With an estimated net worth of $243.5 billion, Jeff Bezos is currently the fourth richest man in the world, and he’s often asked for his advice on what makes him so successful. When it comes to his morning routine, the answer the billionaire entrepreneur gives might come as a bit of a surprise.
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Instead of having a busy morning, working three phones and getting a ton of things done, Bezos actually chooses low-stress, decision-less and phone-free mornings. It might be hard to think of that as a recipe for success, but his method is actually backed by neuroscience. Here’s how Bezos’ morning routine could help improve your financial decisions.
What Is Jeff Bezos’ Daily Routine?
Bezos outlined his routine in a speech to the Economic Club of Washington. Unlike some other CEOs, who may get up at the crack of dawn, run five miles or start business meetings, Bezos “putters around,” having quality time with his family, reading the paper and drinking his coffee.
His wife, Lauren Sanchez, told People magazine that her favorite part of the day is the morning, when she and Bezos share a “magic moment” of conversation before their kids wake up. According to Sanchez, one of their rules during this time is that they don’t get on their phones.
This morning ritual remains in place, no matter how crazy his business world might become. It’s a conscious choice that the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin says improves his energy levels and decision-making capabilities for the rest of the day.
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What Does Science Say?
Science says that Bezos may actually be onto something. According to Maris Loeffler of the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine (SLM) Program, spending an hour scrolling on your phone in bed occasionally might not cause much harm. However, if this habit repeats daily over a long period, it can start to take a significant toll.
What type of toll? Numerous studies have shown that too much screen time has harmful effects. These range from difficulty sleeping and learning to eye problems, mental health issues and even lower levels of gray matter in the brain.
The Stanford Lifestyle Medicine experts even explicitly suggest that you completely avoid screen time for the first hour of the day, a process that aligns perfectly with Bezos’ routine.
What are some alternate options for that first hour of the day? Here are some that are recommended by SLM experts:
- Exercise
- Talking with friends or family
- Listening to music
- Meditating
- Reading
- Getting outside and getting natural light, sunshine and fresh air
Choosing to start your day with a morning routine based on lifestyle medicine practices, rather than immediately turning to screens, helps foster a positive mindset and promotes both brain health and cognitive function, according to Loeffler.
There’s a Method to Bezos’ Madness
At first glance, Bezos might seem to be living “the easy life,” with his relaxing mornings and purposeful avoidance of screen time. But there’s much more to it than that. While every person is different, in the aggregate, studies have shown that doing something besides “doom scrolling” in the first hour after you wake up can help boost energy levels, mental health and productivity, among others.
The range of recommended activities is so broad that doing essentially anything besides looking at your screen first thing in the morning is helpful. So, take it from one of the world’s most successful men — and from the scientific community — put down the phone when you first wake up. You might be surprised at how it improves your decision-making capabilities.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Jeff Bezos’ Morning Routine Could Improve Your Financial Decisions
