It’s a common saying that some of the most successful entrepreneurs are usually early risers. And when you’re running a business, it may seem like there are never enough hours to get work done. In this series, First Hour, we explore the morning side of creators and how they set themselves up for a productive day.
For Jude Ower, the founder of the London-based gaming company Playmob, kicking her java habit was a painful process. “I stopped drinking coffee, says Ower, “so at first those mornings were not fun at all, but now I feel so much better.”
As we chatted about her morning ritual, she shares her favorite song to wake up to, a lifelong dream of hers, and her secret to not stressing out in the early hours.
WeWork: What time do you usually get up?
Ower: Around 6:30 am. I like to get to the office for 8 am and beat the crowds on the trains—any later and this means 20 minutes of face-planting in an armpit!
WeWork: What gets you up every day?
Ower: My alarm is the tune “So Good to Me” by Chris Malinchak. I want to buy an island, and this song makes me think of waking up on this island with sea breezes sweeping through the bedroom and a view of an ocean vista. Bliss. Every day is a step closer to reaching this goal.
WeWork: What are your first thoughts when you get up?
Ower: I’ve stopped checking emails as soon as I wake up, but I will check my calendar and have a look through Twitter for news. Usually my first thoughts are what I need to accomplish that day. Days can be packed and busy, so I like to think about what’s going on and make sure I have everything I need from day to night.
WeWork: Tell us about your morning routine.
Ower: I tend to make a juice then head into the office to make breakfast there. When I’m in the office, we have a routine we try to stick with: Every Monday we have a weekly kickoff first thing and we do stand-up. On Fridays, I have an admin morning, starting as early as possible. This allows us to all be on the same page as a team, help each other out, then have the rest of the day to do what we need to do.
WeWork: What do you eat for breakfast?
Ower: I just bought a new gadget, a Rollie, which makes an omelet on a stick. Genius! I am trying to eat less carbs and more protein, so this has solved a big problem of my usual carby breakfast. All I need now is a Nutribullet in the office and my life would be complete.
WeWork: What do you usually do during your morning commute?
Ower: My commute is quite short, 15 minutes on an overground train, so there’s no need to go underground! I spend this time catching up on emails, Facebook and Twitter, reading the BBC news, and catching up on various WhatsApp group chats with friends and family.
WeWork: Tell us your secret for not stressing out in the morning.
Ower: Being organized the night before helps me to start the day well. If it is a particularly stressful day ahead, I try to remember to breathe! Sounds obvious, but it really does help. A few deep breaths can make me feel much calmer. Woosah!
Photographs by Lauren Kallen