What is your morning routine?

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What is your morning routine?

Ramsey Blankenship
Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes

I have heard nearly all successful people such as Tony Robbins, Grant Cardon, Timothy Ferris etc. describe their morning routine. Most of them do something along the lines of "Mind, Body, and Spirit" so I wrote down a routine for myself. I am interested in what your routine is and why it helps with your success.

4:00 - wake up

4:15 - coffee made

4:30 - read and post in bigger pockets for 30 minutes

5:00 - Conduct market research for 30 minutes

5:30 - Check personal emails

6:00 - Hygiene

6:15 - leave for the gym (listening to BP Podcast along the way)

7:00 - workout for 1 hour

8:00 - Shower

8:30 - relax for 30 minutes before starting the day job (Navy)

9:00 - begin work.

What really ended up happening on the first day:

4:00 -  hit snooze

4:09 - hit snooze again

4:18 - awake and lie to myself for 5 hours

9:00 - start work with less sleep and in no better shape than I did the day before.

I obviously plan to make this much better and to actually follow the routine. I am interested in what other people are doing and why? 

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Joshua D.
Investor · Columbus, MT · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y

@Ramsey Blankenship

1. Wake up at 6:00

2. Spend 30 min reading the Bible and praying.

3. Spend the next 30 min reading other good books (mostly realestate related) 

4. Kids wake up around 7... help my wife get them ready and leave for work by 8. 

(I never eat food in the morning) 

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  • Derrick E.
    Investor · The Creek, WV · Member since 2014 · 890 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    I have two little girls both under the age of two. I run and manage our REI from home. I typically get them fed and started with the morning and then hop online for a bit to do SOMETHING with REI. That might be reading here, following up on leads/deals from previous days etc.

    I see no reason to try to force/create a routine just because it worked for someone else. I do what works for me. I got into this business for the freedom it brings. I didn't wake up this morning until 8:00 (rare with the girls now.) It's 9:34 and I haven't done anything productive in terms of business. 

    7Reply
  • Thomas S.
    Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    8y

    Wake up at 7, been doing it for 45 years and have no control over it, eat my breakfast and start my day. Every day is different. 

    Making plans like working out is a luxury for those with nothing better to do. There is nothing wrong with planning hobbies into your work day but it has nothing to do with making money.

    It is easy to build a routine around a 9 to 5 job but not practical if you are beginning as a full time real estate investor or landlord.

    3Reply
  • Joshua D.
    Investor · Columbus, MT · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship

    1. Wake up at 6:00

    2. Spend 30 min reading the Bible and praying.

    3. Spend the next 30 min reading other good books (mostly realestate related) 

    4. Kids wake up around 7... help my wife get them ready and leave for work by 8. 

    (I never eat food in the morning) 

    9Reply
  • Chinmay J.
    Investor · Northern, VA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 904 votes
    8y

    Yeah. I am not forcing myself into none of these "guru" routines. Its great to know they worked for someone, and its also great for those "gurus" to sell more books and CDs.  If I try to follow them (and I have in the past), it just stresses me out to the point where following the routine becomes the objective.  That's just me.  I perform my best when I am not stressed out and relaxed. 

    I wake up around 6:45. Get ready by 8:00. At work around 9:00. Listen to Howard Stern on my way into work. Some late 90s early 2000s hip-hop on my way back.  Keep up with baseball news on MLB.COM all day long. 

    Will listen to a podcast or two while doing household chores or just driving around the town doing chores. 

    As long as all the stuff that needs to get done is done, I just pretty much chill. I have checklists to keep on track. Just follow the checklists. 

    The great Winston Churchill said, "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire".  One of my goals in life is not to become that dweeb. Gotta have some fun along the way if we are going to make all that money in RE.

    3Reply
  • Leather Nix
    Longview, TX · Member since 2017 · 65 posts · 50 votes
    8y
    Hahaha @Ramsey Blankenship that made me laugh. I've found that making small adjustments is easier than drastic upheavals to my routine. Some of the suggestions of Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins are great. You may also try incorporating them at other times of the day, if the mornings are too difficult. Also, there's a cool little book called "The morning sidekick journal" that is good for shaping a morning routine. I prefer the "panda planner" because it works better for me throughout the day, but both are good resources.
    6Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y

    @Derrick E. I have two little ones as well. I work a full time Job in the Navy and also run a baseball tournament business with partners on the side. REI is third fiddle however it is my passion. I get up at 4:00 because it is the only time in the house that I can be alone and truly productive. There is no doubt that waking up earlier than the rest of the household is beneficial, I am simply trying to make it as efficient as possible.

