So, you wanna know how the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, manages to stay on top of his game while juggling multiple successful businesses? Well, rumor has it that he works a whopping 80 to 100 hours per week! But how does he keep his focus amidst all the chaos?
According to reports, Elon spends around 90% of his time at SpaceX doing design work, while at Tesla, it takes up about 60% of his day. He spends Mondays and Fridays at SpaceX in Los Angeles or Boca Chica, and the rest of the week at Tesla in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Speaking of businesses, Elon currently runs not one, not two, but FOUR successful ones – Tesla, Space X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink. And if that’s not enough, he’s eyeing a potential takeover of Twitter, which could add even more to his already crazy working hours!
But don’t worry, my friend, because I’ve got the inside scoop on Elon’s daily routine. This real-life Iron Man has some habits that help him manage his time and priorities, allowing him to reach new heights. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Elon Musk’s Daily Routine
Mornings
When it comes to waking up, Elon Musk is an early bird, rising around 7 am each morning. He likes to get about six to six-and-a-half hours of sleep per night, so sleeping in is not really an option for him. He believes it affects his performance more than if he just slept less.
After waking up, Musk takes a quick shower, gets dressed, and then enjoys a morning cup of coffee. Unfortunately, he’s usually in such a rush that he skips breakfast most days. But when he does manage to have breakfast, he prefers to have an omelet.
Interestingly, in a Reddit AMA, Musk revealed that showering is the most important part of his day. He says it helps him get into the right headspace and prepares him to face the challenges of the day.
After getting ready, Musk sends his kids off to school and heads to work. He’s known for working long hours, regularly putting in 80 to 100 hours per week. Most of his time is spent on design and engineering work, with approximately 90% of his time at SpaceX and 60% of his day at Tesla focused on design work.
Despite his busy schedule, Musk is an efficient multi-tasker. He doesn’t waste time attending to emails or phone calls that are not critical. On Mondays and Fridays, he spends his time at SpaceX in Los Angeles or Boca Chica, while the rest of the week is spent at Tesla or Twitter in San Francisco.
Afternoons
Elon Musk is a busy man, and he knows it. While he admits that he hasn’t always been great about paying attention to his nutrition, he’s determined to make changes after some less-than-flattering photos of him surfaced during a vacation in Greece.
When it comes to lunch, Musk doesn’t always have time to sit down and savor a meal. More often than not, he’ll wolf down some food during an afternoon meeting. Efficiency is the name of the game for Musk, and he expects the same from his employees.
In the afternoon, Musk spends his time in meetings and working on design projects. He’s not one to waste time, and if he feels like a meeting isn’t productive, he’ll leave without a second thought. Musk actively discourages unnecessary meetings in the pursuit of productivity.
One thing that helps Musk stay on track is his strict schedule. When he’s in a flow state, he can lose track of time for hours on end. That’s where his scheduling comes in handy, keeping him focused on his priorities and making sure he’s making the most of every moment.
Evenings
According to a 2018 New York Times profile, he worked up to 120 hours per week! But since the birth of his child, X Æ A-12 (yes, that’s really the name), he has made an effort to scale back his hours to spend more quality time with his family and partner, Grimes.
Because of his hectic schedule during the day, Musk tends to consume most of his calories at night. He uses business dinners as an opportunity to satisfy his hunger, even if he admits to sometimes overindulging. He’s also a big fan of Diet Coke, although he claims there’s some mysterious “infernal ingredient” in it.
When he does have time to eat, Musk enjoys French food and barbeque, as well as a glass of whiskey or wine on occasion. But before he can relax and unwind, he returns home from work at around 10 pm – long after his younger kids have gone to bed. Musk then spends the next few hours reading and watching anime (he’s a fan of Evangelion and Death Note).
After a busy day, Musk usually heads to bed around 1 am. It’s a schedule that would exhaust most people, but somehow he manages to make it work. If Elon Musk can balance work and family time, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us!
5 Healthy Habits That Made Elon Musk The Real-Life “Iron Man”
1. Wake up early for a productive start
Musk wakes up each day at 7:00 am, which may seem like a reasonable hour for some, especially when compared to Apple CEO Tim Cook’s daily alarm at 3:45 am. However, Musk stays up until around 1:00 am, giving him only 6-6.5 hours of sleep. He believes that waking up early provides him with a head start and increases his productivity throughout the day.
Musk also believes that lack of sleep can lower his productivity, and so he ensures that he gets enough rest each day. “Sleep is really great. I find if I don’t get enough sleep, I’m quite grumpy,” he said. “I could drop below a certain threshold of sleep, [even though] I could be awake more hours, I would get less done because my mental acuity would be affected.”
2. Take a shower to start the day fresh
In a Reddit AMA, Musk revealed that the one daily habit that has the “largest positive impact” on his life is showering. Even when he has a busy schedule, he always takes the time to shower before starting his day. Musk believes that showering helps him get in the right headspace and prepares him to face the challenges of the day.
Apart from the personal hygiene aspect, showers have several health benefits, including rejuvenation, washing away toxins, decreasing stress, improving immunity and blood circulation, to name a few. Therefore, skipping showers should not be an option for anyone.
3. Enjoy an omelette for breakfast
While most people believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Musk often skips it due to his busy schedule. However, when he does have breakfast, he prefers an omelette.
He also doesn’t spend too much time on meals and usually has lunch during meetings, which typically lasts no more than five minutes. But he does have some favourite indulgences, such as Diet Coke, French food, barbecues, whiskey and wine. He has even hosted or attended some of the most legendary all-nighter parties.
4. Ignore phone calls to stay focused
Musk prefers to stay focused on his work and forgoes most phone calls. He answers as few calls as possible, and he has an obscure work email address to help him block all unnecessary correspondence. This habit enables him to sieve out superfluous communication, which is a crucial skill for anyone looking to prioritise goals and succeed in their career.
5. Read books to boost mental muscles
Reading has been listed as the one common habit among all successful CEOs, and Musk is no exception. Despite his busy schedule, he spends a good amount of time reading books, including The Lord of the Rings, biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, and Twelve Against the Gods.
Reading has been scientifically proven to improve comprehension and analytical abilities. It also fires up the imagination and stimulates the memory centres of the mind, which could explain why Musk is one of the greatest innovators of all time.