Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He ‘Doesn’t Think’ First Thing in the Morning: ‘Do Something Physical’

The actor spoke about his morning routine at the 10th anniversary of the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit

Arnold Schwarzenegger knows the best way to start the day.

The 76-year-old actor said that he “doesn’t think” when he wakes up and goes for an early workout instead as he discussed his morning routine at the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit.

Speaking during a panel at the event on Thursday, Schwarzenegger said, “I feel good in the morning. I get up and I feed my animals, Lulu and Whiskey, and my little pig, Chanel. I feed the dogs, then I go to the gym.”

The former bodybuilding champion described his journey to the gym in the mornings as “kind of like a black-and-white movie” and said that the ride back home afterward “becomes a colored movie.”

Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger Was 'More Than Happy' to Give $1M to Actors’ Fund During Strike: 'I Didn't Think Twice'

“It's because you're working out and having done something physical where you kind of really sweat and you train hard. [It] makes you feel good because you've not done something early in the morning,” Schwarzenegger explained.

“And so this is why I say to people, ‘The key thing is in the morning, do right away something.’  Don't think when you get up because stupid stuff comes into your mind and negative stuff,” he continued. “I said, ‘Just roll out a bed, get on your bike and start riding the bike and work out and do something physical.’ And then afterward you will feel much better about yourself and about the world, the way you look at the world and everything like that.”

Schwarzenegger said that his dedicated morning routine is what has kept him “successful” in his job and as a father to his children, including daughters Katherine, 33, and Christina, 31, as well as sons Patrick, 30, and Christopher, 26.

Related: Danny DeVito Says Arnold Schwarzenegger 'Should Have Done Twins 2 Instead of Becoming Governor'

“These are the rules that I used in order to be successful and in order to be also successful in giving something back,” he added.

Speaking on giving back himself, the Terminator actor discussed what motivated his philanthropic ambitions. "When we recognize that we are not self-made and that we are creations of a lot of people helping you, that's when you then realize, 'Wait a minute, maybe it's time for me also to help other people now in return because I'm a creation of a lot of help,' " Schwarzenegger said.

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During the panel, the Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life author also shared how helping train participants in the Special Olympics in the '70s “made me feel so great” and gave him a sense of fulfillment. He added that he will continue to give back where he can as he spoke about continuing to work with the Special Olympics and afterschool programs promoting fitness.

“[The] first half of my life was all about me. And the second half of my life is all about making the world a better place,” the actor said. "It's all about just making the world a better place and giving something back."

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