No matter the weather, Melinda will venture out to her garden located on her property in Seattle.

After that hour of quiet time, she’ll settle down to breakfast.

“Sometimes I’ll just have a grab-and-go muffin or yogurt, or oatmeal in the winter.”

Melinda Gates smiling

Melinda’s secret to maintaining a busy schedule that also caters to her own health and well-being?

Plenty of to-do lists.