The life of a famous creative person is often portrayed as glamorous, filled with expensive meals, trips around the world, and plenty of nights partying it up until dawn. But beyond the glitz, glamour, and heaps of fame, lies the mundane day-in, day-out. Many famous creatives are successful because of their deliberate and structured routines that help them reach and maintain success. From morning rituals to evening rituals, work hours and leisure time, this article will look at the day-to-day lives of famous creative people and the routines they practice.
The Early Risers
The old saying goes ‘the early bird catches the worm’, and it certainly holds true when it comes to the successful creatives who rise in the early morning hours. Many celebrities are known to be early birds, such as Ariana Grande who wakes up at 8am, Dwayne Johnson who rises at 4am, and Michelle Obama who’s up at 5:30am. Early risers benefit from having more time to focus on their goals and objectives of the day, to enjoy some yoga or meditate and usually guarantee a good night’s sleep.
The Breakfast Club
Once they’re up, creatives may treat themselves to a nutritious breakfast, a cup of coffee, or a smoothie. Many may also take this time to scroll through social media, check their emails, or read a book. Oprah Winfrey’s morning routine includes eating a healthy breakfast with her partner, Stedman Graham. Emma Watson, on the other hand, has 30 minutes of screen-free time upon waking.
Getting to Work
Now that their day is ready to start, creatives often don’t wait too long to get down to work. After catching up with the news or some business emails, creatives often spend the morning checking tasks off their to-do list. Hans Zimmer, the world-famous composer, uses this time to brainstorm musical ideas, perfecting compositions and refining scores. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, likes to use this time for management-level tasks such as problem-solving, accounting, and communication.
Setting Goals and Priorities
Part of a creative’s daily routine may include objective setting. Some creatives prefer to set their’ goals the night before to ensure they wake up motivated and inspired. Others set aside a specific time of day to plan their schedule, such as right after breakfast or right after lunch. Stephen King, the author of over 50 books, wakes up and immediately jots down his list of goals for the day to make sure he remains productive.
Checking in with the Team
More renowned creatives have full teams to help them reach their goals and accomplish the tasks that need to be done. Once the day is underway, these creatives typically use the afternoons to check in with their team and delegate tasks. The director Ridley Scott does this by hosting a production meeting before the day’s shooting begins on set. Jessica Alba, founder of successful brands such as Honest, also does this to meet with her staff and make sure the company is running smoothly.
Hitting the Gym
Nothing revs up the mind or body quicker than a good workout session. Famous creatives from Barack Obama to Jessica Biel appreciate the importance of physical health and incorporate it into their daily lives. Obama spends his evenings jogging and hits the gym 3-4 times a week. Similarly, Biel is known to prioritize her fitness, often going to a yoga class and hitting the gym.
Making Time for Leisure Activities
Once the day is done, many creatives take this time to unwind and make time for themselves. This can include watching a movie, listening to music, reading a book, chatting with a family member or best friend, or taking a walk. LeBron James, the basketball star, loves to play video games with his son, while Zach Galifianakis, comedian and creator of the TV series ‘Between Two Ferns’, plays the piano and banjo to wind down from the day.
The Evening Rituals
As the day winds down, creatives tend to take part in rituals designed for self-care. Tyra Banks, for instance, does facial exercises every night before bed to reduce wrinkles and maintain her renowned beauty. Similarly, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling relaxes every evening with a cup of tea, a good book, or one of her cats on her lap.
Getting Ready for Bed
With the grind of the day coming to an end, famous creatives begin their routines to get ready for some much-deserved rest. Tina Fey, the famed writer, actress and producer, takes an extra bit of time to herself to plan out her next day’s outfit, so that her mornings are one less thing to worry about. Others like Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, likes to read before bed while Warren Buffet allocates time to write thank-you notes to those in his life.
Late Night Snacks
Finally, many famous creatives indulge in late night snacks before they drift off to sleep. Adam Levine, singer of Maroon 5, enjoys his peanut butter and jelly sandwich before bed, while Keanu Reeves is known for eating a pint of ice cream to help him unwind.
Famous creatives who have successful careers and lives, often owe it to their daily routines and strict schedules. By rising early, setting goals, hitting the gym and incorporating leisure activities, creatives use these routines to help them stay on track and fulfil their dreams. The daily routines of prominent figures such as Ariana Grande, Dwayne Johnson, Oprah Winfrey and Keanu Reeves show us that in order to achieve greatness, it’s important to identify and maintain structure in our lives.