14 Surprising Evening Routines of Millionaires That You Can Do Too

With so many self-made millionaires and billionaires to inspire us, it’s clear by now that you don’t have to be born rich to enjoy a seven-figure net worth later in life. Hard work, perseverance and the ability to spot and then grab opportunities are all traits of the world’s most successful people. How do they stay focused and motivated, though? They make sure that they get a good night’s sleep, so they do things that help them relax before going to bed. Here are some surprising night-time rituals of millionaires that you might like to try too.

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Evening routine: unplug

Turning off the phone is one of the things that successful people do on weekends. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg told USA Today that she checks her emails last thing at night and then turns off her phone so she doesn’t get woken up.

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Evening routine: read

One of the habits of self-made millionaires is that they read a lot. While some read for self-improvement, others read simply to relax at the end of the day. In an interview with lifestyle blogger Tomas Laurinaricius, Arianna Huffington said that before bed she reads real books that have nothing to do with work. This helps promote deep sleep.

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Evening routine: spend time alone

Even the most successful people in the world know the value of spending some alone time, without interruptions. According to The New York Times, during his time as President of the United States, Barack Obama would have dinner with his family and then retreat to his private office, where he would get some work done, watch a little TV and read.

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Evening routine: spend time with family

According to Inc., many wealthy people use their evenings to spend time with the family. Some, like Carlos Slim Helu, one of the world’s richest people, make time not only for their children but for their grandchildren too. After all, family is something no money in the world can buy.

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Evening routine: meditate

According to Zenful Spirit, one thing that many successful people have in common is daily meditation. For some it’s part of their morning routine to help them prepare for the day. For others – like Paul McCartney, who tops the list of the world’s richest rock stars – meditation has led to inspiration.

Padmasree Warrior (pictured), who is one of the most successful women in tech, meditates at night. Meditating in the evening can also help improve sleep.

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Evening routine: do the dishes

If you’re very, very rich, you probably have people who keep your house clean and tidy. Still, according to Inc., both Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates (pictured), the two richest people in the world, like to do the dishes at night. It keeps them grounded, helps them relax and because they can let their minds wander, they can come up with new ideas.

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Evening routine: spend time on hobbies

Painting, playing musical instruments and other hobbies help millionaires relax and take a break from work worries. Hobbies that are completely different from their day job can even lead to new opportunities. Lonely Planet reported that millionaire actor Alan Cumming opened a New York club that has knitting and crochet gatherings.

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Evening routine: disconnect from work

While many millionaires are workaholics, some find that completely disconnecting from work at night helps them sleep better. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance, said in a Tim Ferriss podcast that he avoids heavy debates about business an hour or two before bedtime.

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Evening routine: take a hot bath

Arianna Huffington is one of several wealthy people who take a hot bath at night. She told Tomas Laurinaricius that she adds Epsom salts to her bath and lights some candles. Of course a hot bath is even more relaxing if you indulge in the bath products of cruelty-free beauty brands.

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Evening routine: create a cozy environment for sleeping

A comfortable bedroom without clutter helps many of the world’s most successful people sleep better. Lifehack cites the example of Stephen King, who brushes his teeth, washes his hands and then makes sure that the pillows all face a certain way.

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Evening routine: go for a walk

Exercise is one of the daily habits that could make you a millionaire. While many millionaires build a workout into their morning routine or play some kind of sport during the day, light exercise in the evening is great too. Going for a walk, like Buffer CEO Joel Gascoigne does every evening, can help you unwind, evaluate the day and think about things. The exercise and fresh air also makes you tired so that you’ll sleep better.

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Evening routine: plan the next day

One of the things successful women do every day is to create a to-do list. It’s not only women who do this, though, and not everybody does it in the morning. According to Lifehack, the way American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault ends his day is to write down three things he wants to accomplish the next day. When morning comes, he can then dive straight into those tasks.

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Evening routine: play games

Whether it’s board games or computer games, some millionaires like to spend their evenings playing games that help keep their strategic thinking skills sharp. Warren Buffett (pictured), who is one of the world’s most generous billionaires, has said that he plays online bridge for a few hours every night.

He sometimes plays with fellow philanthropic billionaire Bill Gates, using real cards, according to Time.

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Evening routine: work

Some millionaires get their best work done at night. Before getting older and having kids, Neil Gaiman used to start writing at 8PM and work until 5AM, as he told Time Out. Some of his most creative work, such as the Sandman series, was written while everyone else was sleeping.

For more insider tips from millionaires, don't miss these 20 secrets self-made millionaires teach their kids.