Charlie Munger’s Daily Schedule

Wakeup

He emphasized the importance of waking up early to set a productive tone for the day.

• Early Start: He believed in the power of an early start as you can get a head start on important tasks like preparing for annual meetings.
• Extra Time: Rising early gives you extra time to prepare for the day and it helps in efficiently organizing tasks.
• Productivity Boost: Starting the day early can significantly impact your productivity as it allows you to tackle important tasks without any distractions.
• Wellbeing: Waking up early not only boosts productivity but also enhances overall well-being. It provides a sense of accomplishment and sets a positive tone for the day.

Brain Exercises

Starting your day with brain exercises is a beneficial way to prime your mind for success.

• Reading: He focused on the importance of reading to stimulate cognitive function an perform efficiently as the vice chairman.
• Puzzles and Riddles: Engaging in activities like puzzles, riddles, or brain games helps to sharpen the mind and improve mental agility.
• Morning Routine: Incorporating mental exercises into your morning routine can increase focus and productivity throughout the day.
• Consistent Practice: Regularly challenging your brain keeps it active and healthy, leading to long-term cognitive health.

Including brain exercises in your daily routine, like Charlie Munger, can set the stage for a productive and mentally engaging day. You can also focus on morning meditation as it helps to clear the mind, reduce stress, and improve focus. Consider using the Headspace App or courses from Mindfulness to kickstart your meditation routine.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of meditation, check out our article on Daily Meditation Routine.

Breakfast

Breakfast is an important part of Charlie Munger’s daily routine. It sets the tone for the rest of the day, providing essential nutrition and energy.

• Typical Breakfast: He enjoyed a typical American-style breakfast, which includes eggs mixed with a lot of cream.
• Eggs with Cream: This combination was a favorite in the Charlie Munger daily routine as it provides a satisfying start to the day.
• Morning Nutrition: A good breakfast like this helps to fuel the body and mind for the tasks ahead.

Work Routine

Charlie Munger’s work routine was focused on disciplined habits and an efficient approach to time management. His daily schedule shows his commitment to productivity and success.

• Continuous Learning: A significant part of Munger’s routine involved reading and learning. He dedicates time each day to read books, articles and reports to stay informed and expand his knowledge.
• Companies and Investments: Munger’s day included overseeing his various companies and investments. His role at Berkshire Hathaway requiresd him to stay updated on market trends and make strategic decisions.
• Meetings: Regular meetings were a key component of the Charlie Munger daily routine. These meetings involved discussions about business strategies, investment opportunities, and company performance.
• Structured Time Management: He followed a structured approach to time management. He prioritized tasks and allocated specific time slots to ensure efficiency and productivity throughout the day.

Book Reading

Charlie Munger’s daily routine included extensive reading and continuous learning. His dedication to reading is a key part of his success in the trading world.

• Extensive Reading: He spent more than 8 hours a day reading books, newspapers, and other materials to stay informed and mentally stimulated.
• Range of Books: He read books about a wide range of topics, including psychology, business, science, and history. This diverse approach helped him gain a broad understanding of various subjects.
• Advocate for Reading: He was a strong advocate for extensive reading. He believed it is crucial for gaining knowledge and developing intellectual curiosity.
• Broadening Knowledge: Munger suggested reading a wide range of subjects to broaden your knowledge base and develop a well-rounded understanding of the trading arena.

“In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn’t read all the time—none. Zero. You’d be amazed at how much Warren reads—and how much I read.”
Charlie Munger

Charlie Munger Book Recommendations

His book recommendations reflect his diverse interests and focus on continuous learning. These books offer valuable insights into various subjects, from science to psychology.

• Ice Age: How a Change of Climate Made Us Human: This book explores how climate change has shaped human evolution, offering a deep dive into history and science.

“The best work of science exposition and history that I’ve read in many years!”
Charlie Munger

• Faraday, Maxwell, and the Electromagnetic Field: Charlie Munger recommends this book for its fascinating account of how Faraday and Maxwell’s discoveries changed the world of physics.

“It’s a combination of scientific biography and explanation of the physics, particularly relating to electricity. It’s just the best book of its kind I have ever read, and I just hugely enjoyed it. Couldn’t put it down. It was a fabulous human achievement”
Charlie Munger

• Fiasco: The Inside Story of a Wall Street Trader by Frank Partnoy: This book provides an insider’s view of the financial world, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Wall Street.
• Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond: Charlie Munger appreciates this book for its comprehensive analysis of the factors that have shaped human societies.
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini: This classic book on psychology and persuasion techniques is highly recommended by Munger for its practical insights.

