3.🔊 Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos swears by eight hours of sleep each night. He’s also a big proponent of waking up naturally, without an alarm. Oprah also wakes up on her own. In her wellness diary, she explained how she sets her internal clock: “I have never set an alarm, I don’t believe in them. They are…alarming! I put the number in my mind, and I wake up before that, usually between 6:02 and 6:20, because the dogs are trained to go out around that time. My first thought in the morning is, ‘Oh, I’m alive. Thank you!'” “Arianna Huffington follows a similar routine.

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🔊 what is your morning ritual? – weekdays and on weekends?  How has your morning ritual changed over time – do you think its healthy to have a ritual?

4.🔊 According to the National Sleep Foundation, Huffington’s early bedtime allows her to get eight hours of sleep—the recommended amount of sleep for most adults. It also ensures that she wakes up naturally without an alarm clock. “Just think about the definition of the word alarm,” explains Huffington, “a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger.” Beginning the day in such a startling manner creates a flood of stress hormones and adrenaline as our body prepares for danger. Not the best way to start the day!

Morning habit #2: Don’t go straight for the coffee

5.🔊 Grabbing a cup of coffee first thing in the morning may seem like the logical choice, but health experts say water is better. After going several hours without H₂O, a serving of water first thing can hydrate the body while aiding digestion and metabolism. Water is an essential nutrient, and the organs and tissues in your body depend on it to function. Since your body loses water regularly, you need to compensate for these losses to avoid dehydration.

Morning habit #3: Get your body moving

6.🔊 Morning exercise is a daily habit of many successful leaders. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the owner of lifestyle company Goop, says that she works out every morning after checking emails. Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates likes to multitask during his morning treadmill workouts by watching DVDs while exercising, according to The New York Times. As Niki Leondakis, the CEO of the luxury lifestyle brand Equinox, who regularly does morning yoga, puts it, “I’ve always known that you have to be physically healthy and strong to be mentally healthy and strong. It’s all connected.”

🔊 If you could chose when, where and for how long you worked. What kind of schedule would you design? Why?

Morning habit #4: Eliminate decision-making tasks

7.🔊 Sometimes the best way to have a productive morning is to get a head start the night before. Many successful people spend their evenings getting ready for the following day because it frees up their mornings to get a jump on meaningful work. Former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault ends his evenings by writing down three things he wants to accomplish the next day. Shark Tank host Barbara Corcoran follows suit, making her to-do list before leaving the office at night.

Morning habit #5: Ask yourself this question

8.🔊 Self-reflection in the morning can set you up for success the entire day. No one knew this better than the late Steve Jobs. Too often, we go through our lives on autopilot, only to realize later that we’ve lost sight of our values, goals and passions along the way. Steve Jobs avoided this scenario by asking himself one fundamental question in the mirror every morning: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? If the answer is no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” This self-awareness technique is genius. Imagine waking up every morning not wanting to do your job and feel that way for months or years on end.

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🔊 What are some of the more interesting morning rituals or rituals in general that you have heard of ?

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