8 things highly successful people never do first thing in the morning

You ever wonder why some people wake up seemingly ready to conquer the world while the rest of us fumble around for the snooze button?

Let’s face it—mornings can be tough. But I’ve noticed that the most successful among us have a certain approach to starting their days that helps them stay clear-headed, motivated, and productive. And it often has as much to do with what they don’t do in the morning as with what they do.

Below, I’m diving into eight specific traps that highly successful people avoid the moment their alarm rings. If you find yourself doing any of these, fear not.

A few small tweaks in your morning routine can make a big difference, especially if you’re juggling a business, side hustle, or that entrepreneurial dream.

1. They don’t check their phones immediately

It’s tempting, right?

You crack open one eye, reach for your phone, and next thing you know, you’re checking that email from your boss or scrolling through social media. Before you’ve even put your feet on the floor, your mind is flooded with notifications, updates, and possibly stress.

According to a study by IDC Research, around 80% of smartphone users check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up. The problem is that diving into the digital vortex can wreak havoc on your mood, creativity, and focus.

If you’re an entrepreneur, your inbox is guaranteed to have at least one or two fires to put out. But guess what? Those fires can usually wait until you’ve had a moment to get your bearings.

I’ve mentioned this before but it’s worth repeating: your willpower and emotional resilience are at their highest earlier in the day. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, emphasizes that our environment plays a crucial role in how we behave.

The moment you pick up your phone, you’ve already shaped your environment to react to external demands rather than proactively setting your own tone.

Keep your phone out of reach—maybe on the other side of the room. Give yourself a 15- or 30-minute buffer in the morning before you go full digital. Use that time to breathe, stretch, or jot down a few notes on how you want your day to go.

2. They don’t skip a small moment of reflection

While many successful folks do some form of meditation or journaling, there’s something they don’t do: jump out of bed and sprint through the house in a frenzy. They make room for mental clarity.

This doesn’t have to be some grand spiritual session with candles and chanting—unless that’s your jam. It could be as simple as sitting quietly on your couch and letting your thoughts settle before the hustle begins.

I’ve personally found that a couple of minutes of mindful breathing can make a world of difference in how I approach the rest of the day.

Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, says, “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” If you’re the type who leaps out of bed checking off tasks instantly, you might be missing the chance to align with your bigger goals. Reflection is a subtle yet powerful way to reclaim control of your time and energy.

Take two to five minutes—just you and your thoughts. Reflect on a question like, “What’s the single most important thing I need to accomplish today?” or “How do I want to show up for my team and family?” This mini-routine can help you start your morning with intention.

3. They don’t dwell on yesterday’s mistakes

Ever caught yourself replaying an embarrassing slip or a business deal gone wrong while you’re brushing your teeth? Mentally reliving that awkward meeting might seem harmless, but it can steal focus and energy from the fresh day ahead.

Jordan Peterson once noted, “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.” That means acknowledging your missteps—then letting them go. The most successful people I know treat mistakes as feedback, not as an excuse to spiral into guilt or shame. They take what they can learn and move on quickly.

I’ve personally had mornings where I woke up with the regret from the previous day’s failures swirling around in my head. When I started adopting the mindset of, “It’s done. Let’s improve going forward,” I noticed a major shift in my overall mood.

The next time you wake up haunted by yesterday’s mishaps, pause. Ask yourself what one positive lesson you can extract from that situation. Use it to guide a better decision or approach today. Then give yourself permission to move on.

4. They don’t dive into random tasks

One thing I’ve observed in highly productive people—particularly entrepreneurs or tech-savvy business owners—is that they don’t let their morning get hijacked by low-priority tasks. Things like tidying an already clean desk or obsessively checking sales analytics the second they open their eyes.

Yes, there’s a place for tidying up and tracking numbers, but first thing in the morning? Probably not. The earliest part of your day should be reserved for the fundamentals that set you up for success: a good breakfast, a quick workout, or planning out the day’s priorities.

Warren Buffett famously said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

In the morning, especially, it pays to say no to non-urgent, low-impact tasks. Save those for a less critical time slot, when you can handle them without sacrificing your creative or productive peak.

