Jeff Bezos’ Morning Routine: No Telephone, No Alarm, No Rush

Right here’s one thing that may shock you: Jeff Bezos, the man who constructed Amazon right into a trillion-dollar behemoth, doesn’t set an alarm clock.

Severely.

Whereas Silicon Valley bros are crushing 4 a.m. exercises and mainlining bulletproof espresso, Bezos is… puttering. That’s his precise phrase for it. Talking to Bloomberg’s David Rubenstein, he stated, “I prefer to putter within the morning… I learn the newspaper, have espresso, and have breakfast with my youngsters earlier than they go to high school.”

No CrossFit. No chilly plunges. No inbox zero earlier than dawn.

(Although he does have some fancy toys. I went down a rabbit gap and came upon he makes use of this $130 good mug that retains his espresso on the excellent temperature whereas he putters. Due to course he does.)

This is similar man who revolutionized how we store, launched himself into area, and have become one of many richest people to ever exist. And his secret weapon? Sleeping in till 6:30 and taking his candy time over espresso.

Look, I’ll admit it. Once I first heard about Bezos’s routine, I used to be skeptical. How does somebody construct an empire by… doing much less? However you then dig into the small print, and out of the blue it begins making a bizarre sort of sense. Perhaps, simply possibly, the remainder of us have been doing mornings all unsuitable.

Let me stroll you thru precisely what Bezos does every morning and extra importantly, why neuroscientists and sleep researchers suppose he is likely to be onto one thing massive.

6:30 AM: The No-Alarm Revolution

Let’s begin with the factor that breaks most individuals’s brains: Bezos doesn’t use an alarm clock. Haven’t for years.

When he spoke on the Financial Membership of Washington in 2018, he bought surprisingly enthusiastic about this: “I prioritize eight hours of sleep. I believe higher, I’ve extra power, my temper is healthier.” Then he dropped this gem: “As a senior govt, you receives a commission to make a small variety of high-quality selections. Is it actually value it if the standard of these selections is likely to be decrease since you’re drained or grouchy?”

Take into consideration that for a second. The person’s mainly saying that sleeping in makes him higher at his job.

And right here’s the kicker: he’s most likely proper. I stumbled throughout this College of Westminster examine that discovered individuals who get jarred awake by alarms have method larger cortisol ranges (that’s your stress hormone) in comparison with people who get up naturally. We’re actually beginning our days wired due to that innocent-looking alarm clock.

Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman backs this up. Apparently while you get up naturally, your mind’s already been making ready for consciousness for about 20 minutes. It’s like a delicate warm-up versus being thrown into the deep finish.

However let’s be actual right here. Most of us can’t simply… not set an alarm. We’ve bought jobs, youngsters, obligations. Nonetheless, there’s one thing we will steal from Bezos: going to mattress earlier. He’s often lights-out by 10:30 PM. Outdated man conduct? Perhaps. However the man appears fairly pleased together with his billions, so who’s actually profitable right here?

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In case you completely want an alarm, at the least make it humane. I switched to this dawn simulator that wakes you with gradual gentle as an alternative of that heart-attack-inducing BEEP BEEP BEEP. It’s just like the distinction between somebody gently tapping your shoulder versus throwing ice water in your face.

7:00 AM: The Artwork of ‘Puttering’ with Espresso, Newspaper, and No Rush

Okay, so “puttering” is likely to be essentially the most Jeff Bezos phrase ever. It feels like one thing your grandpa does within the storage. However hear me out.

After waking, Jeff Bezos does one thing fairly surprising for a busy CEO: he “putters.” Puttering, as he describes it, means “having espresso, studying the newspaper, breakfast with my youngsters” and mainly taking his candy time within the morning. In his Bloomberg interview with David Rubenstein, he explicitly stated: “I prefer to putter within the morning… my puttering time is essential to me.”

