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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  • Christi HawkinsPro Member
    Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 237 posts · 142 votes
    8y

    I like to wake up early, around 4. I can get more finished between 4-8 than I can throughout the day. That's when I do most of my research, spend an hour two learning at least one new thing per day on BP.  Do what works for you and figure out when you are most productive. Some people are night owls and they do their best work later in the day, some of us are morning people. I like to make phone calls in the morning because that's when I'm at my best. It all depends on when you are most effective. Don't set up your schedule based on anyone else, do what's best for you and you will be successful. The one thing I always do before I end the day is make a list of what I want to accomplish the next day. I have done it for 20 years and I even go old school and write it down on paper, then check it off with a red pen once I've completed it. I know there are better ways to do it and it shows my old age but I swear I get the most satisfaction when I get to make that red check mark on my list!

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  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    8y

    OK, let's see. 

    Wake up: whenever it gets daylight. Summer that usually means in the late 6ish-early 7ish range. Winter early 7-ish. No alarm clocks unless I have some crazy morning meeting that I have to get to, which is rare because I don't schedule meetings before 10 A.M. My brain doesn't start firing until well past 9 AM. 

    11 PM - 1 AM: go to sleep. 

    Sunday: is generally "No-car Sunday" wherein I try my damndest to avoid getting in a motor vehicle. I have done this for at least the past 5 years, and it is amazing how much it helps the mental psyche to avoid a) rushing anywhere, b) running errands, and c) moving at 65 MPH. Also, Sunday tends to feel like the longest day in the world since I don't go anywhere, and gives me a chance to enjoy some wine and macaroni (we're Italians) and doze in my recliner.

    The rest of the week? Whatever has to happen. Mon-Fri is work days, teaching on the side, real estate wherever it needs to be squeezed in. But I'm getting close to retirement from the day job, so that will change as well. 

    Funny thing is I have had morning jobs my entire life, from the military to my career, and I am not a morning person. If you catch me at 5 in the afternoon I can be setting it on fire, but at 9 AM I'm barely conscious. My favorite hours to get any work done are from about 10 AM to 6 PM. 

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  • Dave Van HornPro Member
    Fund Manager · Wayne, PA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship This is a great idea for a topic! I have a feeling a lot of these will carry many similarities.

    5:30AM - Wake up. Keep a notebook by my bedside and write a bunch of notes. The best ideas seem to hit me at the first thing of a day (or the middle of the night, oddly enough).

    6:00 AM - Workout (usually have a shake before)

    7:00 AM - Read

    7:30 AM - Eat a full breakfast

    8:00 AM - Get ready for work/Check email 

    8:30AM - Get a coffee at Wawa (Philly people know what I'm talking about) and then drive to the office (also listening to a podcast)

    9:00 AM - Start my workday!

    On the weekend this obviously shifts. Usually after waking up I try to read for at least a few hours.

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  • Soh Tanaka
    Property Manager · Lindenhurst, IL · Member since 2016 · 854 posts · 506 votes
    8y

    If I have to guess who will make the most progress in the next 1 year just by reading this thread, I would say @Chris Gordon. I love the fact that he "(r)eview (his) goals and (his) plan to get there

    Determine what (he) need(s) to do today". That's how we progress, in my opinion.

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

    I found this article on BP regaurding morning routines. Good read from a non- guru type:

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/transformative-morning-routine/?utm_source=newsletter

    2Reply
  • Aaron Hall
    Reston, VA · Member since 2014 · 74 posts · 24 votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship Hooyah shipmate, appreciate the service brother. Haha the ending to that took me for a surprise. Gave me a good laugh. I dont have a particular routine in the morning however thanks to my work, I have pockets throughout the day where I use to study all things BP. Oddly enough I'm trying to set up particular routines for market analysis and RE homework during work hours when I'm not busy. This is a luxury I'll only have for a few more months so I'm taking advantage while I can. 

    1Reply
  • Candace Ellison
    Property Manager · Murfreesboro, TN · Member since 2015 · 85 posts · 48 votes
    8y

    Waking up at 5am and having devotion and scripture reading . During that time I drink a warm water with apple cider vinegar and lemon, Practice deep breathing exercises, say affirmations and listen to BP podcast or something motivational on YouTube during my hour long commute to work. 

    2Reply
  • Henri Meli
    Investor · Morrisville, NC · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 673 votes
    8y

    I found that I get things accomplished, when I write them down and can track them.  Many moons ago, I started every day by writing down 10 challenges, 1 motivational quote (on the iPhone).

    A typical week day would look as follow:

    I get up between 6am and 6:30am every day and write down my 10 challenges. 

    Take a shower.

    Eat breakfast.

    7:00 am start working on my challenges.

    7:45 (or 8:45) am 10 mins drive to the office.

    I don't have access to personal email and some websites from the office. At lunch time, I usually drive back home. 

    My schedule on the week-ends is different, as I have a lot of activities and/or if I 'm looking at new business opportunities.