    I do actually follow the routine for the most part, however I am not getting crazy and setting timers. When I check stuff out on BP, I read and post until I feel I have learned or helped. I work out however not religiously like i used to. 

    I think there is benefit to a routine for sure.

    5Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Thomas S.:

    Wake up at 7, been doing it for 45 years and have no control over it, eat my breakfast and start my day. Every day is different. 

    Making plans like working out is a luxury for those with nothing better to do. There is nothing wrong with planning hobbies into your work day but it has nothing to do with making money.

    It is easy to build a routine around a 9 to 5 job but not practical if you are beginning as a full time real estate investor or landlord.

     I have to disagree with everything you say. I am not sure anyone who works out considers it a luxury, yet a priority. I dont see the point in making tons of money if you are not fit/healthy/energetic enough to enjoy your time spending it. I am not talking about being a gym rat or a health nerd - however staying physically active is by no means a luxury.   This is not a mens health forum so I will move on. 

    I am not a full time investor or landlord, so I may be off when stating this, but isnt the entire point of being a REI to have the freedom to chose your schedule instead of a boss telling you when/where to be?

    I have a 9:00 to (Whenever the work is done) and luckily the military gives us Physical training hours to work out, however I dont think its super easy to plan a routine with someone else determining you work load. 

    Ramsey

    6Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y

    @Joshua D. if i didnt eat food in the morning there would be a jumper on the bridge demanding coffee and bacon! I cant function without breakfast.    Why dont you eat? 

    2Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Leather Nix:
    Hahaha @Ramsey Blankenship that made me laugh. I've found that making small adjustments is easier than drastic upheavals to my routine. Some of the suggestions of Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins are great. You may also try incorporating them at other times of the day, if the mornings are too difficult. Also, there's a cool little book called "The morning sidekick journal" that is good for shaping a morning routine. I prefer the "panda planner" because it works better for me throughout the day, but both are good resources.

     The mornings are likely the only time I can get stuff done with an infant in the house and my work schedule. I will check out the Sidekick Journal. Thanks for the referral!

    Ramsey

    1Reply
  • Susan K.
    Real Estate Agent · Palm Beach Gardens, FL · Member since 2017 · 199 posts · 124 votes
    8y

    7:00 am wake up

    7:05 let dog out

    7:10 drink water

    7:15 eat food

    7:20 check MLS # 1 and MLS # 2

    8:00 check zillow

    8:15 check emails

    8:30 check BP, check news, etc.

    9:00 go work on rehab at flip house. Sounds exciting huh?

    1Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y

    @Susan K. atleast your hydrating. haha

    1Reply
  • Caleb Heimsoth
    Rental Property Investor · Durham, NC · Member since 2016 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    8y
    I get up, make my breakfast (always toast) and read the news before going to work.
    1Reply
  • Andrew Jacobson
    Investor · Callahan, FL · Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 3 votes
    8y

    I tend to wake up around 4 as well to read real estate investment articles/forums and drink the morning joe. I then read until about 5, when I do a home workout then get a shower and make a breakfast shake to drink on the way to the boat (Yay Navy life!)

    Until I go to shore duty, I mostly do research and learn. Once there, I'll be able to put in the time for good investment decisions. I've found that whenever I study a subject for a considerable amount of time before diving in, I can make better course corrections as surprises come up.

    2Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    8y

    Get up at 6 am . S ,Shower and shave . 7 am ,  Drag the 12 year old out of bed , tell the 9 year old to wake up . Fight with the kids about what they are wearing to school . Kick them out the door to catch the school bus .  Go to work  . and  repeat 

    1Reply
  • Derrick E.
    Investor · The Creek, WV · Member since 2014 · 890 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    I never eat in the mornings either.

