6 Things Successful People Do Before 9am

[P1] What do successful people do differently? For one thing, they typically wake up very early.
Long before they hit the office, they’ve been up and active, performing tasks that will set them
up for success throughout the day. By waking up early, you can ​get an edge on the day​ ahead.
You’ll clear your mind and schedule so that you can focus on your work, which can help you
reach your goals faster. Curious about how to make the most of your morning? Here are 6
things successful people do before 9 am, and how you can incorporate them into your routine.

1. Get physical
[P2] You’ve probably heard the phrase “healthy body, healthy mind.” It’s important to take care
of yourself physically. For most people, early on in the day is the best time to exercise, before
the responsibilities of the day ​kick in​. Whether it’s a ​brisk​ walk with your dog, an early run or a
bike ride, get your body moving. Not only will it make you feel good, but studies have shown that
exercise can improve brain function, so it might even make you smarter at work.

2. Eat something
[P2] If you’re a busy person, chances are that eating a healthy breakfast is the last thing on your
mind. But in terms of the day’s productivity, skipping breakfast can be a huge mistake. If you
don’t eat something, chances are you’ll be hitting a vending machine or ​gorging​ on donuts at
10:30 am. How productive will you be, and how clearly will you be thinking at work, after that? If
you want to be thinking and working ​at your best​, make time to eat a balanced meal in the
morning.

3. Take care of the necessary stuff.

[P3] Picking up the dry cleaning. Walking the dog. Packing school lunches. Everyone has things
that they have to do. To ​get a leg up on the day​, get these things out of the way early. When
you wake up early, you have time to attend to these ​quotidian​ tasks that can take up valuable
mind space during the workday. If you get them out of the way, then you can focus solely on
work, and your day will be far more effective. It’s a small change that can have a massive
impact on your career.

4. Cross off the most annoying to-do list item.

[P4] Everyone procrastinates on one thing or another. Start the day right and get at least one of
those hard to tackle tasks off of your to-do list. In the morning, you’re at your most energized
and refreshed, and best prepared to take on a difficult task or project. ​You’ll be amazed at​ how
much lighter it makes you feel for the rest of the day. Not only will you have the sense of
accomplishment at having completed that task, but it won’t be looming ahead and causing
stress all day.

5. Learn something
[P5] To truly be successful ​in the long run​, you must make a lifelong commitment to learning.
There is never a point at which you’ve learned “enough”. Learning keeps the mind elastic and
allows you to remain nimble in your work. This is important, as the landscape of every business
will change over time.
6 Things Successful People Do Before 9am

[P6] Every day, ​make a point of​ spending some early AM time learning something. This might
be by reading the newspaper, learning a new skill, or it might be by listening to podcasts
relevant to your work. It might be a self-imposed study routine on a certain sector of your
business. There are many ways to continue educating yourself. You never know what might
give you your next great idea.

6. Make a plan.
[P7] The best time to map out your day is in the early morning, before the distractions of the day
set in. This is a time to consider your goals for the day and how to prioritize tasks to realize
them.

[P8] Be realistic in mapping out your day: don’t set a mile-long to-do list that you’ll never be able
to complete, or schedule yourself in such a way that you’ll be running from thing to thing and
getting stressed out. Leave some room for breaks. Consider this plan like a road map, as if
you’re on a cross-country trip. You have the freedom to ​veer off​ course if needed, but the
structure of a general plan will help keep your journey on the right path.

Vocabulary/ Expressions
Expression Definition

brisk (adj) pleasantly cool or cold (adj) energetic or vigorous

e.g. The wind was brisk. e.g. Brisk exercise can

gorge (v) to eat large amounts of food — usually + on

e.g. We gorged on chips and cookies.

get a leg up (exp) To achieve or be in a position of advantage over someone else.

e.g. I’ve been practicing all summer long, and now I’ve finally gotten a leg
up on Keith in tennis.

quotidian (adj) ordinary or very common

e.g. quotidian [=everyday] routines

veer off (v) to change direction quickly or suddenly

e.g. The car nearly veered off the road.

1. Summarize the article in your own words.

2. Describe your morning routine. How is your morning routine similar or different from the
one described in the article?
3. Are you a morning bird or a night owl?
4. How can you become more productive in your life?