12 unusual morning routines successful people swear by

• Morning routines for successful people often set them up for a productive day, no matter how unusual they may seem to the average person.
• Playing a creative game with his son is a part of Twitter co-founder Biz Stone's morning routine, while Arianna Huffington takes a moment to breathe and express gratitude.
• Here are 12 unsual morning routines that successful authors, CEOs, and execs swear by. 

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The idea that how our morning unfolds impacts the quality of the rest of the day is a common one. Oversleeping, for example, will leave many feeling stressed, having had to rush through the morning's activities to get to work or school on time.

But what is the best way to spend our mornings if we want to set ourselves up for a successful day? We dug into the book "My Morning Routine" hoping to find the ultimate strategy for how to start the day, and came out with more ideas than we thought possible. What we learned is that there's no one secret recipe to mornings, but many, and it all starts with what works for you.

Now for some this is great news, and for others, not so much. The idea of there being one ultimate diet, workout, partner, or routine that will fix everything is an appealing one. But, don't worry, we've got your back! To give you some inspiration for finding your ultimate morning routine, we've collected an eclectic mix of 12 successful people's routines from "My Morning Routine." Enjoy!

1. Tyler Cowen — Professor of Economics at George Mason University, author of 'Average is Over'

TEDxEast/YouTube

"I wake up around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m., drink some mineral water, munch on a green pepper, along with cheese and smoked trout." 

2. Jillian Michaels — Personal trainer, television personality

Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for KRAVE Jerky

"My alarm clock is my five-year-old. He jolts me from slumber at about 6:10 every morning for cuddles. Then we get up and feed the animals (rabbit, pig, dogs, bird, chickens, ducks, fish, etc.). Yes, I am serious."

3. Ed Catmull — President of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios

Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for The Walt Disney Family Museum

"I wake up, go downstairs, and start making a cup of coffee. I use three shots of espresso, mix in three tablespoons of cocoa powder (not Dutch process), and two sweeteners. I’ve heard this helps you think better; I have no idea if this is true, but it tastes good."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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SEE ALSO: I'm a neurosurgeon, and the best morning routine I've found only consists of 3 simple steps