranteeing that even when the remainder of the day goes sideways, they’ve completed at the least one substantial objective.
I noticed how that mindset created a way of accomplishment that lingered all through the morning.
From a psychological standpoint, tackling an necessary process early, irrespective of how disagreeable, could be a highly effective motivator. It’s what speaker Brian Tracy calls “consuming the frog” – that process that you just’re almost definitely to procrastinate on should you don’t do one thing about it.
Throughout my week with them, I attempted making use of the identical method to my very own routine—engaged on my upcoming article define very first thing, no emails, no distractions.
I used to be shocked at how a lot I obtained executed earlier than typical work hours even started.
Afterwards, round 7am or shortly after, they shifted gears to deal with the same old calls for—consumer conferences, cellphone calls, or household obligations. However they all the time had that baseline feeling: “I’ve already achieved one thing necessary immediately.”
The underside line
Spending every week in that atmosphere was illuminating. There have been no flashy shows of success or elaborate formulation for waking up.
What I noticed as an alternative was a set of small, repeatable steps.
They wakened on the identical time, mapped out the day, obtained their our bodies transferring, took a second to replicate, and knocked out a precedence process. All earlier than 7am.
It’s straightforward to imagine that millionaire habits have to be sophisticated or out of attain for on a regular basis folks, however these routines had been surprisingly simple. In truth, the toughest half for me was maintaining with the consistency.
I’m not claiming everybody ought to undertake these actual steps or instances. All of us have totally different obligations, vitality ranges, and private targets. However the underlying ideas—self-discipline, readability, self-care, and early momentum—are universally relevant.
This expertise jogged my memory that the muse of success, at the least within the instances I noticed, typically lies in easy, constant actions.
Should you’re curious to strive one thing related, take into account beginning with only one component—a day by day plan, a couple of minutes of morning train, or a brief reflection session—and see the way it shifts your mindset for the remainder of the day.
Ultimately, it’s not about magically changing into a millionaire in a single day. It’s about setting a tone in your mornings that helps your ambitions and helps you navigate the remainder of your day extra successfully.
From what I’ve seen, that single shift could make a surprisingly large distinction.