6 daily habits of self-made billionaires

Billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, and Jack Dorsey do things every day that help focus their passion, increase their productivity and creativity, and align themselves with their goals. And no, you don’t need assistants and staff to follow suit – anyone can do the same.
Here are six daily habits of self-made billionaires.
They meditate
As we’ve recently written about, meditation can lower stress, boost memory, and even improve your immune system.
“Meditation, more than anything in my life, was the biggest ingredient of whatever success I’ve had,” Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, told The Huffington Post. Not convinced? Oprah Winfrey has said sitting in stillness for 20 minutes, twice a day, instills in her a sense of hope, contentment, and joy.
“Knowing for sure that even in the daily craziness that bombards us from every direction, there is still the constancy of stillness,” Oprah wrote on her website. “Only from that space can you create your best work and best life.”
They get up early
While you might still be hitting the snooze button, many billionaires have begun their day. According to a study by Thomas C. Corley, the author of Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, 50% of billionaires wake up three hours before their workday.
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square, reportedly wakes up at five a.m. every day to meditate and exercise. The same goes for Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, who rises at 5:45 a.m. to exercise.
They live below their means
They’ve got money in the bank (understatement alert), but that doesn’t mean they overspend. Many of the world’s wealthiest people live frugally. Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, famously drove a 1979 Ford F150 pickup truck.
“Why do I drive a pickup truck? What am I supposed to haul my dogs around in, a Rolls-Royce?” he once said.
Warren Buffett, one of world’s richest people, bought his house in 1956 for $31,500, and has never upgraded for something more lavish and large.
Not to be outdone, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is known for his hoodie-jeans-sneakers dress code, which is considerably cheaper than tailored, designer suits.
They read
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers,” President Harry Truman once said, and he was on to something; many self-made billionaires are voracious readers. Case in point: when Elon Musk was asked how he learned to build rockets, he reportedly answered, “I read books.”
Warren Buffett is another great example of a self-made billionaire that is always looking to increase his knowledge. When he started his career, he famously read over 600 pages a day. Now, he still spends about 80% of his day reading, and includes recommendations in his annual shareholder letters.
They exercise
Exercising has obvious health benefits, from increasing fat burning and strengthening the heart, but it can also play a major role in increased energy, positivity, and stress management. Science has found that working out regularly can boost memory, concentration, and mental sharpness — traits that can have a big impact on your career and success.
Unsurprisingly, Mark Cuban, who has an estimated net worth of $3 billion, does an hour of cardio six to seven days a week. And Richard Branson, who we previously mentioned wakes up early to work out, claims that the habit adds 4 hours of productivity to his day.
They sleep
“Sleep your way to the top,” says Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post. No, not in the way you’re thinking (shame on you). Huffington gets the prescribed 8 hours of sleep every night, and believes that the more we sleep, the better we can work towards our goals.
“Our creativity, ingenuity, confidence, leadership, and decision-making can all be enhanced simply by getting enough sleep,” she says.
Ok, you’re saying, but she’s only a millionaire. Fair enough. But what if we told you that Bill Gates also sleeps seven hours every night. That’s right. Bill Gates.
So, what have we learned? Essentially, the most successful people make time for themselves, to learn and reflect, push themselves and then get the rest they need. The good news is, you can do this too.