    4Reply
  • Brie SchmidtBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    8y

    Wake up 6:30 - 8:00 am - I wake up when my body tells me it is time

    Make espresso, drink espresso, repeat 

    Go through my emails / texts.  I follow the "getting things done method" which basically is:

    • Keep a to do list of every little thing you need to do - so I add to this based on emails/texts for the day
    • Anything that takes just a few minutes I do immediately, and cross them off the list
    • Prioritize my to-do list by most important tasks and block them off for the day

    Certain days I am more focused than others, and when I am not focused I don't work unless I have to.  I like to be "on point" so if I am having an off day and nothing needs to get done that day I take the day off or take a nap

    7pm at the latest is my stop time where I relax and I don't work Sundays

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    6Reply
  • Paul G.
    Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2017 · 119 posts · 101 votes
    8y

    I think it's better to show the end of the day prior, which will put my morning wakeup into context... Needless to say, my body tells me I need 8 hours of sleep... I'm just a bad listener it seems.

    10PM - get in bed.

    10:30PM wife is asleep, I start RE research on my phone

    12AM Finally tired, fall asleep

    7:00AM Wakeup 

    7:15AM Wakeup try 2

    7:30AM Wakeup try 3

    7:45AM Wakeup try 4 (If you couldn't tell, I've gotten extremely good at turning off (not snooze) my phone without actually waking up.

    8:00AM Crap, I wanted to get up at 7.  Rush through hygeine, feed/play with dogs, coffee

    8:30AM out the door for work

    No food.  I'm never hungry in the morning.  But I also eat "lunch" at 11AM, so that kinda counts right?

    9 to 5 or 6 Work

    6-10PM - Make dinner for wife, play with dogs, watch hockey (most days)

    Pretty standard day for me.

    3Reply
  • Chris Gordon
    Rental Property Investor · Venetia, PA · Member since 2015 · 107 posts · 47 votes
    8y

    i wake up naturally pretty early.

    I brush my teeth, drink water, etc

    Meditate

    Coffee

    Review my goals and my plan to get there

    Determine what i need to do today

    Go to gym, most of the time while there i try to listen to something that pertains to education

    4Reply
  • Zachary Wilson
    Pueblo, CO · Member since 2012 · 54 posts · 32 votes
    8y
    Dude love it!!! At first when reading the post I was like, oh my god this morning routine is legit! But then when I saw the last part I laughed big time! Personally I used to have a lot of trouble keeping up with all of the routines. I have narrowed it down to be a little less in terms of responsibility but it has seemed to be working. I am operating under the “one thing” look on things where it takes 66 days to develop a new habit. My first habit was to wake up and immediately read for 25 min every single day. Did 66 days worth of that and I can now say it’s a habit for me. Currently on day 20 of “meditation” for 20 min after I read. My eventual goal is to do 25 min of reading, 20 min of mediation and 25 min of exercise. Focusing on “one thing” at a time has helped me personally.
    6Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Zachary Wilson:

    Dude love it!!! At first when reading the post I was like, oh my god this morning routine is legit! But then when I saw the last part I laughed big time! Personally I used to have a lot of trouble keeping up with all of the routines. I have narrowed it down to be a little less in terms of responsibility but it has seemed to be working. I am operating under the “one thing” look on things where it takes 66 days to develop a new habit. My first habit was to wake up and immediately read for 25 min every single day. Did 66 days worth of that and I can now say it’s a habit for me. Currently on day 20 of “meditation” for 20 min after I read. My eventual goal is to do 25 min of reading, 20 min of mediation and 25 min of exercise. Focusing on “one thing” at a time has helped me personally.

     I follow the “One thing” for goal setting as well. I love that book. I look back on it alot to remind me to get my a$$ back in track. I think i just get very cyclical with my priorities. Sometimes I focus on getting into amazing shape, then Once I am in shape I start shoveling burgers and burritos down my throat while I focus on business because I dont plan ahead for lunch and dinner. Once I get a solid deal completed, and am nice and fat I start back at focusing on working out. I need to conform to a routine that allows me to atleast maintain my progress in health, investing, and primary job - and throughout the remainder of the day I can focus on excelling at one of the three.

