Famous morning rituals

Mar 19, 2025

The way we start the day shapes the hours that follow. From writers and artists to entrepreneurs and philosophers, many great minds have adhered to structured morning routines—balancing discipline with creativity, solitude with focus. These routines reflect the different ways people optimise their energy, inspiration, and productivity.



01. Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) – The Virtuous Morning

Franklin meticulously structured his mornings, beginning with a self-reflection question: "What good shall I do this day?"

Routine:

  • 5 AM: Wake up, wash, and reflect on the day ahead.

  • 5:30–7 AM: Plan the day, read, and set intentions.

  • 8 AM–12 PM: Deep work.

02. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) – The Measured Morning

Beethoven followed a precise and almost ritualistic morning routine, especially regarding coffee.

Routine:

  • Wake early.

  • Measure exactly 60 coffee beans for his morning cup.

  • Compose music until midday, undisturbed.

03. Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) – Writing at First Light

Hemingway believed in writing first thing in the morning, when the mind was sharpest.

Routine:

  • Wake at sunrise.

  • Write standing up for several hours, stopping only when he knew what would come next.

  • Spend the rest of the day outdoors—fishing, hunting, or socializing.

  • "The early morning hours are best for working. There is no one to disturb you, and it is cool or cold, and you come to your work and warm as you write."

04. Steve Jobs (1955–2011) – The One Question Morning

Jobs kept his morning routine simple but guided by a daily self-reflection.

Routine:

  • Wake early.

  • Look in the mirror and ask: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do?"

  • Prioritize work that mattered most.

05. Maya Angelou (1928–2014) – Writing in Solitude

Angelou maintained a dedicated writing practice, creating an environment free from distractions.

Routine:

  • Wake early.

  • Go to a rented hotel room with only writing materials.

  • Write from 7 AM to 2 PM, avoiding interruptions.

  • Return home and read what she had written, editing minimally.

  • "I keep a hotel room in which I do my work—a tiny, mean room with just a bed, and sometimes, if I can find it, a face basin. I keep a dictionary, a Bible, a deck of cards, and a bottle of sherry."

06. Tim Ferriss (b. 1977) – The Five-Step Morning

Ferriss follows a structured but flexible morning routine to optimize energy and focus.

Routine:

  • Make the bed.

  • Meditate for 10–20 minutes.

  • Exercise lightly (push-ups, stretching).

  • Drink tea or coffee.

  • Journal (gratitude & morning pages).

07. Winston Churchill (1874–1965) – Mornings in Bed

Unlike many disciplined early risers, Churchill's morning was slow and deliberate.

Routine:

  • Wake at 7:30 AM—but remain in bed until 11 AM.

  • Read newspapers and dictate letters to his secretaries from bed.

  • Finally get up, bathe, and begin the day.

  • "I am a man of simple tastes—I am easily satisfied with the best."

08. Toni Morrison (1931–2019) – Watching the Light Change

Morrison believed in the importance of small rituals, particularly watching the transition from dark to light in the morning.

Routine:

  • Wake before dawn.

  • Sit outside and watch the sunrise.

  • Write immediately, using the stillness of the early hours.

  • "I don't do it anymore because I don't have to. But there was a time when I would rise at 5, watch the light come, and then begin to work."

09. Haruki Murakami (b. 1949) – The Marathon Morning

Murakami treats writing and physical endurance as complementary disciplines.

Routine:

  • Wake at 4 AM.

  • Write for five hours straight.

  • Run 10 km or swim 1,500 meters.

  • Spend the rest of the day reading or listening to music.

  • "The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it's a form of mesmerism."

10. Richard Feynman (1918–1988) – Mornings of Play

Theoretical physicist Feynman was known for his playful approach to life and work.

Routine:

  • Wake late (not an early riser).

  • Spend time solving puzzles, playing the bongos, or sketching before work.

  • Let curiosity dictate the first hours of the day.

  • "The highest forms of understanding we can achieve are laughter and human compassion."


Notes

  • Creative minds tend to guard the early hours for deep work (Hemingway, Angelou, Murakami).

  • Some relied on ritual and solitude (Morrison, Angelou, Beethoven).

  • Some embraced play, movement, or curiosity first (Feynman, Murakami, Churchill).

  • Reflection played a key role in prioritization (Jobs, Franklin).