South African President
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. 1 2 3
Daily Routine
Nelson Mandela had a deep love for boxing that motivated him to wake up each morning at 5 am and practice this passion.
Even during his 27 year stretch of imprisonment, in which hard labour was part and parcel of daily life, Mandela religiously followed his old boxing workouts.
From Monday to Thursday, Mandela jogged for 45 minutes, completed 100 finger tip press-ups, 200 sit-ups, 50 knee deep-knee bends and various calisthenics exercises. All within the confines of his 2.1 metre cell. Friday to Sundays were usually set aside as days of rest.
After being granted his freedom and claiming victory as the first democratically elected black head of state, Mandela days were consumed by diplomatic meetings, appearance and signings. Even as president, he habitually tried to uphold his morning exercise routine that served him so well across the decades.
Daily Routine
It has been noted that Planck followed a strict schedule and according historian J. L. Heilbron was an “economist with his time”. He’d wake up at exactly 8 am, have his breakfast, then go to work. During term, he’d write and lecture in the morning, have lunch, rest, play the piano, walk, then deal with his correspondence.
After World War I, Planck in an effort to push scientists to continue their research famously used to say “persevere and continue working”.
Planck was a talented musician and often hosted parties for professors and musicians in which he’d often perform with other guests. Planck also enjoyed mountain climbing and continued to climb well into his 80's.
Philosopher
René Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. A native of the Kingdom of France, he spent about 20 years of his life in the Dutch Republic after serving for a while in the Dutch States Army of Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange and the Stadtholder of the United Provinces. 1 2 3 4
Daily Routine
Descartes suffered from frail health at various points in his life which resulted in him taking more rest than usual. He typically had a long sleep each night, sleeping around midnight till and waking up around 11 am. Upon waking, he'd usually spend time in bed reading, writing, or contemplating. Descartes then liked to have an early lunch and either go for a casual walk or converse with friends.
His schedule changed drastically when he moved to Sweden and began tutoring Queen Christina of Sweden. To suit her schedule, he gave her classes at around 5 am. This change is said to have contributed to a respiratory infection and subsequently his death.
Daily Routine
Keith Moon led a very destructive lifestyle that was accentuated by his alcoholism and drug addiction. When outlining his routine to a doctor, he stated:
"I always get up about six in the morning. I have my bangers and eggs. And I drink a bottle of Dom Perignon. And half a bottle of brandy. Then I take a couple of downers. Then it's about 10 and I'll have a nice nap until five. I get up, have a couple of black beauties [speed], some brandy, a little champagne and go out on the town. Then we boogie. We'll wrap it up about four."
When on tour he often trashed his hotel rooms, breaking the furniture, throwing TV sets out of the window, or even using dynamite to explode the toilet. On stage, Moon also famously had the habit of kicking over his drums during live sets.
Daily Routine
As part of her exercise routine, Grace Kelly walked briskly for an hour daily and sometimes went on longer hikes with friends. Kelly also occasionally practiced yoga.
As for her diet, Kelly admitted that she had no time for crash diets as they would make her "nervous and bad-tempered". Instead she strived to eat "the right things" such as whole-meal bread and small portions of yogurt and berries. She avoided excess sugar and had avoided desserts. Kelly was a prolific snacker and following a typical oatmeal breakfast would snack on carrot sticks, celery, and dried apricots if she got hungry before 11 am.