Nikola Tesla's Daily Routine: Sleep, Work, and Eccentric Habits of a Genius Inventor

Nikola Tesla's routine and work life completely consumed him. He famously admitted to an interview that he slept for only two hours per night. His sleep habits were a constant throughout his life, as it is said that he did not sleep much as a child either. While Tesla was in university, his professors became concerned that his lack of sleep and high workload were going to kill him. Though, the inventor and engineer was not a great sleeper, he was fantastic at his job. He is most famous for having evented the alternating current (AC) electric system which is the most widely used electrical system today. Tesla also invented the Tesla coil, a feature still used in radio technology.

So, other than his lack of sleep, what were other interesting parts of Nikola Tesla's daily schedule?

Well, Tesla usually woke up around 10 AM, an extraordinary feat considering the fact that he often stopped his most important work around 3 AM. He, then, walked around eight to ten miles through the Manhattan area in New York City. Tesla thought of his body in terms of machinery and his long walks were treating his body "...with the respect which a machine deserves." Essentially, since physical activity was important for the body, it was a non-negotiable in his routine. As an adjacent part of his walking ritual, Tesla ate so frequently at Delmonico's in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, that staff there had his order memorized.

He would begin work after his meal and walk, already having heavily visualized the result of whatever work he was completing that day. He is said to have never carried a notebook, as his visualization and memory were so strong. Tesla would eat one more meal and continue to work through the evening and early morning. His meals were usually very light. There were periods in which Tesla abstained from eating meat, and he often preferred a variety of vegetables. 

The illusive figure also preferred to be alone. He is quoted saying, "Be alone; that is the secret of invention." 

What can we learn from Nikola Tesla's routine and eccentric habits? 

1) Treat your body with the same respect that you treat your mind.

The two are interconnected and rely on each other to function. Not taking care of one will, of course, negatively impact the other. This is a fact that Tesla understood and acted on.

2) Make sure to be alone every now and then so you have time to analyze your true thoughts.

Tesla often took advantage of his alone time to visualize his future inventions. These inventions went on the change the world.