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

    UPDATE****

    I downloaded "The Miracle Morning" Audiobook and listened to it on my flight to Salt Lake City. The book so far is fairly good however the structure of the morning routine was what I wanted to dive into. The acronym the author uses is Life "SAVERS" Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (Writing).

    I adjusted my morning routine while on this trip and for the first day of following along with the guidelines - I must say, it went great! Here is what I have done this morning:

    4:00 - Wake up / make coffee

    4:05 - in shower (listening to Audiobook and getting fresh and so clean clean)

    4:25 - Sit in silence for 10 min (essentially meditating and doing nothing - it was actually nice)

    4:35 - Review long term goals. (I added this after reading the responses from this post. Love the idea)

    4:45 - Write out short term goals (I use the strategy from "The One THING". Starting at the end goal, and working backwards from 5 years, 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, and right now! - this is a powerful process which makes achieving large goals realistic)

    5:00 - Exercise (Ran for 20 min, core workout for 10, stretch for 10)

    5:40 - Breakfast (Protein shake, banana, trail mix)

    6:00 - Pack lunch (Pre mix salad, really nothing to pack)

    6:15 - Affirmations: This is going to take some getting used to. It seems a bit cheesy, but I wont discount anything.

    6:30 - Check emails and post on BP.

    6:40 - Quick rinse and get dressed for work

    6:50 - Visualizations 5 min (Viewing yourself after you have achieved your goals for the day, month, year, and so on

    7:00 - off to work.

    I will have to adjust this routine when i get back to San Diego. So far I truly feel refreshed and accomplished for the day and most of the world is still asleep. This is nice and since I already awake at 4:00, it is good to have structure for my time to myself.

    Any thoughts?

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

    @Ramsey Blankenship I think that’s great. I am doing a miracle morning with my daughter in about 30 minutes. I will have been up for about an hour and 15 minutes or so before I wake her to do the miracle morning with her. This is my second post of the day and I am going to do some reading and notes before I wake her up. I will also look at my long term and shot term goals that I keep on a piece of paper in my pocket throughout the day that I use to help me plan my day.

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  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    8y

    I run 5 miles every other day and have other workouts in between that sometimes. I get a massage once a week and a chiropractor adjustment once a month. 

    In my 40's in age now so I value time more than money. I enjoy making money like others but I am not going 100% of my time to business. I value family,friends,health,spirituality over money.

    When I was in my 20's I didn't think about time as much and was like I will work,work,work to get ahead.

    I know people today older in age 60',70's that have extraordinary wealth and would give back most if it to have the time back for life experiences. They worked tirelessly and never stopped to enjoy the fruits of their labor. That is why I do not buy into (live miserable like a miser for 30 years and one day you can be a millionaire but by then the million will only be worth 500k! lol )

    You plan for tomorrow of course but live for today. Where people tend to get into trouble is they live beyond their current means today and do little planning for tomorrow. There is a fine balance to it. I read anywhere from 500 to 1,000 pages a week but I highly enjoy researching and learning new things. 

    Find out what kind of life,family,work balance  you want and go live it! If you are unable to today then take steps to get to where you want to go.  I have been doing martial arts off and on for decades. Grand master would always say if today not possible, tomorrow possible!

    So if we were trying a jump 360 side kick to the head maybe the first few days it looks really ugly but if you tried your best and were given proper steps eventually one of those days would be a big breakthrough. Some people can be strong physically but have a very weak or undeveloped mind. The mind is just as important as the physical training. Without a strong mind you cannot help the body reach it's full potential. Never giving up and constantly learning the correct information to implement is the key to success. It is not easy but anything worth doing in life takes effort.  

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    8y

    5am wake up   cup of coffee scan east coast emails for funding requests and title docs to sign.

    5:15 am   chug 32 oz of water with 5 ladels of MSM

    5:30 am  another cup  of coffee  scan e mails and BP requests.

    6: 00 am ish  continue with east coast emails and start to set up what we are going to wire that day.

    6:30 am another cup of coffee  continue scanning e mail and BP  talk to closing attornies on east coast and my east coast vendors.

    7: 00 am  down into my basement home gym 60 minutes cardio 15 minutes weights.

    8:00 am  48 minute cool down  then jump in shower

    9:00  am  Eat  while at my desk answering more e mails post on bp a few times and print docs for east coast vendors and closing attornies..

    10:00 am Staff arrives we talk about fundings for the day.. account balances who is going to buy what that day.. what payoffs can we expect etc etc.

    11:00 AM  staff has sent wire request to banks  and printed closing docs for the day.. off to bank to sign closing ( mail away closings) and wire money to various title and escrow companies and closing attornies.  we close anywhere from 1 to 7 deals daily.

    12:00  done at bank come home light lunch catch up on e mail..  and then start to work with my foreclosure teams we just established.. figure out what we are going to bid on that week.. Also go over our new construction deals work with GC  .. one nice thing about new construction draws are once a month.. sign purchase and sale agreements of things sold that weekend.. ( hopefully  LOL)

    by 2 start to slow down and go run errands.. have meetings.. do the may I pick your brain meetings.

    and by 4pm pretty much done.

