The Morning Routines of 5 Successful Female CEOs

What’s your morning routine? This is a question often asked of successful people. We’re all searching for that magical moment we should add to the start of our day to help us conquer our to-do lists and live our best lives. But in reality, there is no one-fits-all formula and for many of us our morning routines are constant works in progress. 

When we asked five successful female CEOs from across the country how they start their day we found that many of these bosses have solid nighttime routines, too. They’re early risers, they’re quite fond of journaling, and they see their morning routines not as a chore but as an act of self-care. 

Get ready to be inspired. 

Lauren Muir, co-owner of Martin and Muir Counseling

In addition to being the co-owner of Martin and Muir Counseling in Louisville, Kentucky, Muir is a licensed clinical counselor, mindset coach, consultant and speaker. She’s also the co-founder of the Show Up Summit, a women’s empowerment conference. 

Do you do anything the night before to prepare for your day?

I typically check my calendar and schedule everything for the next day including workouts, down time, work, and time with my kids. 

I journal in the evenings before I go to bed. This is my time to just relax, be creative, and process whatever feelings I have had that day.

What time do you normally wake up? 

I am usually awake by 6:45 am. This is one thing that I am working on improving. I would like to get up earlier to build more time into my morning routine. 

What things do you try to do every morning to have a successful day? 

Coffee is a must! I always start the day with a glass of water and a cup coffee. Coffee makes me feel like I can conquer the world. I also love music, so I play music based on how I feel that day while I am getting ready. Typically, on my way to work or my first meeting of the day I listen to a podcast in the car. Or sometimes I drive in complete silence just to give my brain time to be free.  

I am the owner of a mental health agency, so I prioritize time in the morning to do office work like return calls and set up email before the day gets going. This allows me time to get organized and caught up on previous days tasks. 

Two days a week I work out with a personal trainer. This is another way to clear my mind and it’s an energy boost for the day.

What happens if you skip your morning routine? 

If these things don’t happen, I definitely feel off, especially if I forget the coffee! The day feels much more rushed and unorganized.

What advice would you give to other women trying to develop a morning routine?

Start small and stay consistent. Little changes can equal big results! 

Melanie R. Bridgeforth, President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama

As president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama — Alabama’s first and only philanthropic foundation solely addressing the unique needs of women and girls — Bridgeforth’s life’s work is centered on uplifting others. But she knows that to empower other women, she must first empower herself. 

What time do you normally wake up? 

A life-long early riser, I begin my day at 5 am — a welcomed departure from my traditional 4 am rise!

What things do you try to do every morning to have a successful day? 

I begin my day with a bit of quality time with my husband David and our beloved French bulldog, Winston. Next, I’m on to my favorite cold-pressed green juice, a quick scan of news digests on current national and local affairs, and a nice cup of creamer with my coffee. As a gift to self, I’m out the door for a three to four-mile walk or run depending on the day and certainly necessitated by my stamina. These scenic and hilly walks are either filled with devouring the latest podcasts on human issues I care deeply about, jamming out to an eclectic collection of tunes, or girl talk with my best friend – my mom. 

Why is sticking to your morning routine so important to you?

Each of these purposeful morning rituals helps me clear and nurture my mind, hone my craft, center what’s important, and prepare for the day ahead. The start of my day is also something by and large that I control with little exception which makes this time my most cherished and intentional.  

Laura Quick, founder of Good Grit Agency & Magazine

Laura Quick prides herself on being a storyteller. Through her magazine Good Grit, she creates space for writers and photographers to share untold stories about the South. Through Good Grit Agency, she helps brands share their stories, too. And her morning routine gives her the energy she needs to keep writing her own story day after day. 

Do you do anything the night before to prepare for your day?

My night routine sets the stage for a morning routine. I spend the 30 minutes before I get in bed tech free. I wash my face, brush my teeth, do yoga and then I read or meditate for five minutes before I go to sleep.

What time do you normally wake up? 

I wake up at 6:15 a.m. and don’t hit the snooze button. It took me years to get to this place. But I finally had the epiphany that hitting snooze felt like a lack of gratitude for another day to live and give. And if I claim my goal in this life is to die empty, then it’s my job to get started as soon as I can each day.

What things do you try to do every morning?

Before I get out of bed, sometimes before I open my eyes, I practice gratitude for a warm bed, the sunlight peeking through my curtains, a healthy body, healthy kids, and whatever else comes to mind. Then, I drink at least 8 ounces of water, I stretch, make matcha, pray, write in my journal, read my Bible, and listen to praise music.

Why is sticking to your morning routine so important to you?

If I have much to accomplish then I have to be in the right state of mind to accomplish it. My morning practice is less like checking boxes and more like self-care. I cannot take care of others without nourishing myself. When I am pointed in the right direction with my heart and mind, I think my actions follow. 

What happens if you skip your morning routine? 

I feel far more scattered and allow my day to happen to me rather than happening to it. Normally, in the back of my mind, I think, “If I would’ve started my day the right way, I’d be on track right now.”