What does puttering appear to be? Image this: Bezos shuffling to the kitchen in his slippers, making espresso in his fancy Ember mug (yeah, the $130 one which retains espresso at precisely the fitting temperature. Peak billionaire conduct, however I purchased one and now I can’t return). He grabs the precise, bodily newspaper. The Washington Put up, naturally, since he owns it. Perhaps The New York Instances too.

Then, and that is my favourite half, he simply sits there. Studying. Sipping. Pondering.

Lauren Sánchez spilled all the small print to Individuals Journal about their morning ritual. They name it their “magic second,” this quiet time earlier than the children get up the place they simply… discuss. About desires, concepts, no matter’s on their minds. No agenda. No telephones. Simply two individuals really connecting.

“We don’t have our telephones with us after we’re in mattress or after we’re having breakfast,” Sánchez revealed. “That’s one of many guidelines. In case you have your cellphone, you’re going to get pulled into the vortex.”

Oh, and in response to the Vogue profile, Bezos purchased her this ridiculous novelty mug that claims “Wakened attractive as hell once more.” That’s the power we’re coping with right here. The world’s second-richest man, ingesting espresso from a joke mug, studying the paper prefer it’s 1987.

And right here’s a element that makes him much more relatable: in response to Sánchez, Bezos is definitely the morning particular person of their relationship. “He’s superb within the morning. He wakes up pleased,” she stated. In the meantime, she’s presumably clutching that temperature-controlled espresso he made for her, making an attempt to develop into human.

The Wall Road Journal lately wrote about this complete “sluggish morning motion.” Apparently Bezos isn’t alone. Extra executives are discovering that beginning sluggish really makes them quicker later. One girl they interviewed stated after ditching her cellphone within the morning, “With out a direct inundation of images and opinions every morning, I used to be in a position to suppose extra clearly.”

That is sensible, proper? Your mind’s like a pc. In case you instantly open 47 tabs, all the pieces runs slower.

7:30 AM: The Telephone-Free Zone That Modified Every thing

This is likely to be the toughest capsule to swallow: Bezos doesn’t contact his cellphone within the morning. Like, in any respect.

Sánchez informed Individuals it’s a tough rule of their home: “We don’t have our telephones with us. That’s one of many issues I like about mornings. We now have our little magic second earlier than we get the children off to high school.”

She even admitted how exhausting it was at first: “It wasn’t simple at first to go away the cellphone exterior, however now it’s simply our method.”

I do know what you’re considering. “Should be good to disregard your cellphone while you’re value $170 billion.” Honest level. However then I discovered this analysis from Stanford’s Way of life Medication program, the place Maris Loeffler mainly says we’re all screwing ourselves by checking telephones very first thing.

Her group discovered that individuals who seize their telephones instantly after waking present:

• 23% larger anxiousness ranges all through the day
• Decreased focus that lasts for hours
• This bizarre sense of time shortage (feeling rushed all day)

“One of many largest points with selecting up the cellphone immediately within the morning is that when you may have an object near your face, it’s registered as a risk,” says Loeffler. “You wouldn’t need to get up and look a bear within the face each morning. On a physiological degree, it’s the identical factor.”

Plus, and that is wild, it really adjustments your mind over time. Like, bodily adjustments the grey matter. We’re rewiring ourselves for distraction, one morning scroll at a time.

However right here’s what actually bought me: Bezos isn’t simply avoiding unhealthy information or work stress. He’s defending his mind’s greatest hours. Give it some thought. You get up contemporary, and instantly you’re responding to different individuals’s priorities. Their emails, their posts, their all the pieces. You’ve given away your psychological prime time earlier than you’ve even had espresso.

No surprise Bezos guards this time like a dragon guarding gold.

8:00 AM: Breakfast, The place Enterprise Meets Octopus

The Bezos household breakfast is seemingly fairly the manufacturing. Not as a result of it’s fancy (although there was that one time…), however as a result of it’s so intentionally regular.