5. They don’t scramble out of bed at the very last minute

You’d be surprised how often I see fellow entrepreneurs or friends in the startup world just wing it with their sleep schedule. They stay up until 2:00 AM, then roll out of bed at 8:59 for a 9:00 AM meeting. That bleary-eyed hustle is a recipe for mistakes, stress, and frustration.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults generally need 7 to 9 hours of sleep for optimal performance. Skimping on rest doesn’t just mean you’ll be groggy—it also compromises your mood and decision-making.

I’ve had days where lack of sleep left me extra irritable and prone to sloppy thinking. It’s not great when you’re trying to lead a team or impress a client.

Successful individuals value consistency in their wake-up routines, ensuring they have a buffer of time to prepare for the day. Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s right-hand man, once commented that “Those who keep learning, will keep rising.” And you learn and process best when you’re not a sleep-deprived zombie.

If you notice you’re hitting snooze multiple times, it’s probably a sign that your body isn’t getting enough rest. Consider bedtime an appointment with your health that you can’t skip. That extra 30 minutes of early rising can give you precious breathing room to set up your day.

6. They don’t overload their minds with negative news

We all know that news coverage tends to skew negative—crises, disasters, conflicts. It’s easy to feel like you’re “staying informed” by scrolling through the latest headlines over morning coffee, but it can also prime your mind for stress and pessimism.

As Simon Sinek has said, “Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to assess the situation and see options.” The last thing you want is to start your morning in tunnel-vision mode, mentally spinning out over grim statistics before you’ve even showered.

I’m not saying you should ignore current events, but successful people often wait until they have a clearer head and a set plan for the day before diving into the world’s problems. They shield their prime mental real estate from a negative barrage that might derail productivity or creativity.

Postpone news consumption until mid-morning or lunchtime. Use those first waking moments for constructive inputs—an inspiring podcast, a chapter of a book, or some journaling. Trust me, the news will still be there later.

7. They don’t skip giving their body a boost

A common trap is to quickly grab a sugary snack or skip breakfast altogether. I used to rush out the door with only coffee in hand, telling myself I’d “grab something” later. By 10:00 AM, I was irritable and distracted—an utter menace to my colleagues and my inbox.

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, often recommends getting around 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. Whether that’s from eggs, protein shakes, or other foods, starting your day with balanced nutrition helps stabilize your blood sugar and energy levels, giving you a better shot at making clear decisions.

Those who excel in their field—especially in tech or business—treat their bodies like an investment. Skipping a nourishing morning meal or ignoring hydration isn’t on their radar. They see consistent, healthy choices as the baseline for sustained productivity and well-being.

If you’re super busy, try meal prepping a few high-protein breakfasts that you can heat up in the morning. Or toss some fruit, spinach, and protein powder in a blender. The key is to fuel your body so it has what it needs to function at its best.

8. They don’t forget to plan out the day

One hallmark of many successful people—especially entrepreneurs in the digital age—is that they start their morning by mapping out the day’s top priorities.

What they don’t do is wing it. They don’t rely on chance or wait until chaos hits to figure out their tasks. Instead, they take a few intentional moments to decide what matters most and slot it into a schedule.

Cal Newport, author of Deep Work, emphasizes the importance of deliberate planning, suggesting that “a deep life is a good life.” By identifying the crucial tasks right after (or before) they’ve had their morning coffee, highly successful people make sure they’re steering their day instead of letting it steer them.

Here at Small Biz Technology, we know the kind of fires that pop up for entrepreneurs. A crisis with a supplier or a glitch in the system might throw off the day’s initial plan.

But if you have a clear outline from the start, you’re less likely to get completely derailed when unexpected issues arise.

Jot down the one or two must-win goals for the day. Then note secondary tasks that could be tackled if time allows. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—some people prefer a bullet journal, others a digital calendar. Whatever you choose, keep it simple and consistent.

Wrapping up

The way we greet the morning can set the tone for everything that follows. Often, it’s not about making some epic to-do list or adopting all the “latest hacks,” but rather identifying those sneaky pitfalls that sabotage our day before it even begins.

By avoiding these eight behaviors—checking phones too soon, skipping reflection, clinging to yesterday’s failures, tackling random low-priority tasks, sleeping in until chaos, doomscrolling the news, ignoring basic nutritional needs, and failing to plan—you can carve out a morning routine that stacks the deck in your favor.

I’ve seen firsthand how a purposeful start can lead to better focus, calmer decision-making, and a more positive outlook. Your morning can be a foundation upon which you build the rest of your success—be it in running a business, leading a team, or simply feeling more in control of your life.

Until next time, friends.