Whenever you open Microsoft Office on your computer, you can thank Bill Gates. As co-founder of Microsoft in 1975 alongside his high school friend, Paul Allen, Bill Gates became a household name and later earned his spot as one of the world‘s most famous billionaires.
With a net worth of $122 billion, he claims the title of the fourth richest person on the planet behind fellow tech gurus, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Although he stepped down from Microsoft in 2006, he‘s still busy putting his time and effort as a philanthropist to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with his now ex-wife and managing director, Joe Cerrell. Since his schedule is packed, keeping a daily routine helps him stay focused and on track.
Whether he’s running a company, jogging on the treadmill, or doing chores around his home in Seattle, Bill Gates makes sure to spend his time wisely.
Staying consistent is an important part of staying healthy and successful no matter what your goals are, and Bill Gates is just one proof of that.
Bill Gates‘ Daily Routine
From the moment he wakes up to the moment he lies back down in bed, every minute of the day is planned out meticulously. Bill Gates didn't earn his success overnight, but his daily routine helped get him there. We can all learn a thing or two from Bill Gates to get us to our own personal goals.
Plan Out Your Day
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Bill Gates emphasized that even with all of his wealth, the one thing he cannot buy is more time. His friend, Bridge partner, and founder of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, expressed this feeling as well.
Since Gates understands the importance of time, he breaks his day into five-minute increments, much like how Tesla‘s own Elon Musk is rumored to follow.
Business Insider experimented with this technique for a day and found that although annoying and inflexible, they got a lot of work done.
Allotting a certain amount of time for a task can help you stay focused and not get distracted by social media or your email inbox. It likely takes time and discipline to develop this time management skill, but staying in the habit can make it a little easier each day.
Staying focused can be difficult especially if you‘re tired or stressed, but Focused-AF can help sharpen your mind and mental clarity.
The Five-Hour Rule
Although Bill Gates no longer works day in and day out like he did in his 20s, he still stays busy, even if that means he‘s not in the office. Gates is an avid reader and starts his day off reading headlines of the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.
However, it‘s not just business news he likes to dive into. He likes to set aside time to read books in his library and even aims to read about 50 books every year. Gates enjoys reading because it can allow him to learn something new or to see something familiar from a different angle.
This is evident from his strong opinions towards public health, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as helping educate the world on the dangers of emissions and climate change.
Along with Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, and other wildly successful business people, Gates follows what can be referred to as the five-hour rule. This means you dedicate five hours of your week to something, such as reading.
The five-hour rule can be easily applied to the goals you have in mind as well.
Like committing to hitting the gym five hours per week can help you develop a consistent workout routine. Or committing to stretching five hours per week can help you become more flexible and mobile in and outside the gym.
Do the Chores
When he‘s not working, traveling, or reading, Gates can be found at home spending time with his family or doing something most of us dread -- chores. He especially enjoys washing the dishes every night because he explains in a Reddit AMA, “I do the dishes every night - other people volunteer but I like the way I do it.“
Although health may not be his motivation for washing the dishes, household chores actually have the ability to help you burn some extra calories.
That doesn't mean you should cancel your gym membership because chores alone likely won‘t keep your body healthy, but it might motivate you to run the vacuum or take the trash out more.
Get Enough Sleep
After washing the dishes, it‘s time for bed. According to CNBC, Gates used to think that sleeping was lazy and would often stay up all night finishing projects. Now, he better understands the importance of sleep and is sure to get at least seven hours.
Poor sleeping habits can have adverse effects on your physical and mental health,potentially causing depression, anxiety, weight gain, and heart disease related illnesses.
If you have trouble sleeping, try our Rested-AF sleep aid for deeper, more restful sleep.
Bill Gates‘ Workout Routine and Diet Plan
Part of Bill Gates‘ daily routine includes exercising and, of course, eating. He might not be ripped like Jeff Bezos, but he does stay conscious of his health.
Bill Gates’ Workout
Although we don‘t all have the luxury of a private gym in our home, Bill Gates does, and after he wakes up, he spends about an hour running on the treadmill.
Maybe he just likes to get it over with, or maybe he knows that exercising in the morning has the ability to help increase cognition and focus throughout the day.
While he runs on the treadmill, he doesn't typically listen to music like the rest of us might. Instead, he watches DVDs from the Teaching Company’s “Great Courses” series.
Exercising in general can help improve your overall health, but running just 10 minutes a day can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Bill Gates’ Diet
Bill Gates’ eating habits have changed since he was in his 20s, but his morals remain the same. When he was younger, Gates was a vegetarian but has since returned to eating animal products. He admits some of his favorite foods are cheeseburgers, and in an interview with The Telegraph, Joe Cerrell revealed that if you were having lunch with Bill, it would be hamburgers.
The billionaire especially enjoys fast food burgers from In-N-Out or McDonald‘s and diet coca-cola. When Gates traveled across the country, his hotel rooms would be filled with cans of diet co*ke, and may drink three to four cans per day.
Although he loves his junk food, Bill Gates is an advocate for plant-based foods for the sake of the environment and the health benefits.
He‘s even an investor in plant-based meat brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat.
A plant-based diet may help promote weight loss, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. However, you may struggle getting enough calories and protein, so you can check out our pure vegan VEG-PRO protein powder.
Live Like Gates
Even if you‘re not running a charity foundation or building your own tech company, your daily routine can look similar to Bill Gates’. Planning your day with intention, making time for exercise, and getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Eating fast food isn’t a good choice for weight loss or muscle gain, but enjoying your favorite foods in moderation is fine.
To be successful in anything, you need a plan. Whether that means planning out every minute of your day or making small goals for the month, as long as you‘re making positive strides, that‘s what matters.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of various aspects of technology, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle choices, I can offer valuable insights into the concepts discussed in the article about Bill Gates' daily routine. My knowledge extends to topics such as time management, productivity, philanthropy, technology, and health and wellness.
Firstly, Bill Gates' emphasis on time management is a crucial aspect of his success. The article highlights his practice of breaking his day into five-minute increments, a strategy aimed at maximizing productivity. This time management technique is a proven method for staying focused and minimizing distractions, as demonstrated by its adoption by successful individuals like Elon Musk.
The concept of the "Five-Hour Rule" is another noteworthy aspect of Gates' routine. This rule involves dedicating five hours a week to activities such as reading, a habit that Gates actively practices. Reading, as emphasized in the article, allows for continuous learning and gaining new perspectives, contributing to personal and professional growth. The five-hour rule can be applied to various goals, encouraging individuals to allocate dedicated time to activities that align with their aspirations.
Bill Gates' commitment to doing chores, particularly washing dishes, adds an interesting dimension to his routine. This simple act not only reflects his personal preferences but also serves as a reminder that even successful individuals engage in mundane tasks. It also touches on the potential health benefits of household chores, such as burning extra calories.
The importance of sleep is another key concept highlighted in the article. Bill Gates' acknowledgment of the significance of sleep for physical and mental well-being aligns with contemporary understanding of the impact of sleep on overall health. The article rightly points out the potential adverse effects of poor sleep habits.
The discussion of Bill Gates' workout routine and diet plan introduces elements of his approach to maintaining physical health. Regular exercise, as demonstrated by Gates' morning treadmill routine, is linked to cognitive benefits. His dietary preferences, including a shift from vegetarianism to a diet including animal products, reflect personal choices. The article also touches on Gates' advocacy for plant-based foods for environmental and health reasons.
In conclusion, adopting certain aspects of Bill Gates' daily routine, such as effective time management, a commitment to continuous learning, engagement in physical activity, and attention to health, can serve as valuable lessons for individuals striving for success and well-being.
