Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the most prominent business figures of the modern era, has long been associated with unconventional yet effective approaches to productivity and decision-making. While many CEOs, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Pepsi’s Indra Nooyi, champion rigorous and highly structured morning routines, Bezos stands out with his deliberate embrace of a slower start to the day. Central to his philosophy is what he calls “puttering time”—an intentional, screen-free period during the first hour of his morning.

A Screen-Free Start to the Day

Bezos detailed his unique approach to mornings during a 2018 speech at the Economic Club of Washington. His routine includes simple, low-pressure activities such as reading the newspaper, drinking coffee, and enjoying breakfast with his family. Notably absent during this time is any engagement with digital devices. Lauren Sánchez, Bezos’s fiancée, reaffirmed his commitment to this habit in a recent interview, stating, “We don’t get on our phones. That’s one of the rules.”

This choice is not merely a matter of personal preference. Bezos attributes his slow mornings to enhancing his energy levels and improving the quality of his decisions throughout the day. Recent neuroscience research appears to validate his claims, suggesting that reducing screen exposure in the morning can have profound effects on brain health and cognitive performance.

The Neuroscience Behind Too Much Screen Time

Modern lifestyles are increasingly dominated by screen-based activities, with significant implications for mental and physical health. Research from the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Program highlights the cumulative toll of excessive screen time. Findings include:

• Cognitive decline: Increased screen use among adults has been linked to impaired learning, memory deficits, and poorer mental health outcomes.
• Brain-related diseases: Prolonged exposure to screens—such as watching television for five or more hours daily—has been associated with a heightened risk of conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
• Reduced brain volume: Studies indicate that adults spending two or more hours per day on screens outside of work experience lower gray matter volume, a critical indicator of brain health.

Maris Loeffler, a specialist at Stanford, compares passive screen time to consuming sugar: “It ‘tastes’ good, and you want it now, but you’re not actually feeding yourself. You’re not giving your brain any nutrition.” Beyond cognitive risks, excessive screen time is also linked to sleep disturbances, eye strain, and physical discomfort such as back pain.

Morning Alternatives to Screen Time

The growing body of evidence advocating for screen-free mornings aligns with Bezos’s longstanding practice. Experts from the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Program now explicitly recommend avoiding screens for at least the first hour of the day. Instead, they suggest activities that support brain health and set a positive tone for the day:

• Engaging in exercise
• Preparing a healthy breakfast
• Practicing meditation or mindfulness
• Spending time outdoors in natural light
• Reading a book
• Creating a gratitude list
• Listening to music
• Connecting with a friend or family member

These activities not only foster mental clarity but also encourage emotional balance and physical well-being.

Lessons from Bezos’s Routine

By deliberately structuring his mornings to exclude screens, Jeff Bezos exemplifies how prioritising simplicity and intentionality can yield long-term benefits. His focus on “puttering” allows for a seamless transition into the day, sharpening his cognitive edge and enhancing decision-making.

The endorsement of this practice by neuroscience experts underscores its relevance, not just for high-profile executives but for anyone seeking to optimise their daily routine. As more people confront the challenges of screen dependency, Bezos’s approach serves as a practical model for reclaiming time, improving focus, and fostering overall well-being.

For those ready to embrace this philosophy, the question remains simple: What would you do with an hour free from screens each morning?