Exclusive Insight: The Secrets Behind Morning Routines: Early Workouts, 5 AM Wake-Up Calls, and Quality Family Time.
Discover the morning habits that some of Australia’s top achievers rely on, from young influencers turned brand creators to seasoned Olympians and influential executives.
Nine.com.au engaged with seven of the nation’s brightest entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs to uncover how they kickstart their mornings for a productive day ahead.
Here’s a glimpse into their morning rituals.
“I cherish beginning my day with a stroll alongside my partner, followed by savoring my Tropeaka matcha for a serene moment before the day’s hustle begins!”
“In retail, morning habits are common – the demands of trading performance and stock availability naturally shape our early routines.”
Michael Schneider, Bunnings managing director
“Retailers tend to be morning people – trading performance, inventory availability and the like tend to form our habits early.
“When I’m travelling, early starts are also good for exploring a city or taking in some exercise.
“At home, it varies depending on the day.
“Sometimes an early workout is great and occasionally a bit more sleep before coffee and a light breakfast can work a treat.”
Jane Lu, founder of fashion retailer Showpo
“I live by my calendar – if it’s not in there, it’s not happening.
“It’s the only way to stay on top of a busy day and make sure I’m spending time on what actually matters, not just what’s loudest.”
Grant Hackett OAM, Olympian and chief executive of Generation Development Group
“I always wake up at the same time, normally 5.15am every morning.
The only time I don’t do that is on the weekends, that’s where I get my extra bit of recovery.
“I noticed that in my swimming career, when my sleep periods were different it just made me flat, so consistency of wake-up time is really important.
“I have a series of drinks that I have, probably just because of my previous career.
“I’ve got a longevity mix, creatine, glutamine, amino acids … and I have that pre-made the night before so I don’t have to think about it in the morning, because I’m not a morning person.
“Even though everyone thinks I should be because my former career, I hate early mornings, so I have to make it as easy as possible.
“I’ve also got a protein shake that’s already set up, I have a water bottle, I’m really quite strict on all of that stuff.
“I’ll usually do a 45-minute workout in the morning and then the last thing I do after getting ready is always have breakfast with the kids.
“I’m not the person who tries to get to the office at 7am and get everything done, because I have really young kids and I always try to have breakfast with them.
“That’s my time at the table with them on weekdays and I feel quite sad when I don’t get that time before I leave for work.”
Jim Penman, founder of Jim’s Group
“First I run for half an hour in the treadmill, I do weightlifting and have a cold shower.
“The other thing I do first thing in the morning is drive my son to school.
“He’s 16 and I’ve got a busy life I suppose you could say, but I think you should never neglect your family.
“The time that I spend with Aaron, driving him to school and picking him up is incredibly important.
“He’s a great kid, he’s got a very lively mind. We discuss all kinds of different things … but it’s also time to bond with him and hopefully have a bit of an influence.”
Therese Frangie, chief executive of Oporto
“With a morning routine. I am a big believer in managing your cognitive load and eliminating decision fatigue.
“I have a morning routine that is posted on my wardrobe that I’ve been following for years now; I no longer look at it, I just go into autopilot.
“I kick off the day at 5am, as this gives me ‘me time’ as well as allows plenty of time to set myself up for a good day, between parenting and work.
“By starting my day in this way I am setting myself up for success because I am reliving my brain from making even micro-decisions before the day really starts.”
Doug Jones, chief executive of Metcash
“I like to go for a run or a ride or do some exercise, and then I get stuck into it.
“I’m of South African heritage, so I check my WhatsApp from family and friends because the time difference. And sometimes, if it’s Monday, I catch up on a little bit of sports news.
“But I’m not one for cold plunges and meditations. I like to just get into the day.”
