This 48-year-old CEO wakes up at 4:15 a.m. to work out and meditate every day. Here’s why he says it’s the key to his success
Healthcare CEO Justin Nedelman wake up at 4:15 am every morning without fail—and without an alarm clock.
“I’m an intentional early riser,” says LA-based Nedelman. Luck. “I have been waking up before sunrise for over 20 years.”
Nedelman, CEO of Pressed Juicery, a cold-pressed juice shop and wellness brand, loves waking up in the dark of morning when the rest of the world feels like it’s stopped. “Mornings are magical to me. You own the city,” he says.
It allows him to slowly enjoy a 5-ounce Americano, a glass of water, a five-minute meditation, and, most importantly, a rigorous sweat session. All of these have been the 48-year-old’s main morning routine for most of his adult life, something he credits to his good health and business success—not to mention a factor in his hiking and mountain biking to the top of Guatemala’s 13,000-foot Acatenango volcano over the past year.
“I don’t know how you can run a wellness brand without pursuing wellness every day — mentally, physically, spiritually, whatever it is,” he says.
Wake up early for morning sweats
Having plenty of time to exercise is a big perk of Nedelman’s early morning routine. His morning sweat, which combines strength training, a weighted vest, and jumping rope, is a non-negotiable for him.
There is a case to be made that early bird catches the worm. Waking up early can help people have time to exercise, eat a nutritious breakfast, and reduce the stress of rushing out the door, all of which are pillars of life. long, healthy life. It allows Nedelman time to set an intention for the day—a habit that can increase confidence and performance.
Although most adults need at least seven hours Sleep To protect his physical and mental health, Nedelman goes to bed between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. every night, getting about six hours of sleep. However, he admits that he will naturally wake up at four a.m. even if he gets home after midnight from a late night flight or a late night at work.
“If I only have three hours, I’ll have three hours. Sometimes I’ll have six or seven,” he said, adding that a 5:30 a.m. “sleepover” happens about every two to three weeks.
He says he doesn’t seem to need as much sleep as the average person, which could be due to his adherence to a “clean diet,” daily exercise, or luck. Nedelman also limits himself to one cup of coffee at 4:45 a.m., this can help improve your baby’s sleep quality, helping him fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.
Nedelman doesn’t give up all his social plans to stick to a consistent bedtime. When he started his business career, he would stay up late, go out to dinner with business partners, and sacrifice some sleep. Now, as a father of two, he admits he thinks more about balancing work, family, and health, and encourages others to think about optimizing their time.
“Since I started my professional career, I’ve always found it impossible to stay in shape, work really hard and have a social life unless you’re extremely disciplined with your time,” he said. “When I realized all that, I had to go to the gym and club at 5am and I had to be intentional about when I was going to be out really late, knowing what the impact was.”
While it may not be appealing or feasible for perfectionists, some of Nedelman’s habits can be helpful, such as setting aside enough time for a morning routine.
Routines are personalized for a reason, and not everyone can wake up in the dark feeling like they’re on fire. Still, Nedelman hopes to convey the message that wellness isn’t just his job—and more his passion for extending his healthy lifespan.
“I hope it stays like this for the rest of my life,” he said. “It’s kind of a live long, die fast thing, as opposed to the last 10 years of living long and dying slow, which is really challenging.”
