Bill Ackman's Peak Performance Habits for Business and Life
Periodic Table of Habits
Filters & Legend
Impact:
Effort:
Category:
Impact
High
Medium
Low
Effort
High
Medium
Low
Categories
Low Effort
Medium Effort
High Effort
High Impact
6
Cs
Compounded sleep investment
1
If
Intermittent fasting schedule
2
Ta
Tennis as moving meditation
4
Ek
Evening knowledge immersion
9
Bl
Buffett-inspired learning
11
Pm
Pre-market mental priming
17
Ch
Compounding health tracking
3
Md
Macronutrient-focused diet
7
Aw
Anti-fragility workouts
12
Si
Stress inoculation training
18
Si
Selective ignorance
Medium Impact
5
Sd
Spousal debrief ritual
8
Sf
Strategic fasting snacks
10
Pf
Philanthropic family dialogue
14
Co
Cognitive offloading
15
Cs
Contrarian socialization
16
Ds
Digital sunset ritual
19
Lv
Legacy visualization
13
Np
Nutritional periodization
20
Mf
Metabolic flexibility training
Low Impact
No low effort habits
No medium effort habits
No high effort habits
Intermittent fasting schedule
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Eats only between noon and 8 PM daily, practicing time-restricted feeding. This approach helps maintain metabolic flexibility and supports cognitive performance during work hours.
Tennis as moving meditation
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Plays tennis 3-4 times weekly using intense matches as combined physical workout and mental reset. The strategic nature of the game forces complete detachment from work stressors.
Macronutrient-focused diet
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Follows high-fat, high-protein, low-carb nutrition plan emphasizing whole foods. Strictly avoids processed items, sugars, and simple carbohydrates to maintain stable energy levels.
Evening knowledge immersion
Impact:
Effort:
#Growth
Dedicates 2+ hours nightly to reading books across diverse subjects. Prefers physical books over digital formats to enhance retention and reduce eye strain.
Spousal debrief ritual
Impact:
Effort:
#Connections
Conducts nightly conversations with spouse to process daily events. Maintains strict separation between these personal discussions and work-related matters.
Compounded sleep investment
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Prioritizes 7-8 hours nightly sleep with consistent bedtime routine. Uses blackout curtains and temperature control to optimize sleep environment.
Anti-fragility workouts
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Alternates between HIIT sessions and endurance training weekly. Focuses on functional fitness rather than aesthetic goals.
Strategic fasting snacks
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Consumes small portions of nuts during fasting window when needed. Strictly avoids sugary snacks or processed alternatives.
Buffett-inspired learning
Impact:
Effort:
#Growth
Re-reads Warren Buffett's shareholder letters annually. Maintains annotated copies for continuous reference.
Philanthropic family dialogue
Impact:
Effort:
#Connections
Discusses charitable giving weekly with family members. Focuses on measurable impact rather than publicity.
Pre-market mental priming
Impact:
Effort:
#Productivity
Reviews investment theses pre-market open. Avoids news consumption during this focused preparation time.
Stress inoculation training
Impact:
Effort:
#Growth
Voluntarily exposes self to controlled stressors. Uses physical challenges to build psychological resilience.
Nutritional periodization
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Adjusts macronutrient ratios based on activity levels. Increases protein intake following intense workouts.
Cognitive offloading
Impact:
Effort:
#Productivity
Maintains physical notebook for idea capture. Reviews notes weekly to identify patterns.
Contrarian socialization
Impact:
Effort:
#Growth
Seeks conversations with ideological opponents monthly. Focuses on understanding rather than persuasion.
Digital sunset ritual
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Ceases screen use 90 minutes pre-bedtime. Substitutes with physical books and face-to-face conversation.
Compounding health tracking
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Monitors key biomarkers quarterly. Focuses on trends rather than absolute numbers.
Selective ignorance
Impact:
Effort:
#Productivity
Avoids financial news during market hours. Skims summaries post-close.
Legacy visualization
Impact:
Effort:
#Growth
Writes personal mission statement annually. Reviews during major life decisions.
Metabolic flexibility training
Impact:
Effort:
#Health
Alternates between carb-heavy and ketogenic days. Times carb intake to workout days.
