The One Thing Successful People Do Before Breakfast

What distinguishes those who achieve great success from others? Morning routines often make the biggest difference, but talent, hard work, and luck also play a part. Before breakfast, a lot of CEOs, business owners, and high achievers follow a single routine that sets the tone for the rest of the day.

1. The Secret Habit: Strategic Planning & Prioritization

Contrary to popular belief, successful people don’t just wake up and check emails or scroll social media. Instead, they plan their day with intention.

Why This Works-

• The brain is most alert in the morning, and that's when you make the best decisions and stay focused.
• Avoids living in a reactive way—most people let other people control their days.
• Knowing what your top priorities are clears your mind and lowers your stress levels.

Examples-

1. Elon Musk makes a list of important things to do every morning, usually before 7 AM.
2. Oprah Winfrey starts her day by being thankful and setting goals.
3. Before he starts working, Bill Gates spends his mornings reading and thinking.

2. The Science of Planning in the Morning

A. The Zeigarnik Effect-

Psychologists discovered that incomplete tasks persist in the mind, inducing stress. Writing them down and putting them in order clears up mental space.

B. Tired of Making Decisions-

Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all wear the same clothes to make fewer decisions that don't matter. Planning in the morning helps you keep your willpower for important tasks.

C. The Pareto Principle or 80/20 Rule-

Twenty percent of what you do gets you eighty percent of the results. People who are successful find these high-leverage tasks early on.

3. Step-by-Step Instructions for Developing This Habit

Step 1: Preparation the evening before-

• Put three main objectives for the following day in writing.
• Don't overthink things; prepare breakfast, lay out clothes, etc.

Step 2: Get Up Early (5 AM–6 AM Rule)-

• A "quiet advantage" (no distractions) is gained by early risers.
• Before the sun rises, Howard Schultz, Tim Cook, and Jeff Bezos get to work.

Step 3: The 10-Minute Power Plan in Step Three-

• Examine your long-term objectives and keep the wider picture in mind.
• Enumerate the top three things that need to be done today.
• Time-block your calendar by allocating tasks to particular hours.
• Visualize success because it improves performance.

Step 4: Prevent Morning Traps-

• ❌ Avoid checking social media or emails first, as this puts you in a reactive state.
• ❌ Stay hydrated (water and lemon improve brain function).
• ❌ Don't multitask; instead, concentrate on ONE important task.

4. Success Stories from Real Life

A. The "Morning Question" by Benjamin Franklin-

"What good shall I do today?" he asked himself.—a behavior that contributed to his success.

B. The Journaling Practice of Jack Dorsey-

For clarity, the founder of Twitter jots down goals prior to breakfast.

C. The Visualization of Serena Williams Before Breakfast-

She practices matches in her head, which has helped her win 23 Grand Slam titles.

5. Bonus: Cutting-Edge Strategies for Revolutionary Mornings

🔥 The 90-Minute Focus Block: In-depth work prior to breakfast

🔥 Mel Robbins' method for overcoming procrastination, known as the "5-Second Rule"

🔥 The "Two-Minute Rule" states that if a task takes less than two minutes, complete it right away.

In conclusion, it's your turn to rule the day.

People who are successful don't let their days be random. Planning ahead of time gives them momentum, clarity, and control.

Your Action Plan-

• Tonight, make a list of your three main objectives for tomorrow.
• Prioritize and get up thirty minutes earlier tomorrow morning.
• After 21 days, it will become instinctive.

Starting from the moment they wake up, the most successful people work smarter, not just harder. Are you going to?