Barbara Corcoran’s Essential Morning Habits for a Productive Day

As a serial entrepreneur and investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Barbara Corcoran is busier than most. But she will always make time for her morning routine.

“On an important day, my routine is no different than on unimportant days,” Corcoran told CNBC Make It.

Following a morning routine is a tried and true way to increase productivity, boost energy, and improve your chances of success.

Here are three practices Barbara Corcoran uses for a productive day.

Three days a week, she says, she works out with her trainer in the morning before heading to work.

“It’s what saves me,” Corcoran says. “It’s more for my mental health than my physical health.”

Science backs up Corcoran’s sentiments. Research shows that just 10 minutes of physical activity each week can make you significantly happier.

Engaging in physical activity can also increase your alertness for the next day, according to Stady Published in Nature Communications in November 2022.

“The higher the amount of physical activity, the more awake and alert you will be the next day,” Rafael Vallat, a postdoctoral researcher in the Human Sleep Science Center at UC Berkeley, told CNBC Make It.

An “early riser,” Corcoran heads to the office after her morning workout sessions: “I get to my office early because I do my best before noon.”

To add some excitement to her days, she also aims to dress well, which can be good for her self-esteem.

Wearing what makes you feel strong is a great way to look and feel confident, according to psychotherapist Tess Brigham.

The clothes you wear “can increase your performance and increase the impression others have of you,” says Brigham.

“There’s something I do every night for a successful day to follow,” Corcoran says. “I will never go to bed without making a to-do list for the next day.”

But for a smooth day, she’s grouped her to-dos into categories of interest:

1. Tasks “A” are “not the things you ever want to do” but are necessary and must be done: these are the “things that move your business forward, the things you don’t want to face.” [and] The things you have to say to someone, even kick people out.”
2. Items “B” and “C” are everything else, but less important than A tasks.

“I go to the next morning [and] “Get perks out of the way,” Corcoran says. But if you procrastinate B and C, it won’t make sense. “

Having a to-do list keeps Corcoran on track, and she finds that her way of organizing tasks in order of importance helps her be accountable.

“It makes me productive on the things that matter. And I mixed together on that list, personal stuff and business stuff,” she says. “This is life. It’s all blended now.”

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank.”

Don’t Miss: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, your work, and your life? Subscribe to our new newsletter!

Get the free CNBC report, 11 ways to tell if we’re in a recessionAnd Where Kelly Evans reviews the most important indicators that indicate that the recession has begun or has already begun.