Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, doesn’t start his day like most of us. The billionaire founder of Amazon has a morning routine that’s the stuff of legend – but not for the reasons you might expect. Instead of jumping straight into emails, meetings, and the digital rat race, he takes his time. He savours his coffee, reads the paper, and enjoys breakfast with his family. And most importantly? He keeps his phone firmly out of sight.
For those 60 minutes, one of the world’s busiest men takes it slow and easy – and he swears it makes him smarter. What does he know that the rest of us don’t?
The slow 1-hour morning habit
The alarm goes off. What’s the first thing most of us do? Grab our smartphones and start scrolling. Checking emails, catching up on news, browsing social media – it’s an automatic reflex for many. But according to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, this is exactly what not to do if you want to optimize your mental performance.
Bezos famously implements a strict no-screen policy for the first hour of his day. No phones allowed.
At first glance, this laid-back routine might seem at odds with our image of the hyper-efficient tech mogul. But Bezos insists puttering around phone-free each morning boosts his energy and sharpens his decision-making skills for the rest of the day. And the latest neuroscience research backs him up.
Studies show excessive screen time can impair learning and memory, decrease grey matter in the brain, disrupt sleep, and contribute to various health issues, from eye strain to back pain. Our brains aren’t equipped to process the constant barrage of digital stimuli, especially not first thing in the morning.
Screen-free morning activities to energize your mind and body
Instead of reaching for your phone, consider these enriching alternatives for your first hour:
Physical wellness
Mental stimulation
Nourishing routines
Personal growth
Your morning sets the tone for your entire day. Do you want to start it in a reactive, scattered state, at the mercy of pinging notifications and inboxes? Or would you rather take a cue from one of the world’s most successful people and reclaim that time for intentional, energizing activities?
Try implementing your own version of the 1-hour no-screens morning routine for a week and notice the difference in how you feel and perform. Start by choosing just one or two activities from the list above that resonate with you.
Tipps für den Erfolg
Protecting that first precious hour from technological intrusions gives your mind a chance to boot up gradually, on its own terms. The key is finding activities that energize and inspire you personally, making your morning routine something to look forward to rather than a chore to endure.
Social connection