Adding these book recommendations to your reading list can provide you with a wealth of knowledge and a broader perspective on various subjects. Following his reading habits can enhance your intellectual growth and understanding of the complexities of trading.

Lunch Routine

Lunch is a time for him to enjoy simple pleasures and take a break from his busy schedule. His lunch routine reflects his approach to moderation and enjoyment.

• Peanut Brittle: One of Munger’s well-documented habits includes consuming peanut brittle from See’s Candies, a company owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
• Longevity Joke: He has often jokingly said that peanut brittle is a key to his longevity, highlighting his love for this treat.
• Simple Pleasures: This habit indicates Munger’s preference for enjoying simple pleasures, a notable aspect of the Charlie Munger lifestyle.
• Balanced Approach: Even with a disciplined daily schedule, Munger believed in the importance of small indulgences, which contribute to a balanced approach to life.

The Charlie Munger daily routine emphasizes the importance of balance and enjoyment. Including simple pleasures, like a favorite treat, can make a disciplined lifestyle more enjoyable and sustainable.

Taking Notes

Writing notes is an integral part of Charlie Munger’s daily routine. He strongly advocated for this habit to enhance understanding and retain important information.

• Active Engagement: He believed that actively engaging with reading material through note-taking helps in better comprehension.
• Summarizing Key Points: You can reinforce important concepts and retain valuable information by noting key points.
• Personal System: He recommended using a note-taking system that works best for you, whether it’s highlighting, underlining, or using a notebook.
• Reinforcing Concepts: This process helps to reinforce key concepts, identify patterns, and extract insights that can be applied in various aspects of life.
• Lifelong Learning: Note-taking is a crucial tool in the Charlie Munger daily schedule for continuous learning and intellectual growth.

Apart from note-taking, you can also focus on journaling to improve your daily routine. Writing daily can help you focus on your objectives and help you fulfill important tasks. If you want to learn more about it, consider viewing our Journaling article.

Networking

Networking is a key component of Charlie Munger’s schedule. He understands the power of making strong relationships and the benefits it brings.

• Building Relationships: He recognized the importance of building a network of professionals, mentors, and like-minded individuals. He often wrote letter to shareholders to maintain their confidence in the company.
• Opportunities for Growth: Actively networking can provide invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Knowledge Sharing: Networking allows you to tap into the knowledge and experiences of others, gaining new perspectives.
• Collaborative Ventures: Engaging with your network can lead to collaborative ventures, enhancing your opportunities for success.

Avoiding Unhealthy Activities

He believes in the importance of eliminating bad habits from your daily routine. Avoiding unhealthy activities is crucial for maintaining both physical and mental well-being.

• Eliminating Vices: He stresses the need to break free from habits like smoking and excessive drinking as these activities can negatively impact your health.
• Balanced Lifestyle: Eliminating unhealthy habits paves the way for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle, an essential part of the Charlie Munger daily routine.
• Avoiding Time-Wasters: He emphasized avoiding activities that don’t contribute to personal or professional growth like excessive social media usage.
• Maximizing Time: You can free up valuable time that can be invested in more productive work by identifying and eliminating time-wasting activities.

No Exercise Routine

Charlie Munger’s routine doesn’t include a dedicated exercise regimen. His approach to physical activity is different from the typical routines of many renowned personalities like Tim Cook or Andrew Huberman.

• No Focused Exercise: He has never purposely focused on any exercise except when the Army Air Corps required it.
• Enjoyable Activities: If he enjoys an activity like tennis, he will get his exercise through such sports rather than following a strict fitness routine.
• Casual Approach: This casual approach to exercise was a notable aspect of the Charlie Munger lifestyle, showing that he preferred physical activity in the form of enjoyable pastimes rather than structured workouts.

Sleep Routine

He values rest and sleep as crucial parts of his daily routine. Over the years, he had developed a strategy to ensure he gets quality sleep.

• Early Struggles: When Munger was younger, he had more difficulty sleeping because he allowed his mind to wrestle with problems, keeping him awake late into the night.
• New Strategy: Later in life, he learned to deliberately blank out his mind to fall asleep more easily.
• Consistent Sleep: He ensured he gets 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night, making rest a key part of his lifestyle.
• Sleep Tip: Munger’s tip for better sleep is to consciously clear your mind before bed, a practice that helps him maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

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