I Followed Marcus Aurelius’ Daily Routine (And The Results Were Incredible)

It taught me to think like a Roman emperor

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within your way of thinking.” — Marcus Aurelius

I’m fascinated by people who made a big impact on history. Marcus Aurelius is a great example. He was an emperor of Rome and also wrote Meditations — one of the bestselling philosophy books of all time.

That’s why I followed his daily routine for several days. I wanted to see what would happen if I adopted the habits and mindset of a Roman emperor. And unsurprisingly, the results were incredible.

Here’s A Breakdown Of Marcus Aurelius’ Daily Routine

Wake Up Early

“When you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?” — Marcus Aurelius

Even thousands of years ago, the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, struggled to get out of bed. He had to remind himself that it was better to get up than to stay under the covers where it’s warm.

“Don’t you see the plants, birds, ants, spiders, and bees going about their individual tasks?” he continued. “They’re putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being?”

Write In A Journal

“I needed to train and discipline my character. Not to be sidetracked by my interest in rhetoric. Not to write treatises on abstract questions, or deliver moralizing little sermons, or compose imaginary descriptions of The Simple Life or the man who lives only for others. To steer clear of oratory, poetry, and belles lettres. Not to dress up just to stroll around the house, or things like that. To write straightforward.” — Marcus Aurelius

Marcus wrote to train his character. He wanted to become the best possible version of himself. So every morning, he reflected on his mistakes to avoid doing the same thing in the future.

In a journal, he wrote about about people being annoying. They had flaws, mistakes, and lots of imperfections in their character. But so did Marcus. He recognized that by writing a profound note to himself that goes like this: “Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most resembles the one I am about to criticize?”

Complete The Hardest Task First

“Concentrate every minute like a Roman — on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions. Yes, you can — if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, and irritable.”— Marcus Aurelius

Many historians agree that Marcus had a strong work ethic. He “ate the frog” and completed hard tasks as soon as possible. After all, commanding the Roman empire was extremely tiresome. But Marcus would “never be overheard complaining.” Not even to himself.

Find Pleasure In Small Things

“Anyone with a feeling for nature — a deeper sensitivity — will find it all gives pleasure. Even what seems inadvertent. He’ll find the jaws of live animals as beautiful as painted ones or sculptures. He’ll look calmly at the distinct beauty of old age in men, women, and at the loveliness of children. And other things like that will call out to him constantly — things unnoticed by others. Things seen only by those at home with Nature and its works.” — Marcus Aurelius

Despite being a Roman emperor, Marcus prioritized work-life balance. He also enjoyed the smaller things in life. Wrestling, reading, and horseback riding, to name a few.

Why? It’s our job, as human beings, to find stillness, peace, and tranquility in the beauty of daily life. “To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over,” said Marcus Aurelius. “It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.”

Meditate On Your Mortality

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius

Each evening, Marcus tucked his children into bed and said goodnight. “Don’t rush this,” he said to himself. “This might be the last time you do this. It’s not a guarantee that either of you will make it through the night.”

It sounds morbid, but it’s important to think about death. Today might be your last day alive. Maybe not… but it’s certainly possible. So, if there’s even a 1% chance that you (or your loved ones) die today, it’s a good idea to treat everyone with kindness & respect.

Someday, you’re going to die. Let that motivate you to live.

Here’s What Happened When I Followed Marcus Aurelius’ Daily Routine

Day One

I woke up at 6am and began the daily routine of Marcus Aurelius. I’m not a Roman emperor (by any means). I live in a studio apartment and eat way too many chocolate cookies.

But reflecting on my thoughts & behavior felt empowering. It also helped me to keep negative thoughts at bay — since they weren’t grounded in reality. And during a 30-minute journaling session, I listed several things I’m grateful for. Doing so gave me a positive energy boost that made me smile throughout the day.

Day Two

It was an extremely productive day. I woke up early, journaled, and went through my schedule. And after grabbing something to eat, I read 162 pages of a book.

To me, there’s something beautiful about reading. It’s an opportunity to access the minds of authors, historians, and geniuses. It’s also a chance to rebuild your life, moral character, and become a better person. Can anything else allow you to do those things? Certainly not for under $20. Especially with inflation these days. Geez.

Day Three

I did all the normal stuff from Marcus’ daily routine and enjoyed a long walk to a nearby waterfall. It was beautiful! I saw the birds, bees, and ducks going about their daily business. They put the world in order, as best they could. And it inspired me to uphold good moral character by following my values.

I reminded myself to love thy neighbor more often. I held the door open for strangers, smiled at people in the street, and gave money to charity. I tried my absolute best to treat other people how I would want to be treated if I were in their position. And it felt great!

What I Learned Following Marcus Aurelius’ Daily Routine

Work-life balance is important. Sure, you can work 80+ hours per week like Elon Musk. But if you don’t make time for things that make you smile, you’ll be tired, exhausted, and miserable. Like Marcus Aurelius once said:

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”

For some people, that might involve reading, hunting, and horseback riding (like Marcus Aurelius). For others, it might be spending time with family — and treasuring every moment.

I’m not going to judge you. Nor will I say what you should and shouldn’t do with your time. But if you embrace hustle culture and work 24/7, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate your priorities.

I’m going to leave you with a beautiful quote from Marcus Aurelius, who perfectly sums up what I’m saying:

“Live a good life. If there are Gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are Gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no Gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

If you enjoyed this article and want to support my writing, click this link to get notified whenever I publish something new.