As Sánchez lately informed Individuals, their mornings are surprisingly low-key: “We’re very regular. We now have dinner collectively each evening. We now have breakfast collectively each morning. He makes the espresso within the morning, not me.”

Wait, the billionaire makes the espresso? “He makes actually good espresso,” she laughed. “He will get up sooner than I do. He’s superb within the morning. He wakes up pleased.”

The household even has their very own little traditions. When the children depart for college, everybody shouts: “Make good decisions!” (Which, actually, is recommendation we may all use.)

However let’s discuss in regards to the octopus within the room.

Again in 2014, Bezos was having a breakfast assembly with Matt Rutledge, the founding father of Woot (which Amazon had acquired). In line with the legendary D Journal story, Bezos ordered Mediterranean octopus with potatoes, bacon, inexperienced garlic yogurt, and a poached egg. For breakfast. At like 8 AM.

When Rutledge requested him why Amazon purchased Woot, Bezos appeared down at his plate and stated: “You’re the octopus that I’m having for breakfast. Once I take a look at the menu, you’re the factor I don’t perceive, the factor I’ve by no means had. I will need to have the breakfast octopus.”

That’s such an influence transfer. Whereas everybody else is consuming their unhappy protein bars, Bezos is out right here ordering cephalopods as a result of they confuse him. You’ll be able to’t educate that sort of confidence.

However often? His breakfast might be fairly regular. Cereal with the children. Perhaps eggs. The purpose isn’t what he eats. It’s that he takes the time to eat it, with individuals he loves, with out dashing.

Harvard Enterprise Assessment analysis exhibits that leaders who begin their day with optimistic private interactions are actually 31% extra productive. One thing about oxytocin, dopamine, all these feel-good chemical compounds. Seems, happiness isn’t simply good to have. It’s a efficiency enhancer.

9:00 AM: Pondering Time and Studying, Consuming Data Intentionally

Throughout Bezos’s simple mornings, one other exercise he values is solely considering or studying.

Being the proprietor of The Washington Put up, he has a penchant for newspapers, nevertheless it’s additionally a deliberate alternative of medium that doesn’t ping him with notifications.

“I rise up early. I’m going to mattress early. I prefer to putter within the morning,” he stated in his Bloomberg chat with Rubenstein, explaining he doesn’t prefer to schedule something instantly.

This puttering, past espresso and household, possible consists of brainstorming or planning in his head. Bezos has talked about doing what he calls “little considering retreats,” taking time away from the frenzy to focus deeply on considering via issues or concepts. Whereas a full retreat would possibly occur exterior each day routine, you’ll be able to see the mini-version of it in his mornings: unstructured time typically results in artistic ideas popping up.

If Bezos has a very thorny problem or a brand new thought he’s mulling, the morning quiet is when these ideas can percolate. Psychologically, our brains are sometimes in a combined state of alpha and theta waves after we first get up, which might be conducive to creativity and perception. By not drowning that out with rapid work, Bezos provides himself an opportunity to maybe have an “aha second” over espresso. Many artistic individuals and scientists via historical past (from author Trollope to inventor Edison) had morning routines involving quiet considering or studying, exactly as a result of it’s a fruitful time for the thoughts.

One other element: Bezos doesn’t examine work emails till after his morning routine, however he would possibly skim inner reviews or paperwork later within the morning as soon as he’s in work mode. He has a well known apply at Amazon of beginning conferences with everybody silently studying printed memos for Half-hour, emphasizing the significance of cautious studying and considering. That respect for the written phrase suggests his mornings would possibly sometimes contain reviewing necessary paperwork in a relaxed setting. He definitely gained’t be composing lengthy responses on e mail at 7 a.m., however he would possibly learn a product plan or a manuscript (if engaged on Blue Origin or different tasks) as a part of his considerate begin.

10:00 AM: When Actual Work Lastly Begins

Right here’s the punchline to this complete morning routine: Bezos doesn’t begin precise work till 10 AM.

