We all want to be successful, but not everyone is prepared to work for it. And yet, nobody got there without making some sacrifices or getting rid of obstacles in the beginning. But let’s say that you know that, and you still can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Your projects aren’t flowing, and you don’t seem able to make anything come true.
And there aren’t any external threats stopping you. If this is your case, it is time for you to have a look inside yourself and check if you aren’t your worst enemy. Many times, it is our personal habits that make our lives difficult and stop us from being successful.
Not sure yet? Here are 10 personal habits that will help lead to more success:
1. Having a morning routine
A morning routine has become the main guideline for success. Studies revealed that the vast majority (if not all) CEOs of the biggest players in the world are morning persons, or they managed to become one. They wake up early, have a proper breakfast, exercise, meditate, plan their day ahead, and get on with it.
2. Eating a balanced diet
Talking about food, your body can’t work well without the correct amount of nutrients. Your brain, specifically, needs fuel to think and process all information that you give to it on a daily basis. Successful people know that, and they don’t skip meals, neither compensate their frustration with food. Balance is the rule here.
“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.” – Bethenny Frankel
3. Exercising regularly
Exercising your body is as important as exercising your mind. If nothing else, pain and illness will not help anyone to become successful. So the big deal here is to stay healthy by doing some kind of physical activity every day. If you don’t like the gym, you can always try sports, dancing, yoga, or running. Just get yourself moving.
4. Sleeping well
No matter how much you need that extra time, cutting off your sleep hours won’t help you to be successful. Research says that it might make sense in the beginning, but, in the long term, you will burn out. Brain fog, depression, and anxiety can also be enhanced by a lack of sleep. It is also during your sleep that your brain analyses all information given throughout the day, building connections and analysis. So, yes, sleeping will help you to be more creative.
5. Cultivating strong relationships
If your personal life is full of ups and downs, it will drain a lot of your energy, a precious resource that you should be rather directing to your projects. Strong relationships, on the other hand, give the emotional support that anybody needs so to feel that they are doing the right thing. And the same attitude will be transferred to the workplace, making the team working much more valuable and effective.
6. Using money wisely
The more you have, the more you want. And if you are always seeking for more material things, you will never believe that you have achieved success. So even if you are at the top, it is up to you to decide what success means for you from a material point of view. Plus, the money that you spend on things could be better used in achieving your goals. Meaning that you should use it wisely.
7. Learning something new
Successful people are curious. They love to learn new things every day, and they are happy to hear news from other people. And it is not only about their careers, but anything that can bring some kind of enlightenment. They are explorers. They are updated with new technologies. They can talk a bit about anything and to cultivate multiple interests, which also helps with networking.
8. Laughing often
The ability to laugh about your life is a great mark of successful people. They know what should be taken seriously, but they are also aware that some things are just better laughing out. They can see the funny side of tragedies, and they won’t miss a joke. Above all, they won’t despair in the face of their own failures.
9. Reading daily
Reading is a habit that many CEOs will cultivate daily. Books, newspapers, magazines, and online content, they are all sources of valuable information and insights. And fiction can also help you to improve your critical thinking and boost your creativity. Compared to watching TV or movies, reading leaves more space to the imagination for the lack of visual resources. So reading can help you to achieve your goals in many ways.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin
10. Getting things done
Last but not least, successful people will have “getting things done” as a personal habit. You will see it happening in their personal lives as often as in their professional one. They feel happy with accomplishments, even if it is only about organising the garage. In other words, procrastination isn’t something that you will find very often among their personal habits.
So if you want to be more successful, you will need to bring your personal habits to your attention and see how they are creating the person that you are. And how they are influencing how you act towards your goals. But if you noticed that you don’t have many of the habits listed above in your life, don’t despair. Just start cultivating them now, step by step, and soon you will see things changing for you.
Great post. Thank you, Michael. These habits seem easy. But sometimes it’s so hard to follow them. For me, particularly difficult items 1 and 3. And item 2 not easy to follow.
Mr Michael, Wow I Must Say That These Steps Are Really Really Driving And Motivating Me To Be A Better Person I Always Wanted To Be, Thank You.
1,4,7 and the most ⑧ for me …
Awesome post.
Hello, Michael
7, 8, 9 and 10 gives me more success especially 7. Although getting enough sleep sometimes helps but I know it has a lot of health benefits and it increases productivity.
Michael the one habit you mentioned that gives me more success is getting enough sleep. By sleeping more I feel much more energized and able to tackle the day. Thanks for the reminder.