Neither a morning person, nor for productivity: Ankur Warikoo has a special reason for waking up at 4:30 am every day

Some people are early birds, while others are night owls. But ask any nutritionist or a successful person, and you will get to know that early risers are the ones at an advantage. Reason? Mornings offer a rare sense of calm and control before the world wakes up. It is also linked to improved mental clarity, better sleep cycles, and healthier lifestyle choices. Don’t know about you, but an entrepreneur, author and digital creator, Ankur Warikoo, agrees with it, although he essentially does not consider himself a morning person.

Ankur Warikoo on waking up before the sun

Ankur Warikoo, in his latest X post, revealed that he wakes up at 4: 30 am every morning for a surprising reason. According to him, he is neither a morning person nor has he read books featuring successful personalities following the habit. Warikoo maintains the ritual because of one powerful realisation: ‘before I attend to the world, I need to attend to myself.’


Ankur Warikoo shared that for him, waking up early is not a productivity hack but a way to reclaim personal time. He described the early hours as the only part of the day that truly belongs to him, a routine he has consistently followed for over six years. The entrepreneur revealed that he goes to bed around 9:30 pm after reading briefly, and wakes up between 4:45 and 4:50 am.

Ankur Warikoo’s daily routine

Ankur Warikoo’s mornings begin slowly, where he drinks a glass of water for 15 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of meditation and another 30 minutes of reading. He then helps his children get ready for school before playing tennis for an hour and working out for another hour. Warikoo’s routine also includes reading the newspaper, getting ready for the day, and having a protein shake or supplements before starting work around 9:30 am.

According to Ankur Warikoo, this structure gives him close to five uninterrupted hours dedicated to his own growth, well-being, peace and clarity. He emphasised that while routines may vary, what truly matters is setting aside time every morning to focus on oneself before you step foot outside and perform your professional responsibilities.