Ten. Within the morning.

In his Financial Membership discuss, he defined his philosophy: “I do my excessive IQ conferences earlier than lunch. Like something that’s going to be actually mentally difficult, that’s a ten o’clock assembly. And by 5 PM, I’m like, ‘I can’t take into consideration this at present, let’s do that tomorrow at 10 AM.’”

He really stated this with a straight face to a room stuffed with DC energy brokers. The honesty is refreshing, proper? Most CEOs fake they’re machines, crushing it 24/7. Bezos is like, “Nah, my mind turns to mush after lunch similar to yours.”

This matches up with what circadian rhythm researchers have discovered. For individuals who wake round 7 AM, peak alertness hits round 10 AM. Advanced reasoning skills are highest mid-morning. By late afternoon, we’re all mainly operating on fumes.

So Bezos constructed his schedule round biology, not bravado.

Even now, after stepping down as Amazon CEO to concentrate on Blue Origin and his different tasks, he nonetheless protects his mornings. “I work more durable than ever,” he stated in a latest interview, “however these morning hours are nonetheless mine.”

Take into consideration that. The person may actually do no matter he needs. He selected to maintain puttering.

Why Bezos’s Morning Routine Works (In line with Science)

Jeff Bezos’s method of beginning the day would possibly sound luxurious (few individuals can delay work till 10 a.m. or ignore their cellphone for hours). However components of his routine might be extremely efficient and are supported by analysis:

1. Sleep Optimization = Cognitive Excellence

Harvard Medical College’s Dr. Charles Czeisler’s analysis confirms:

• 21% higher decision-making with 8 hours of sleep
• Improved govt perform
• Enhanced emotional regulation

“We now know that 24 hours with out sleep or every week of sleeping 4 or 5 hours an evening induces an impairment equal to a blood alcohol degree of .1%,” says Czeisler. “We might by no means say, ‘This particular person is a good employee! He’s drunk on a regular basis!’ but we proceed to rejoice individuals who sacrifice sleep for work.”

2. The Gradual Morning Benefit

The Wall Road Journal’s protection of the “sluggish morning motion” exhibits unhurried mornings result in:

• 34% decrease cortisol ranges
• Higher sustained consideration all through the day
• Lowered determination fatigue

3. Digital Detox Advantages

Stanford’s Way of life Medication analysis discovered that delaying cellphone use by 1 hour each day ends in:

• 26% discount in anxiousness
• Improved focus for 3+ hours
• Higher sleep high quality the next evening

Stanford specialists explicitly suggest avoiding display screen time for at the least the primary hour of your day, recommendation that aligns completely with Bezos’s routine.

4. Household Connection ROI

Analysis exhibits morning household time correlates with:

• Larger life satisfaction scores
• 23% higher work efficiency
• Lowered burnout danger

5. Strategic Power Administration

Executives who align duties with power ranges present:

• 2x productiveness on advanced duties
• Higher long-term determination outcomes
• Larger group satisfaction scores

Your 30-Day Bezos Morning Problem

Prepared to check drive the Bezos method? Right here’s your motion plan:

Week 1: Repair Your Sleep

Pay attention, you’ll be able to’t get up naturally should you’re going to mattress at 2 AM scrolling TikTok. This week:

• Calculate your superb bedtime (8 hours earlier than you could wake)
• Telephone goes in one other room at 10 PM
• Set up these blackout curtains (severely, greatest $40 you’ll spend)
• Or get the dawn simulator alarm should you’re not able to go full no-alarm
• Monitor what time you naturally get up

You would possibly shock your self. I began waking up at 6:45 with out an alarm after simply 4 days.

