Work habits of accomplished CEOs: Unconventional practices like liver detox, meditation, and rest in the workplace
Unconventional Routines of CEOs: Managing Stress and Boosting Productivity
In the high-pressure world of CEOs, maintaining mental clarity and productivity is paramount. These business leaders often adopt unique routines to cope with their demanding roles, as evidenced by the following examples.
Josh York, CEO of Gymguyz, rises at an extraordinary hour - 3:30 a.m. - for a 90-minute workout followed by a three-minute ice bath. He claims this regimen makes him "superhuman." [1]
Similarly, Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter and current CEO of Square, meditates for two hours daily and walks five miles. He also practices extreme dietary restraint, eating only one meal a day. [1][4]
Disney's Bob Iger exercises in a dark room with the TV muted, a strategy designed to help him focus on effective time management. [1]
Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck, wakes before 5 a.m. for meditation, reading industry news, and inspirational books. This routine helps him prepare mentally and stay informed. [2]
Adobe's Shantanu Narayen uses meditation and yoga regularly, taking short breaks for stretching or walking amid focused work periods. [5]
Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, works out rigorously by 5:30 a.m. and then fuels his energy with a protein-rich breakfast, often including a Starbucks coffee. [3]
Other CEOs have their own unique strategies. Mark Zuckerberg consumes around 4000 calories a day to balance his intense MMA and Jiujitsu training. [1] In 2018, Jack Dorsey participated in a ten-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat where he meditated almost 17 hours daily. [1][4]
Robin Zeng, CEO of CATL, takes a daily nap in his office. [1] Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods, visits the supermarket at least twice a day, every day, and often checks out the cheese and salad bar to try new products. [1]
Some experts recommend short naps of 20 to 30 minutes to improve concentration and combat fatigue. [1] Gwyneth Paltrow, CEO of Goop, practices "eyes-open" meditation, being mindful in every moment of daily life. [1]
In the luxury goods industry, Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH, visits LVMH stores on weekends to ensure they align with his vision for the company. [1] His notes on LVMH stores are extremely detailed. [1] Among the luxury brands under the LVMH umbrella are Celine, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tiffany & Co. [1]
Jeff Bezos, former CEO of Amazon, often lets his mind wander during long meetings to foster creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. [1] Steven Bartlett, former CEO and founder, recommends a massage at 11 PM for relaxation. [1]
Lastly, Mikael Berner starts his day with a spoonful of Icelandic cod liver oil. [1] Elon Musk eats a donut every morning. [1] Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods, has an office above the flagship Whole Foods store in Austin, allowing him easy access to the store. [1]
These routines, often combining unusual time schedules, intense physical activity, extended mindfulness practices, and strategic time management, highlight how CEOs adopt highly individualized, sometimes extreme, methods to sustainably cope with high-pressure responsibilities. [1]
- Josh York, CEO of Gymguyz, practices a unique routine, rising at 3:30 a.m., working out for 90 minutes, taking a three-minute ice bath, and claiming it makes him "superhuman."
- In addition to meditating for two hours daily, walking five miles, and following an extreme diet, Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter and current CEO of Square, adopted strategies of mental-health, health-and-wellness, and lifestyle to manage his demanding roles.
- Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, exercises in a dark room with muted TV to focus on effective time management, demonstrating strategies of fitness-and-exercise and lifestyle in his unconventional routine.
- Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck, prioritizes meditation, reading industry news, and inspirational books to prepare mentally and stay informed, displaying a commitment to education-and-self-development and personal-growth.
- Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, incorporates meditation, yoga, and regular breaks for stretching or walking into his productive work routines, highlighting practices of mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, and lifestyle.
- Robin Zeng, CEO of CATL, takes a daily office nap, which experts recommend for improving concentration and combating fatigue, and demonstrates a strategy for health-and-wellness and lifestyle.