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  • David Weintraub
    Lender · Berkeley, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 549 votes
    8y
    Wake up, restless. Try bumping into my wife acting like it’s an accident in the hopes of turning her on, but it never works. Usually she goes to the bathroom wondering how she woke up. Then she gets back in bed and my kid wakes. She says ‘can you get her? You’re up...’ Soooo... I get her, but I make a good amount of noise so my wife gets up with her. Then they go down stairs and I go to the bathroom and sit on the porcelain throne reading. I’ve probably crushed like 30 ozs of water by this point. Afterward I go meditate for 10-15 minutes, and then do as many pushups as I can, which ain’t a lot (25-40). Then I stretch for 10 minutes and plank. Go downstairs and decide if I’m working from philly or schlepping across the state to the shore, depending on what needs to be done. The only travel advantage is the podcasts. It’s remarkable how $h1tty radio is...except WXPN... I work and figure out, as Byrne said, ‘Well, how did I get here?...’
    3Reply
  • Matthew Paul
    Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    8y

    I hear the alarm at 7 am , hit the snooze button , get up around 7:30 . Turn watch the news , crack open a cold beer . Throw the clubs in the truck and head to the golf course , hit the bar grab another beer . More guys I know show up drink a few more . It starts raining so we all drive over to the casino , grab some more beer and some peanuts for lunch .   

    Oh I forgot this is what I did in my 20's . Now its up at 5 am get ready for the day , order supplies , talk to subs , 7 am get the kids up for the bus . get to the job by 8 .  Skip breakfast , grab a light lunch . Run from job to job checking things out . And do what needs to be done the rest of the day 

    0Reply
  • Liz C.
    Property Manager · New York, NY · Member since 2016 · 388 posts · 90 votes
    8y
    Wow, those who wake up at 4 or 5, I admire you for that. But aren’t we in real estate business so we can slow down the wake up naturally without alarm?
    0Reply
  • Ramsey Blankenship
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 119 posts · 129 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Liz C.:

    Wow, those who wake up at 4 or 5, I admire you for that.

    But aren’t we in real estate business so we can slow down the wake up naturally without alarm?

    If I were the only person in my life (no wife, kids, or dogs) then I would wake up whenever and start my routine when i felt I needed to. Reality is that to support the family, I need my full time job. In order to not need my full time job, I need to invest. In order to invest, I need to find time to do so without losing my family because im never around. In order to find time, I work while they sleep. Because I love my wife, and our most valued time is spending time together Before we go to bed together - I must wake up at 4:00 in order to invest while they sleep, so that i may be at work by 7:00, home by 5:00, soend time with the kiddos, put them to bed by 8:00, soend time with the wife till 9:00, sleep till 4:00.

    Not sure where you are in your investing career, but if you can sleep until you want to - it is likely because you have already gone through these pains - or dont have family. If not - PLEASE FILL ME IN!!! 

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  • Account Closed
    Plano, TX · Member since 2017 · 15 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship I find the weekly schedule used in the "7 Habits of Highly Succesful People" to be really helpful in having productive weeks.

    1Reply
  • Jimmy Dudley
    Real Estate Broker · Westminster, MD · Member since 2017 · 159 posts · 101 votes
    8y

    The "miracle morning" works for some people. Some people can get an entire days work done before others eat breakfast. Others do better sleeping until 7 AM, drinking coffee while reading Bigger Pockets, listening to podcasts on the way to work and not being exhausted. 

    Experiment with working backward until you find what is right for you. 

    1Reply
  • Tonette Whitted
    Beaver Falls, PA · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 10 votes
    8y

    I just started working again after 3 months so my routine is completley different from a hectic work schedule. 

    4 am Prayer( if I manage to not hit the snooze button)

    I go back to sleep until 7

    7:30 drop Mom off

    8-9;15- fight going back to sleep because I'm not back to full time

    9:30 Breakfast

    10:00 Scriptures/ Reading

    11:15 Gym Time

    12-3- Cleaning/ Doing things around the house. Bigger pockets reading and taking notes on multi-family units and house hacking. 

    4:30 Pick my mom up

    6:00 Begin my commute for late therapy clients 30 mins away

    2 therapy sessions

    8:30 Drive back home 30 mins

    9:00 Light snack

    10:00 Hot bath

    10:30 Everybody Loves Raymond

    Wow. After reading this I realized I have a lot of time unaccounted for that I could be researching real estate. This was really good and eye opening. 

    2Reply
  • Gino BarbaroPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · St Augustine, FL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Ramsey Blankenship

    Hi Ramsey

    I was blessed to have podcasted both Cameron Herold, author of the Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs, and Jay Papasan, co-author of the One Thing. Read both books. They will give you insights on how to become more productive and how to structure your day/week.

    I try to follow Cameron's Miracle Morning, and the Acronym: SAVERS! Silence, Affirmation. Visualization, Exercise, Reading, Scribing.

    Gino

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