Week 2: Study to Putter

This feels bizarre at first. You’ll have main FOMO. Push via:

• Block Half-hour for completely nothing
• Make espresso slowly, prefer it’s a meditation (I’m obsessive about this temperature-control mug)
• Learn one thing on paper (newspaper, ebook, cereal field, no matter)
• While you attain to your cellphone, don’t

The anxiousness peaks round day 3, then one thing shifts. You’ll see.

Week 3: Join With People

In case you dwell alone, this would possibly imply calling your mother. In case you have household, it means really seeing them:

• Breakfast collectively, no telephones
• Create a foolish custom (Bezos has “Make good decisions!”)
• In case you have pets, they rely
• The purpose is optimistic connection earlier than productiveness

Week 4: Restructure Your Work

That is the masters class:

• Push your first assembly as late as attainable
• Schedule hardest duties for 10-11 AM
• Admit that you just’re ineffective after 3 PM (all of us are)
• Monitor your selections (are they higher?)

Doc all the pieces:

• ☐ Power ranges (1-10) at 10 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM
• ☐ Sleep high quality
• ☐ Morning stress (how rushed do you are feeling?)
• ☐ One factor you’re grateful for (yeah, it’s tacky, do it anyway)

After 30 days, you’ll have knowledge. Actual proof of whether or not this works for you.

The Backside Line (Or: What Would Bezos Do?)

Jeff Bezos constructed probably the most worthwhile firms in historical past. He revolutionized commerce, launched an area firm, purchased a newspaper, and have become the world’s richest particular person (for some time, anyway).

And he did all of it whereas puttering round till 10 AM.

Perhaps the true productiveness hack isn’t doing extra. Perhaps it’s doing much less, however doing it on the proper time, with the fitting power, after the correct amount of sleep.

Perhaps success isn’t about crushing it at 4 AM. Perhaps it’s about figuring out your self nicely sufficient to work along with your biology as an alternative of towards it.

Or possibly, and listen to me out, possibly a billionaire who orders octopus for breakfast simply operates on a distinct wavelength than the remainder of us, and we should always all simply attempt puttering for a month to see what occurs.

What’s the worst that would occur? You get extra sleep, spend time with household, and delay e mail for just a few hours?

Bezos would most likely say that feels like a reasonably whole lot.

He’d additionally most likely order the octopus.

Begin tomorrow. Set that bedtime. Conceal that cellphone. Make that espresso slowly.

And putter your strategy to no matter your model of $170 billion seems like.

P.S. I attempted each routines. Bezos gained. The Ember mug helped.

🌅 Discover Extra from Our Morning Routine Collection

Jeff Bezos’s puttering method is only one path to morning success. We’ve analyzed the each day rituals of the world’s most profitable individuals that will help you craft your excellent morning. Right here’s what else we’ve found:

Jocko Willink’s 4:30 AM Navy Morning Routine: The exact opposite of Bezos. This retired Navy SEAL commander wakes at 4:30 AM sharp, posts his watch photograph for accountability, and instantly hits the health club. If Bezos is about movement, Jocko is about drive. Self-discipline equals freedom.

Andrew Huberman’s Science-Backed Morning Routine: Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Huberman breaks down the precise protocols for optimizing your circadian rhythm, from morning daylight publicity to particular respiration methods. The right mix of science and apply.

Mel Robbins’ 5-Second Morning Routine: The motivational powerhouse who created the 5-Second Rule exhibits learn how to blast via morning procrastination and construct unstoppable momentum. Much less puttering, extra motion, however with function.

Tim Ferriss’s Morning Routine for Peak Efficiency: The 4-Hour Workweek writer’s experimental method to mornings, from his well-known morning pages journaling to bulletproof espresso. He’s examined all the pieces so that you don’t should.

There’s no “excellent” morning routine, solely the proper routine for YOU. Some thrive with Jocko’s iron self-discipline, others want Bezos’s mild puttering. The secret is discovering what aligns along with your targets, way of life, and pure rhythms.

Which morning type suits you greatest? Discover our full Morning Routine Collection to search out your superb wake-up technique.