8 things highly successful people do before 9am

Success isn’t born overnight; it happens through consistent, intentional actions. 

One common trait among highly successful people is their ability to make the most of their mornings. 

Because while most of us are still hitting the snooze button, these individuals are already up and running, quite literally in some cases. 

They know the early hours are prime time to set the tone for the rest of the day. The routines may vary, but the message is clear: What you do in the morning can make or break your day. 

So, in this article, we’ll delve into 8 key activities that successful people do before 9 a.m.:

1) Wake up early

The alarm goes off. You have a choice. Hit snooze or get up? 

Well, successful people choose to get up. Why? 

Because the early morning is like a secret time zone. The world is quiet. No calls, no emails, just you.

And it’s not just about having more time. It’s about starting your day with a win. 

Think of it this way, you get up, and you’re already ahead. No rushing, no stress, just peace. 

But don’t worry, you don’t have to wake up at 4 a.m. to be successful. Even 30 minutes earlier can make a big difference to your day. 

Now, depending on how much earlier you wake up, you may find yourself with time to do the following: 

2) Exercise

After waking up early, the next step successful people often take is to exercise. 

This isn’t just about physical health or looking good. Exercise has the power to clear your mind and prepare you for the challenges ahead. 

Now, I’m not a morning person at all. But I notice the difference when I get moving as soon as I wake up – I have more energy for the rest of the day. 

And don’t get me wrong, I’m not out running or swimming. Sometimes I just walk around on the porch and stretch. 

So, whether you prefer a high-intensity workout or something more calming like yoga, the important thing is to move. 

You’ll not only feel better physically but you’ll also find it easier to focus and tackle your tasks, which means being one step closer to success. 

3) Plan the day

After exercise, it’s time to map out your day. Planning ahead is a simple but impactful habit – one that successful people never fail to do. 

Because while you might think your memory alone is good enough, it’s easy to get distracted and waste time, time that could be spent on accomplishing your goals. 

But remember to keep it simple – no long, double-paged lists. Instead:

• To-do list: Write down all the tasks you need to complete. Simple but effective, a to-do list helps you remember what needs to get done.

• Prioritize tasks: After making your list, mark the most important and urgent tasks. Knowing your priorities helps you focus on what truly matters.

• Time-blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time to different tasks or types of work. This helps you manage your day more efficiently and ensures that you make time for important activities.

With your priorities clear, you’re ready to tackle the day. 

Ultimately, this little bit of morning prep can help you stay focused, make better decisions, and handle whatever comes your way.

4) Read

You’ve mapped out your day and you’re pumped. 

So why not keep the momentum going? 

Crack open a book, dive into a blog post, or scroll through a news article. 

What you’ll essentially be doing is warming up your brain (or “getting the creative juices flowing” as my high school English teacher used to say). 

Successful people do this because they know that each time they read up on a subject, they’re investing in their own knowledge. They’re opening their minds. 

More often than not, they’re reading material that will either help them in their personal or professional development. 

And if you’re not a big reader?

Just try it for 10 minutes a day. When you find a book that catches your attention, you’ll find it easier to get into reading, trust me. 

5) Meditate

Ever tried meditation or mindfulness? If you’re imagining sitting on a floor chanting “om,” don’t worry, it’s way more versatile than that.

See, the hustle and bustle of life often makes our minds a noisy place. 

But when you meditate or practice mindfulness, you’re essentially hitting the “mute” button. 

You’re learning to control the volume of your thoughts.

So, why do successful people swear by this? 

It’s simple; it gives them mental clarity, reduces stress, and enhances focus. 

Meditation doesn’t come easy to everyone though. I realized just how “loud and busy” my mind was when I first tried it. 

But the key is to start off small – a couple of minutes at the most. Then slowly build it up.

6) Check email and messages judiciously

Once you’ve practiced meditation, you’re ready to face the chaos of the world – AKA your inbox. 

Don’t groan. I know emails can be a drag, but let’s switch up the narrative. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with hundreds of messages, be selective. 

Successful people aren’t chained to their inboxes. They take control. They check their email and messages, sure, but they do it judiciously. 

Like with everything else, they prioritize what they spend their energy on. They only pay attention to important work emails or other relevant messages that they need to attend to. 

Quora emails, spam from Amazon, and group messages with friends are put on the back burner until later. 

7) Eat a nutritious breakfast

After doing all the above, successful people have worked up an appetite. But rather than head for sugary pancakes or heavy fry-ups, they go opt for healthy food.

Think protein, some good fats, and a little fiber.

This sets them up for the rest of the day. 

Now, if you’re anything like me, you probably skip breakfast and go straight to brunch around 1 p.m. Apart from tea or coffee, I hate eating in the morning.

But as part of improving my morning routine, I now try to incorporate a healthy smoothie, and to be fair, it does boost my energy levels and concentration. 

So it’s worth giving it a go and finding what works for you. 

8) Review goals

You’ve taken steps to make the most out of your morning, but let’s add the final layer—reviewing your goals.

Yes, goals. Those big, audacious things you want to achieve. 

Or maybe they’re small, incremental changes. 

Either way, successful people remind themselves regularly about where they’re heading.

Don’t spend too much time on this task. 

Just take a few minutes to look over your short-term and long-term goals. What are you working towards today, this week, or this year?

This will give you the motivation and focus you need to start your day, and with such a productive morning behind you, you can also be successful in achieving your goals!