147: The Daily Habit of the Most Successful Writers

Welcome to another episode! We’re talking about a daily habit of the most successful writers that I have seen since starting my business in 2013. The key thing is a morning routine. 

The most successful writers have a strict morning routine that is integral to their success. They wake up and immediately set out for a walk, take time to read and write and observe silence to prepare for writing. It’s important to stay consistent with your daily habit if you want to have your business recognized.

A morning routine is not a cookie-cutter type of thing. I’ve learned that over the many years of having a freelance business and from the seasons of life that I have gone through. I noticed in all successful writers, business owners, and people in this remote space, wake up and do something special every single day. They go out for a walk, take time to read, meditate, they write a journal and it’s important that they stay consistent with it because that is how their business grows.

Let me share what I’ve done but let me show you what I’ve done in the past and then what I do now.

What does a morning routine consist of for successful writers?

I’ve tried the morning routine where you get up at 5 AM and try to work out get a good breakfast and then later on in the morning sit down to work. It didn’t work for me. I also used to try to get up super early when I was on the night shift. This also didn’t work for me.

Morning routines are heard of, and always a necessity if you want to become a successful freelancer. But your morning routine should work for you. For now, my morning routine consists of getting up early and working 1 to 2 hours before my family get up. After they get up, I do my household chores, get the kids ready for school, and enjoy my quiet morning with them. After they go to school, I stick in my gym time, and then I come home and work until they get home from school.

My morning routine always consists of a cup of coffee and good hydration. I always have to have water by my desk, so I stay hydrated throughout the day. But I always try to keep in my morning routine some sort of exercise, and quality good food.

The importance of consistency in your writing and business habits

Consistency is important, especially when you tend to wake up early. I used to be a night owl heck, I worked the night shift for ten years. But now, I need to be in bed by 10 o’clock, or 10:30 am so I can get up and have that work time before my family wakes up. You also have to find out what is your most productive time of day.

If you’re a person who can’t focus very well when you first wake up, maybe going to the gym would work best for you. When I first wake up, I am very focused on my work, and I like to wake up slowly with a cup of coffee and stay in my pajamas for just a little while longer. Over the years, I noticed that my workout schedule was always in tiptop shape when it was about 9:30 in the morning. So that’s when I work out now. Consistency is key, though. It’s easy to slip in, it’s easy not to work out, and it’s easy to work when I want to. But none of this will keep you growing.

Now, mind you, I’ve already been up for probably six hours instead, still not starving to death. Sometimes if I feel a little foggy, I will eat. I sometimes put on music. I may put on some focus music just to help myself stay in the moment and set a timer for a Pomodoro method, which I talked about in other episodes. 

How to stay consistent with your daily habit, even when you’re traveling or on vacation

This is one of the hardest things to do because many times we were traveling. It’s hard for me to wake up early if I’m up late the night before. In those times, I do prioritize my sleep. The best thing I can tell you about this is to get back on track ASAP. When we go to Florida for that week, I get up early every day except on the weekends when we’re out later. But try to stick to your schedule as much as you possibly can to be your best.

My Morning Routine

Examples from real writers who have successfully implemented their daily habit into their lives

• Jack Dorsey, CEO Square & Founder of Twitter
• Winston Churchill, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Leo Babauta, author of The Power of Less and the creator and blogger at Zen Habits
• Barack Obama, Former President of the United States

Advice for what you can do if you haven’t been able to implement a successful morning routine yet: