What Successful People Are Doing While You’re Sleeping In

Presented by Inklyo.com

So, you want to be successful . . .

There are few things more delicious than sleeping in, burrowing deeper into a heap of clean sheets and having breakfast brought in on a tray . . . but reality probably strikes closer to groggy protests and the inevitable panic when you realize you've hit the snooze button a few too many times.

In either situation—whether you're lounging in luxury or running for the dry shampoo in lieu of a shower—people far more successful have already been up for hours.

Have early risers caught on to

something, or is the relationship

between an early start time and

success just coincidence? This is what

the world's most successful people—

CEOs, self-made millionaires, industry

tycoons, and world leaders—are doing

while you're still snoozing.

They're staying fitWhile it's easy to want to exercise, the follow-through is much more problematic, especially when hectic schedules and innumerable life hiccups get in the way. It makes sense that those most successful get in their workouts in the morning before energy levels and willpower wane.

President Obama starts every day with a workout at 6:45 a.m., by which time Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief at Vogue, has already played tennis for an hour. Former Pepsi CEO Steve Reinemund wakes at 5:00 a.m. daily to run four miles, and Condoleezza Rice sets her alarm for 4:30 a.m. to fit in a sweat session.

In this Yahoo! Finance study, more than 70 percent of executives exercise in the morning,

and as such, benefit from revved up metabolisms, increased energy, better moods, lower stress levels, and higher productivity. A consistent morning exercise plan also brings that sense of control and empowerment so

often exhibited by the world's most powerful.

They're staying current

According to CNBC, Warren Buffet's morning reading

includes the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the

New York Times, USA Today, the Omaha World-Herald,

and the American Banker. Bill Gates takes in the national

news and various economic and business publications.

Others add checking

social media feeds to

their morning news

routines. Whatever the

medium, leaders are

making sure they are up-

to-date on the world

before going out into it.

They're staying sharp

Icons of success use mornings to get a head start on importantprojects, before the slew of daily distractions, meetings, andinterruptions compete for attention. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, isknown to send out the day’s important emails at 4:30 a.m.

Pre-dawn hours may be the best to tackle

difficult projects, as not only are you freshly recharged, but also

evidence suggests that you're best primed for

creative problem-solving directly after REM sleep.

The peak energy levels you

experience throughout the day are

determined by your personal

circadian rhythms, but that's not to

say that night owls should write off

their mornings as unproductive.

According to this article, your creative potential is actually at its best when you

aren't, so if you're typically alert at night, you're most likely to experience problem-solving breakthroughs in the

early hours of dawn.

Successful people also take time in the early hours to

cultivate mental health through meditation. The billionaire founder of the

world’s largest hedge fund said in this interview that he

attributes his success to early morning meditation.

Bill Ford of the Ford Motor Company built meditation into his morning routine when he realized he needed a way to bring positivity to the workplace during difficult economic times. If in doubt, ask Oprah; she swears by at least 20 minutes of quiet to set the tone for a successful work day.

They're staying personal

Demanding family schedules make it

more and more difficult to organize

evening meals. TV writer Nell Scovell

found her career responsibilities often

ate into dinner hours, so she changed

her family's main meal to breakfast

instead.

Sharing your morning time with loved ones

also creates a positive mental space to carry

throughout the day.

The morning routines of the world's leaders

are absolutely achievable. While that snooze

button may be tempting, rejecting excuses and

adopting a few habits of the successful can

only bring greater physical, mental, and

spiritual health to your life.

Take it from morning lark Benjamin

Franklin: "Early to bed and early to rise

makes a man healthy, wealthy, and

wise." Set your coffee machine on a

timer, unroll the yoga mat, and give up

your bed a little earlier for some well-

deserved self-improvement.

Want to know more?Do you want to learn more about what it takes to be successful?

Visit the content marketing experts at Inklyo.com today!

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