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The routine · 5 steps · 1 min read

Jocko Willink’s daily routine

From his book excerpt on the Tim Ferriss Show and his own interviews.

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At a glance
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Independent summary — Jocko Willink hasn’t endorsed this page. Some links may be affiliate links.

The day, step by step

Evening (prior)
  1. Mind

    Plan tomorrow

    Plan the workout, stage clothes, write the task list.

    Why: So there’s nothing to decide when the alarm goes.

    1
Morning
  1. Sleep

    Alarm, get up

    Why: “No one else is awake yet,” so the time is his.

    2
  2. Training

    Workout, hard

    Can be very short: a few minutes of intense burpees or sprints counts.

    2
  3. Mind

    Shower, then “crush” the task list

    1
Evening
  1. Sleep

    Go to bed earlier

    He calls this one of the most important ways to make early rising work.

    1
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Busy-person version

The core, in 3 steps

  1. MindLay out clothes and write tomorrow’s list tonight.
  2. TrainingFive minutes of hard exercise right after waking.
  3. SleepMove bedtime earlier before moving the alarm.

Every step, in one list

WhenStepSource
Night beforePlan tomorrow
Mind
1
4:30Alarm, get up
Sleep
2
4:35Workout, hard
Training
2
AfterShower, then “crush” the task list
Mind
1
EveningGo to bed earlier
Sleep
1

Times marked “approx.” in the timeline are our reading of the source.

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Sources (2)
  1. Tim Ferriss Show transcript — Discipline Equals Freedom (#275)
  2. Business Insider — Why he gets up at 4:30 am (interview)

Last checked 16 Oct 2026.

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