Day in the Life:
Oprah Winfrey
As a self-made billionaire, Oprah Winfrey has created her own television network, written numerous books, launched a program to help young women in Africa, and is the CEO of Harpo Productions. Oprah was ranked the greatest black philanthropist in history and was even awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. And if that isn’t enough, she has been recognized as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People a remarkable ten times! Her accomplishments are never ending, as Oprah is always striving to achieve more.
This success was not simply handed to Oprah; her humble upbringings kept her wanting to achieve more. She strived to pursue greatness in all aspects of her life, slowly rising to the top from countless late nights and hours of work. Oprah continues to be a phenomenal example of what one can achieve from hard work and dedication, inspiring others to achieve their dreams.
Oprah now comfortably lives in her 65 acre home in Montecito, California, nestled amongst groves of trees and wildflowers. Her days consist of work, exercise, and family time, always placing an emphasis on her own well-being. She takes time to notice and appreciate life’s smallest joys, giving herself the ability to be fully present in the current moment.
“For me, a perfect day is not just one thing; it’s a series of small things. It’s the crisp air on your face when you open the door in the morning, the reflection of mountains and clouds in a crystal lake. It’s paying attention.”
Oprah Winfrey’s daily routine:
- 7:10AM – Wake up
- 8AM – Take the dogs out
- 8:30AM – Spiritual exercises
- 9AM – Work out
- 10:30AM – Trunk show
- 12:30PM – Home-grown meal
- 1:30PM – Business
- 3:30PM – Exercise again
- 6PM – Dinner
- 7PM – Family time
- 9:30 PM- Bath time
- 10 PM – Bed
Morning Rituals
Oprah Winfrey begins her mornings with a series of spiritual exercises, giving her body a chance to wake up and her mind some time to focus on gratitude and self-reflection. One of the first things she does is read a quote:
“As I wait for the brew to froth, I pull out a card from my 365 Gathered Truths box. I read five of them each morning; it’s a beautiful way to start the day. Today I got this great one that said, “Wealth is not measured by dollars and cents, but by the love we make, the laughter we enjoy, the meals we share, the dreams we experience and the hopes we create.”
Next, she meditates for about 20 minutes. If the weather is nice outside, then she will lay in her lawn chair with her eyes closed, simply reflecting on the previous day, as well as envisioning her goals for the present day. Winfrey noted that beginning her day slowly gives her mind a chance to wake up and become fully focused on the day ahead.
Working Out
Oprah Winfrey places an emphasis on getting her daily workout in, typically working out at two different times during the day. In the mornings, her workouts are often focused on flexibility and low impact strength training. Following these exercises, she goes for a two mile run, not even having to leave her property because she lives on 65 acres! In the afternoon Winfrey focuses on making her workouts more of a social activity, giving her a chance to catch up with friends while exercising. Usually they will go for a short run and then stop to watch the sun just before it is setting.
Evening Routine
For Winfrey, evenings are a time to catch up with family and unwind. Relaxing is the focus of this time, often talking with family, watching a good movie, or reading a book. She notse that this is her favorite time of the day because it gives her a chance to unwind and spend time with the people who are most important to her.
“My perfect evening involves sitting around the fire with family, reading a novel, and drinking herbal tea. I generally prefer reading a novel to watching a movie. I can go for weeks without turning on the TV.”
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