11 Morning Rituals the Rich Use To Get Richer (But Anyone Can Do)

How do business leaders, media moguls, and former Presidents of the United States get up on the right side of the bed each morning? It’s not by chance.

Successful people everywhere believe in the power of ritual, and there’s none more powerful than your daily rise and shine.

A morning routine can sharpen focus, build discipline, increase productivity, and help you get ahead financially. Here are 11 rituals of the rich that you can do too to help you jumpstart your daily activity and bank account balance.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey skip the alarm clock, preferring to wake up naturally. The calm helps them make clear decisions and wake up refreshed.

Oprah’s pal Arianna Huffington is also a believer in nixing the alarm. “Just think about the definition of the word alarm," explains Huffington. "A sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger."

So starting your day with a wave of adrenaline and stress hormones — where your body preps for danger — is not the most relaxing way to ease into the day or make smart financial decisions.

Some people call it an atomic habit — the idea that small activities that we practice every day can lead to success.

Author James Clear, dancer Twyla Tharp, and Marie Kondo all believe in having a consistent morning routine. This routine can include getting out of bed and hitting the shower straight away or drinking orange juice while you watch cartoons with your son.

Tharp’s simple morning ritual is rising at the same time each day and then hailing a cab to go to the gym. Making it a routine makes it easy and repeatable and reduces the chance she would skip it. Daily completion creates accountability. It’s also one less thing to worry about — having to talk yourself into going to the gym — so you free up mental bandwidth for more creativity.

Brewing a pot or grabbing your morning fix seems like a logical thing to do, especially when we need to wake up. But going for plain water straightaway is a healthier choice. After waking up, our bodies are dehydrated after several hours without fluid. Our organs, tissues, and brains need to rehydrate for optimal function.

Actress Cameron Diaz swears by it; she starts each day by drinking a liter of water.

A large, cold glass can help your mind and body feel more energized and optimistic about the day ahead. And it’s easier to thwart ‌bad decisions — like impulse spending — if you’re well-rested, hydrated, and focused.

It’s not just for athletes and models. The world’s most successful people believe in kickstarting their day through physical activity.

Bill Gates multitasks by watching videos on the treadmill each morning. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, starts her day by playing an hour of tennis. And President Barack Obama made lifting weights a part of his daily morning routine at the White House.

Exercise is good for the body and mind. It can manage stress, boost mood, and improve mental clarity and attention span. This makes it easier to meet financial goals like meal planning at home instead of overspending on food delivery.

Sometimes, the most effective way to prepare for tomorrow is to plan your day the evening before. Barbara Corcoran and former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault are known for this. Chennault ends his workday by writing down three goals for the next day. Cocoran makes tomorrow’s to-do list before leaving her office.

While you might not be closing multi-billionaire deals, you can plan ahead for success — especially when the simplest of decisions can throw us off track. If you don’t wake up and have to waste mental energy on figuring out what to wear or when to stop hitting snooze, you’ll be that much more productive.

Arianna Huffington, Warren Buffett, and Richard Branson are all big believers in journaling and the power of self-reflection. Studies suggest it can improve job performance and alleviate stress.

Journaling can also help you better manage your wallet. It can help you cope with money-related stress and make better financial choices amid uncertain times. While not a replacement for talking to a therapist or a financial coach, this approach can help you make more deliberate, mindful choices.

Arianna Huffington avoids her smartphone first thing in the morning, which could be a smart move for the rest of us. Skipping social and email can help you stay focused on more intentional tasks, like reviewing your budget and mentally going over your daily to-do list.

Many successful people begin their day with prayer or meditation. Arianna Huffington practices 20 to 30 minutes of mindfulness each morning before she looks at email or any screen devices. And Jack Dorsey, former Twitter CEO, takes 30 minutes to meditate each morning before beginning his six-mile run.

Mental visualization is a common habit for runners and business leaders alike. Try taking a few minutes each morning to visualize reaching your financial goals, like finally getting debt-free or hitting your target savings number. This can prime your brain to make better money choices.

Marie Kondo, the Queen of Anti-Clutter, is known for helping others tidy their living spaces. She has a consistent morning ritual. She rises daily at 6 a.m., opens all the windows to let in fresh air, and then burns incense.

She strives to keep her home comfortable, organized, and filled with clean energy all day. A tidy house, she believes, sets you up for productivity and greater confidence.

Additionally, an organized home helps you see what you have so you don’t overbuy. (That’s how we wind up with 20 phone charger cords.) A decluttered home can bring visual and financial clarity.

Oprah Winfrey practices gratitude daily. After walking the dogs, she reads cards from her 365 Gathered Truths box while brewing her morning espresso. Reflecting on these inspirational quotes, says Oprah, is “a beautiful way to start the day.”

Acknowledging what you have leads to appreciation and more mindful spending and saving, which in turn leads to better financial health over time.

Steve Jobs began each morning by looking death square in the eye. He’d stare at his reflection in the mirror and ask, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do today? If the answer is no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

Asking yourself the same question daily may help you live life more intentionally — and frugally.

Successful people are intentional. The Oprah Winfreys and Jeff Bezoses of the world don’t leave productivity, gratitude, or building wealth up to chance. They’re purposeful, and that starts with deliberate, daily practices.

And since all these high-power morning rituals are free, there’s no reason not to try one. A cup of tap water from the sink each morning is free. It costs no money to unplug your alarm clock, turn off your phone, or meditate over your bowl of cornflakes. You can start living and spending more intentionally today.