What advice would you give to other women trying to develop a morning routine?

The mistake I feel we make as women is we to try and do something big. If you have never had a morning routine, just pick one new thing to try to implement.  

These days if I want to bring in a new healthy habit, I start small and give myself permission to keep starting until it becomes a practice I crave and something I love. I give myself lots of grace and I invite people I love in to hold me accountable. It’s nice to have a friend say, “Hey, how is your morning practice going? Is it helpful?”

Bilen Mesfin, CEO of Change Consulting, LLC

Mesfin’s morning routine is almost as impressive as her resume. Before founding Change Consulting —  a communications agency based in Oakland, California that’s focused on social and racial justice – Mesfin advanced communications efforts for then San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris. She’s also an experienced journalist.

Do you do anything the night before to prepare for your day?

I make a list of personal and work to-dos for the next day to prepare. Once or twice a week, I also spend time journaling to get out any experiences, insights or thoughts that stand out to me from the day or the week.

What time do you normally wake up? 

After becoming a mom, I tend to wake up pretty early – around 4 or 5 am – without an alarm. 

What things do you try to do every morning? 

I do quite a lot in the mornings. Those couple of hours before the world and my family wake up are absolutely my favorite moments. I read, pray, have quiet time, do affirmations and have my morning coffee. I also may stretch or do yoga. I also often do an hour or so of work. Sometimes I do my best work on projects that require a lot of thinking or strategy early in the morning. I also catch up on email or the news in the morning. By the time my daughter wakes up, I have had a good chunk of time to myself and can move into getting her and myself ready to meet the day.

Why is your morning routine so important to you?

Once the day starts, it is hard to find a concentrated amount of time to myself. There is usually someone to respond to – family, clients, team members. So, I have gotten pretty selfish about those hours before anyone else has a claim on my time. It’s also important for me to get spiritually grounded, which I find more important than ever these days.

What advice would you give to other women trying to develop a morning routine?

We all have to carve out time for ourselves in a world where there is so much that is constantly vying for our attention. For women and especially Black women and women of color, we are always busy trying to take care of other folks. Whether it is the morning, evening or the middle of the day, whenever it makes sense for our lifestyles, having time to ourselves is absolutely key to our growth and our overall wellness.

Susan Sly, co-CEO and cofounder of RadiusAI

Susan Sly travels a lot for work. As the cofounder of RadiusAI, a computer vision analytics company providing real-time data to help create greater operational efficiency in health care, retail, and critical infrastructure, she has clients across the country. But no matter where she is, she never skips her morning routine. 

Do you do anything the night before to prepare for your day?

The night before I always write out the next day. I take a look at my calendar to make sure everything has a purpose because my philosophy is never schedule a meeting without a purpose.  When I’m writing out my day, I will take it off of my Google calendar and write it in a Mead Five-Star notebook. The act of writing helps me be intentional and I’m not afraid to cancel anything that doesn’t align with my goals and objectives. Also, I never go to sleep without writing down at least 10 items of gratitude. 

What time do you normally wake up? 

I wake up between 4 and 4:30 am regardless of the time zone I’m in. 

What things do you try to do every morning?

Regardless of where I’m traveling or if I’m at home, my morning always starts the same. I wake up and the first thing I do is say some affirmations. Then I make very strong organic black coffee and then I sit and I pray and meditate for 45 minutes. Then I go into my office and the first thing I do is write 150 words. In addition to running my company I also put out a blog and if I write 150 words a day by the end of the week I have a whole blog article. 

Then I send my kids and my husband gratitude notes. Next, I look at all of my financials and then I handle correspondence — email, Slack, text messages. Then it’s time to get a workout in. Often it’s Peloton.

After I take my youngest daughter to school I come back and get showered and dressed and I will head to the office or start working from home. 

Why is your morning routine so important to you? 

I make sure that routine happens because you can’t build a house on sand. It has to be on a rock. I’m turning 50 this year and I have to be energized and focused and I’m accountable to shareholders. I’m accountable to staff. I’m not going to be any good to anyone if I don’t have that solid foundation. 

How do you stick to your morning routine even if you’re traveling or have an early meeting? 

I still follow the same routine, but I shorten things. So, I won’t pray and meditate for 45 minutes; it might be 20. My workout might just be 20 minutes. But I make sure that routine happens.

What advice would you give to other women trying to develop a morning routine?

Let go of perfection. At some point something’s got to go. For me that thing is my hair. Some days I’m going to have to put it in a bun because there’s an early meeting and there’s no time to really do it. The thing that needs to go shouldn’t be the thing that ultimately is better for you and your mental health. Don’t sacrifice your meditation or your workout for your hair. And remember you can’t give from a well that is empty. 

READ MORE: 

• 4 Successful Women On How They Start Their Days
• How to Work Wellness Habits Into Your Budget
• The Best Online Exercise Routines That Will Actually Inspire You to Get Off The Couch

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