I'm the CEO of Zocdoc. Here's how long showers help me manage hectic days.

Oliver Kharraz, the 53-year-old CEO and co-founder of Zocdoc, shares his daily routine that helps him manage hectic days. He starts his day at 4:30 a.m. after a few hours of sleep, feeling most productive before sunrise. Kharraz reviews company numbers, KPIs, and sends out emails to his team. He reads for half an hour on various topics, including history, biography, philosophy, and news about the health industry.

After exercising for 30 minutes, Kharraz takes a long shower to think and brainstorm. Once a week, he imagines a hypothetical competitor to Zocdoc to stay ahead of potential threats. He spends time with his family over breakfast, and then drives his twin teen daughters to school, returning to the office five days a week. Kharraz keeps his calendar packed with meetings and work blocks, focusing on planning up to five years into the future, managing risk, and maintaining a competitive edge.

He has weekly meetings with a core group of lieutenants and one-on-ones with his leadership team, maintaining an open-door policy for anyone to discuss topics. Kharraz eats a quick, protein-rich lunch and spends time external-facing, speaking to customers, regulators, investors, and partners. He uses AI extensively, employing it to handle routine work, challenge his thinking, and explore ideas.

On the personal side, Kharraz enjoys family time, helping with homework, and occasionally shares a family history podcast.