Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), is popular for his extraordinary work ethic, often working for over 120 hours per week.

Spending hours and often days in the office to get things right, he often shares how he throws himself into work. But what’s his secret?

Musk once revealed that he begins his day at 7am after six hours of sleep in one of his answers to a Reddit Q&A.

He finds six to be his optimal amount despite recommendations for seven hours, stating: “I find if I don’t get enough sleep, I’m quite grumpy… my mental acuity would be affected.”

He never misses a shower but usually skips breakfast, which he credits for sparking great ideas. Though, this is not healthy, but it highlights his dedication to maximising his working hours.

Musk’s version of Pomodoro Technique

Musk breaks his day into five-minute slots, an intense version of the Pomodoro Technique —  a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s — after waking up getting “optimal sleep”. Emails, meals, meetings, and even social media, where he remains active on X (formerly Twitter) are part of his daily routine.

Workouts are also not in the morning cup of tea of Musk. “I wouldn’t exercise at all if I could,” Musk confessed to Joe Rogan. “The older I get the harder it is to stay lean, that’s for sure.” Musk does use a treadmill with TV distractions to get through them, though he dislikes working out.