Marcus Aurelius’ Daily Routine

How a Roman Emperor Mastered Self-Discipline (and Somehow Didn’t Scream at Everyone)

Let’s be honest: most of us can barely survive a Monday without threatening to launch our coffee mug into the sun. Now imagine being the ruler of a crumbling empire, a part-time philosopher, and a full-time stoic with a beard that looks like it writes poetry on the side. That was Marcus Aurelius—Rome’s reluctant emperor, known for his wisdom, discipline, and the ability to not lose his mind while literally everyone around him was losing theirs (usually with swords).

So how did he do it? How did this marble-faced philosopher-king keep his cool while juggling barbarian invasions, palace gossip, and philosophical despair? Let’s dive into the surprisingly relatable (and ridiculously inspiring) daily routine of Marcus Aurelius—Rome’s most chill overlord.

4:00 AM – Wake Up and Regret Everything  

Marcus didn’t wake up to lo-fi beats or birdsong. No, he awoke to the existential dread of being emperor again. Every. Single. Day.

He'd start his mornings with a thought like,  

> “You have to get up. Even if you're not in the mood to be a decent human.”  

Imagine being this self-aware before coffee. His Meditations are basically ancient Rome’s version of journaling… except instead of bullet points, it’s profound wisdom like, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” 

Better than a motivational poster, worse than a hug.

5:00 AM – Cold Bath, Colder Heart  

Stoics didn’t do warm showers. Marcus started his day by dunking himself in cold water, not for health reasons—but because comfort is for weaklings and non-Romans. The cold reminded him:  

> “Life is suffering. Also, your toes are now numb.”

6:00 AM – Stoic Scroll and Soul Searching  

Most people check Instagram. Marcus checked his soul. He read from Zeno, Epictetus, and then stared longingly into the distance like a philosopher-hero in a Netflix drama. Occasionally, he wrote spicy one-liners in Meditations, such as:  

> “Stop arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

Mic drop.

7:00 AM – Breakfast of Champions (and Existential Angst)  

Breakfast? A stale piece of bread and some olives, if he was feeling wild. No honeyed dates. No eggs benedict. Just pure, unflavored virtue.

Because to Marcus, pleasure was a distraction.  

He literally wrote:  

> “The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”

Someone tell that to my last Zumba instructor.

8:00 AM – Morning Meetings with the Senate (and Some Gladiator-Level Eye Rolls)  

Marcus had meetings with Rome’s elite. This meant listening to rich men complain about taxes and marble shortages while he practiced not setting the Senate on fire with his mind.

Instead of rage-quitting, Marcus reminded himself,  

> “You must tolerate the foolish as part of nature. Like rain. Or pigeons.”

10:00 AM – Field Inspection: Horses, Swords, and Existential Pep Talks  

While modern CEOs do corporate walkarounds, Marcus visited soldiers. He gave pep talks like:  

> “Death comes for us all, but let’s not make it easy, eh?”  

And somehow, they loved him.

He trained with them too—yes, Marcus was lifting weights before it was cool😎. Stoicism was his pre-workout.

1:00 PM – Lunch: Whatever Wasn't Poisoned  

Midday meant another round of bread, maybe cheese, and a quiet prayer it wasn’t poisoned by a political rival. Casual emperor problems.

2:00 PM – Philosophy Time: Stare Into the Void (Productively)  

Marcus spent the afternoon writing down thoughts that would one day become Meditations, the world's best self-help book written by someone who actually had real problems.

He reminded himself:  

> “You are a soul carrying a corpse.”

Translation: Stop whining and get back to work.

4:00 PM – Walk and Wonder Why Humans Are the Worst  

He strolled through Roman gardens, observed nature, and tried *really hard not to hate humanity. But you could feel the effort. He once wrote:  

> “People will be jerks. Your job is not to be one of them.”

Wise words, Marcus. Wise words.

6:00 PM – Family Time (and Trying Not to Be Passive-Aggressive)  

Marcus spent time with his kids, including Commodus, who’d one day become a deranged gladiator-emperor. Parenting tip from Marcus?  

> “Train your child in virtue. And maybe keep them away from arenas.”

8:00 PM – Dinner: Olive You, Stoicism  

Dinner was quiet. No feasts, no toga parties, no drama. Just Marcus, a wooden bowl, and the slow chewing of unseasoned discipline.

9:00 PM – Bedtime Scroll (Not the Fun Kind)  

Instead of TikTok, Marcus read philosophy. Again.  

Instead of melatonin, he reflected on death. Again.

And as he drifted to sleep on his hard, simple cot, he whispered something like:  

> “The universe is change; life is opinion. And also, I’m tired.”

Why You’ll Never Be As Disciplined As Marcus (But That’s Okay)  

Marcus Aurelius didn’t live to trend. He lived to think, endure, and not punch people. His routine wasn’t glamorous—it was gritty, grounded, and weirdly comforting. He didn’t have alarms, meditation apps, or protein bars—just the raw will to be good in a very bad world.

So next time you hit snooze 12 times or yell at your WiFi, remember:  

You’re not a Roman emperor.  

You’re doing your best.  

And somewhere, Marcus is probably proud (or at least not disappointed).

Share this with your most chaotic friend who needs Marcus-level chill. Or your least stoic enemy. Either works.