I Copied Jeff Bezos's Habits For 365 Days

Jeff Bezos built Amazon from a small online bookstore into a trillion-dollar empire.

But beyond his business success, his daily habits play a huge role in his ability to think big and execute efficiently.

So, for 365 days, I followed some of his core habits to see if they would make me more productive, focused, and successful.

Here’s what happened:

1. Prioritizing 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night

Bezos is a strong believer in getting a full night’s sleep — no “hustle culture” nonsense, just pure recovery.

He says sleep helps him make high-quality decisions, and I wanted to see if that was true.

At first, it felt weird “forcing” myself to sleep early. But within a few weeks, I noticed a difference. I was more focused, made better decisions, and was way less stressed.

Takeaway: Sleep isn’t laziness. It’s fuel for your brain.

2. Making “High-Quality Decisions” in the Morning

Bezos schedules all of his important decisions before lunch.

He believes that by the afternoon, his brain power is drained, so he saves the easiest tasks for later in the day.

I started doing the same:

Mornings = big decisions, creative work, deep thinking

Afternoons = meetings, admin tasks, emails

The result? My mornings became insanely productive. Instead of wasting my best energy on small things, I tackled my most important tasks first.

Takeaway: Use your peak mental energy for the things that actually matter.

3. Taking Time to “Putter” in the Morning

Unlike most CEOs who dive straight into work, Bezos takes time to ease into his day.

He drinks coffee, reads the news, and spends time with family before getting to work.

I tried this, and at first, I felt lazy. But over time, I realized it actually helped me start the day with a clear head.

4. Applying the “Two-Pizza Rule” to Meetings

Jeff Bezos famously enforces the “two-pizza rule” at Amazon: No meeting should have more attendees than two pizzas can feed (roughly 6–8 people). The goal? Eliminate bloated discussions and force clarity.

I implemented this rigidly. If a meeting invite list exceeded eight, I’d ruthlessly cut it to essential decision-makers only. The first month was awkward—colleagues complained about being excluded. But soon, magic happened. Meetings became shorter (20–30 minutes vs. an hour), agendas stayed tight, and action items were actually completed. Without the “audience” of non-essential staff, debates turned into solutions.

Takeaway: Small, focused teams make faster, better decisions. If someone isn’t critical to the outcome, spare them the calendar invite.

5. Embracing “Regret Minimization” for Big Decisions

Bezos’s “regret minimization framework” asks one question: “When I’m 80, will I regret NOT doing this?” It’s how he quit his Wall Street job to start Amazon in 1994.

I applied this to career and personal choices. When offered a high-paying but soul-crushing consulting role, I asked: “Will I regret playing it safe at 80?” I declined and launched a passion project instead. Six months in, revenue is shaky—but I’ve never felt more alive. Similarly, I reconnected with an estranged friend, thinking: “Will I regret this silence on my deathbed?”

Takeaway: Fear of regret is a sharper motivator than fear of failure. Bezos’s framework forces you to prioritize legacy over short-term comfort.

6. Banishing PowerPoints for Narratives

At Amazon, meetings begin with silent reading of a 6-page memo—no slides allowed. Bezos believes writing clarifies thinking, while bullet points oversimplify.

I swapped PowerPoints for structured narratives in team meetings. The first few were brutal—writing a cohesive argument took hours. But over time, my team’s critical thinking improved. We spotted flawed logic faster, asked deeper questions, and reduced “rework” by 45%.

Takeaway: Writing exposes gaps in reasoning. If you can’t articulate it in prose, you don’t understand it.

The Biggest Lesson: Energy Management > Time Management

After 365 days, the biggest shift wasn’t in my calendar—it was in my energy. Bezos’s habits aren’t about cramming more into each day. They’re about ruthlessly guarding your physical, mental, and emotional bandwidth.

1. Sleep protected my cognitive sharpness.
2. Morning decisions leveraged peak brainpower.
3. Puttering reduced decision fatigue.
4. Small meetings preserved social energy.
5. Narratives deepened focus.

The result? I worked fewer hours but achieved more meaningful outcomes. My team noticed—productivity became contagious.

One Warning: Bezos’s Habits Aren’t for Everyone

Copying Bezos requires privilege. His routines assume control over your schedule—a luxury many don’t have. Single parents, gig workers, or those in toxic workplaces can’t always prioritize sleep or silent reading.

But the core principles still apply:

Protect your best energy for high-impact work.

Cut the noise (meetings, slides, overcrowded rooms).

Think long-term, even if just 1% each day.

Final Word: You Don’t Need to Be Bezos

You don’t have to build Amazon to benefit from his habits. After a year, I’m no billionaire—but I’m calmer, sharper, and more intentional. And isn’t that the real wealth?

Try This Tomorrow: Ditch your phone for the first hour after waking. Drink coffee slowly. Write one paragraph explaining a problem instead of bullet points. See what shifts.