    0Reply
  • Mary White
    Rental Property Investor · Klamath Falls, OR · Member since 2016 · 146 posts · 213 votes
    8y

    I'm up at 5:00 on most days, drink tea, and make a to do list. I stay off the internet/computer first thing and depending on the day I either clean my house or work on our BRRRR property. My kids are up at 8:30 and ready for homeschool so that gives me a lot of motivation to get up. I read and check Realtor.com, etc while the kids eat and do school work. I'm working on how to stay fit...p90X with the kids maybe. I've noticed that when I get my list checked off early, my whole day feels better. I'm more energized and find myself adding to my list throughout the day.

    1Reply
  • Frank Palomino
    Accountant · Orange, TX · Member since 2017 · 14 posts · 12 votes
    8y

    My morning varies. However, as of late, I make sure out of bed as soon as my eyes open (normally around 6:45 am). I have found that doing this has really started to ramp up my energy as opposed to setting an alarm and hitting snooze. 

    I start by reading for 30 min and then get ready to go to the gym to spend about hour working out. I immediately head home and if I feel like it, I'll make a quick breakfast (usually bacon and eggs) then start my day.

    Two new things I would like to incorporate into my morning routine include a quick journal entry and some brief meditation. I have not tried either of these but I am curious to see what kind of energy or internal motivation it brings out.

    2Reply
  • Shiloh LundahlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship I also wake up pretty early naturally like what @Chris Gordon mentioned.  For example, it’s about 5:30 am and I just finished reading this tread. I don’t tend to lie in bed after I wake up because I get bored.

    I also have two types of schedules depending on if I’m in California or Arizona.

    Arizona schedule (Wednesday through Friday)

    Around 5 am - wake up

    Read scriptures for 15-30 minutes and say prayers. Sometimes I get in meditation, visualizations, and affirmations (I try to follow the miracle morning) other times I get distracted by emails.

    Then read a few posts on BiggerPockets and try to make a couple of comments. 

    Grab a protein bar and protein drink and I head to the gym

    Lift weights and write therapy notes and listen to audio books or podcasts between sets until 7:45

    Get to work by 8 am to meet with my first client of the day. 

    Make calls to business partner, contractors, and assistant in between sessions to run my real estate businesses.

    Between 1 pm and 3 pm - Have a 2-hour lunch scheduled to meet with different investors to network and find money partners who want to partner on deals or meet with my own mentors.

    3 pm - go back to work. Finish meeting with clients by 9 pm.

    Get home and watch Designated Survivor or go running and listen to some more podcasts.

    Go to bed by around 10:30 or 11 pm.

    California schedule (Saturday through Wednesday morning)

    Wake up around 5 am.

    Scriptures, prayer, reading on BiggerPockets, gym, notes, etc. until 7:45.

    7:45 family devotional.

    Between 8 am and 10 pm have family time, do what my wife needs me to do, call business partner, contractors, and assistant to run real estate.

    On my drives back and forth from Arizona to California I go what Zig Ziggler called Auto University and I listen to audio books or podcasts for 8-12 hours. 

    This has been my life for around a year-and-a-half now.

    My fun is in interacting with my business partner and contractors (they are a hoot), going to Universal Studios with the family (we have passes), and joking around with friends. So it’s not all work.

    Anyway it’s about 6:15 now and I’m heading off to the gym.

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  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y

    @Shiloh Lundahl that is pretty intense. When I was in florida instructing at the Navy Dive school, i had a solid morning routine with meditation, reading, and even an ice bath following my workouts with the class. It was legit and I started every day feeling extremely accomplished by 9:00 am. The rest of the day I could focus on what made me happiest. I want to get back to that! I think my disconnect in Ca. Is my transit to work has doubled, and I have not put working out as a priority. I truley beleive the morning workouts - though they took a large chunk of time - gave mental clarity and energy throughout the day to get more accomplished

    0Reply
  • Shiloh LundahlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship I agree, I think that working out/exercise is a pillar of physical and mental health and getting it done in the morning helps me feel accomplished. Also, as I stated that I write my notes at the gym, I pair something I like to do (working out) with something I don’t like to do (paperwork). Because I need to get my paperwork done and I want to get a work out done, it is more motivating to me to get both of them done if I pair them together.

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