Warren Buffett's Daily Routine (2024)

He starts his day in a manner that aligns with his straightforward philosophy toward life.

Solid Sleep and Relaxed Start

• Adheres to eight hours of sleep, waking at 6:45 AM.
• Prefers a leisurely morning over an early start to work.

As per him; “I have no desire to get to work at four in the morning,”

• Enjoys a morning Cherry Coca-Cola instead of coffee. He typically drinks around 5 cans of Coca-Cola every single day.

As per him, “If I eat 2700 calories a day, a quarter of that is Coca-Cola. I drink at least five 12-ounce servings. I do it every day,”

Exercise Routine

• Exercise, for Buffett, isn't about intensity. He exercises lightly for about 30 minutes.

He views his physical activity as an enjoyable part of his day rather than an intense fitness endeavor.

• He focuses on brain exercise more. For that, he likes playing bridge.

“It's a game you can enjoy when you are in your 90s, and you are seeing a different intellectual challenge every seven minutes. It's the best exercise there is for the brain,” He says.

He usually spends around 80% of his time reading. Before leaving for office, he dedicates part of his morning routine to reading newspapers and staying informed about the world and markets.

He says, “I just read and read and read. I probably read five to six hours a day. I don’t read as fast now as when I was younger, but I read five daily newspapers. I read a fair number of magazines. I read 10Ks. I read annual reports, and I read a lot of other things, too. So, I’ve always enjoyed reading. I love reading biographies, for example.”

His top 5 news reads are;

• Omaha World-Herald
• The Wall Street Journal
• The New York Times
• Financial Times
• The Washington Post

He believes reading is a game-changing habit as it can help him make better investment decisions.

Buffett suggests, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge builds up, like compound interest.”

Reasons To Read

• Enhances Cognitive Function: Reading regularly improves brain connectivity, increases vocabulary and comprehension, and enhances cognitive functions, including memory, focus, and analytical thinking skills.

• Expands Knowledge Base: Reading exposes you to new information, ideas, cultures, and perspectives, significantly expanding your knowledge base. This broadened understanding can be a critical asset in both personal and professional development.

• Improves Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills: Through reading, you encounter various scenarios and problems faced by characters or discussed in non-fiction, helping to improve your own decision-making and problem-solving abilities by applying learned strategies to real-life situations.

• Contributes to Success: The cumulative effect of enhanced cognitive abilities, a broadened knowledge base, and improved problem-solving skills directly contribute to personal and professional success.

Buffett's dietary choices are famously unconventional.

On his way to the office, his breakfast is a daily visit to McDonald's.

He chooses meals based on the stock market's performance as well as his mood. He usually goes between sausage patties, or bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.

He says, “When I’m not feeling quite so prosperous, I might go with the $2.61, which is two sausage patties, and then I put them together and pour myself a co*ke. $3.17 is a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, but the market’s down this morning, so I’ll pass up the $3.17 and go with the $2.95.”

Justifying his “not-so-healthy” breakfast, he says, "I checked the actuarial tables, and the lowest death rate is among six-year-olds. "So I decided to eat like a six-year-old. It's the safest course I can take.”

• After grabbing breakfast from McDonald’s, he continues toward his office.
• He arrives at the office at around 9:30 am after a 5-minute drive, when the stock market opens.

He spends most of his time at the office reading reports, books, etc.

“I just sit in my office and read all day,” He says.

Although he is not a big fan of attending meetings as well or sending emails, he discusses company plans and investment potential while at work.

Warren follows his 5/25 work rule. He makes a list of around 25 daily to-do tasks. Then he chooses the top 5 in terms of priority and works on them first, before moving on to the other ones.

He leaves for home at around 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

Book Recommendations

Buffett loves reading. He reads books in the office. Here are some recommended books you must read.

• The Wealth Of Nations by Adam Smith
• Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham
• The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

He simply adores these books and considers it one of his best investments.

As per him; “In my early days, I, too, rejoiced when the market rose. Then I read chapter eight of Ben Graham’s ‘The Intelligent Investor,’ the chapter dealing with how successful investors should view fluctuations in stock prices. Immediately, the scales fell from my eyes, and low prices became my friend. Picking up that book was one of the luckiest moments in my life.”

On another occasion, he mentioned;

• Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger by Charlie Munger
• The Clash of the Cultures: Investment vs. Speculation by John C. Bogle
• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle

He believes these books and financial reports to be an amazing asset for entry-level investors. “Rather than listening to their siren songs, investors — large and small — should instead read ‘The Little Book of Common Sense Investing,” He suggests.

• He doesn't have any fancy lunch and eats in his office.
• He is a big fan of McDonald’s and usually goes for Quarter Pounder along with ice cream and Coca-Cola. If not McDonald’s, he loves steaks in his lunch as well.
• He also loves strawberry milkshakes.

He likes spending time with his family and friends. He plays Bridge, watches TV, etc. aiming for a relaxing time after work.

As per him; “Basically, when you get to my age, you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.”

He also loves playing Bridge and has a relaxing time after work. He usually plays it with his best friend and Microsoft Co founder, Bill Gates.

“I play a lot…At least four sessions a week, about two hours a session.” He once revealed.

Warren is extremely happy and satisfied with his life.

“I love playing bridge, I talk to my friends, and I pretty much don’t do anything I don’t like to do. I’m very fortunate in that… I’m pretty much in command of my own time, but I have a lot of fun doing it,” he says.

Reasons To Play Bridge

• Improves Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving: Bridge demands foresight, planning, and adaptability, skills that can sharpen your strategic thinking abilities.

• Enhances Memory and Concentration: Remembering the cards played and deducing the cards held by others enhances short-term memory and concentration.

• Promotes Social Interaction: Bridge is typically played with a partner and against an opposing pair, encouraging social interaction and communication, which are vital for mental health.

Regarding being in control of one’s own life, Buffett suggests, “Keep control of your time. You won’t keep control of your time unless you can say no — you can’t let other people set your agenda in life.”

His evening meal choices reflect his straightforward and familiar approach to food.

• Dinner Choices: He often enjoys veal parmigiana for dinner. This dish is a staple in his dinner rotation.
• Meal Settings: He prefers to eat this meal either at a local restaurant or in the comfort of his own home.
• Food Preferences: Along with veal parmigiana, he might opt for other fulfilling dishes depending on his mood or the day.

Buffett’s dinner routine shows that even billionaires enjoy simple, satisfying meals in cozy settings.

He goes to sleep at around 10:45 pm daily for his 8-hour sleep.

He says, “I get quite a bit of sleep. I like to sleep so I will usually sleep eight hours a night.”

For those seeking better sleep, the Momentous Sleep Supplement Pack can be a valuable addition to support relaxation and a restful night.

Reasons To Maintain An 8-Hour Daily Sleep Routine

• Restores Physical Health: Eight hours of sleep allows your body to repair itself, supporting healthy brain function and maintaining physical health. It plays a crucial role in the healing and repair of your heart and blood vessels, contributing to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

• Improves Cognitive Functions: Adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive processes including attention, learning, memory consolidation, and decision-making. It helps in clearing the brain of toxins that build up during waking hours, improving concentration and productivity.

• Enhances Emotional and Mental Well-being: Sleep affects mood and is associated with reducing the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Adequate sleep helps regulate mood and stress hormones, making it easier to manage stress and emotions.

• Supports Growth and Development: During sleep, the body releases growth hormones, which help in growth and development, especially in children and teenagers. These hormones help build muscle mass, repair cells, and tissues, and support the immune system.