While there is no single formula for success, there are certain habits that can be found across a majority of the successful people. These habits are simple and easy to incorporate into your own routine, and they will not only help you get one step closer to your own success but also to happiness and peace of mind.
1- Goal-directed tasks
Successful people make it a point to focus on goal-directed activities. They minimize distractions in their life and even set aside a separate time for thinking!
Initially, they put in the time to discover what their long term and short terms goals are, and then they focus on the tasks that help them get closer to their goals. Patience and perseverance are the core factors that underlie this behavior.
Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller said, “To this day, I keep a schedule that is almost minute by minute.”
So, what should you do? How do you begin?
First of all, you have to be clear about your goals and then identify the day-to-day tasks that will help you achieve those goals. Once you identify these factors, you have to consistently work every single day on these tasks. Use your calendar instead of a ‘to-do list’ and plan out your day, then focus on getting things done for that day.
2- Keep reading
No matter how busy they are, many successful people will always take out time to read. They are constantly trying to gain more knowledge and learn as much as they can because they understand that the process of learning is everlasting. They mostly read biographies, educational books, inspirational books and self-help books.
Someone once asked Warren Buffett about keys to success, he pointed to a stack of books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
Bill Gates has a habit of reading 1 book per week, Mark Cuban reads for 3 hours every day and Warren Buffett devotes 80% of his day to reading.
So, take out at least 15 minutes from your schedule to read every day. Try to finish reading one book in a given period of time and then immediately move onto your next book.
3- Stay fit
You need to be physically and mentally healthy to be productive. It is a simple truth, but due to our own busy schedules and hectic lifestyles, we forget to take care of ourselves. Successful people understand this simple truth and make efforts to stay fit. They eat a healthy diet, and workout every day and try to keep their mind and body as healthy as they can.
For example, Barrack Obama manages to workout 6 days a week for 45 minutes. John Lee Dumas goes for a 35-minute walk while listening to podcasts, every day.
So it’s very simple, you have to take out some time to maintain your health. You should never skip your breakfast, consider it as a meal that sets the tone for the rest of your day. If you don’t want to go to the gym, then you can take up a sport or a hobby to get your heart pumping. As long as you keep yourself healthy, your mind and body will help you become more productive.
4- Healthy Outlet
With so much work and chaos around them, successful people have a constant outlet for their emotions and energy. They don’t wait for all the emotion to build up and then vent it out. They have a healthy outlet incorporated into their routine to remain calm, centered and ready to deal with the world.
For example, Oprah Winfrey meditates 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening every day. This helps her remain calm and focused in her life.
You can spend time with your family, visit new places every weekend, or focus on a hobby that really helps you channel your energy. These activities will not only help you feel relaxed but will also help you in concentrating better.
5- Have inspiring friends
Successful people are highly selective about their friends because they understand the powerful influence of friends. They try to minimize having connections with people who bring negativity in their life. When you want to achieve huge heights in life, you simply can’t have any place for negativity. Instead, they focus on socializing with people who inspire them in some way. They are most drawn to people who help them learn something new every time they meet.
Warren Buffett once said, “It’s important to associate with people that are better than yourself”.
Now, if you are wondering where you can find inspiring people? Then, it is actually easier than you think. You can go on social media platforms and find people with similar interests, or you can attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to meet like-minded people. Go there alone and do not be afraid to strike a conversation with someone, it can turn out to be really beneficial for you.
So, go ahead and incorporate these simple habits into your routine to make every day productive!
References:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/28/9-habits-of-highly-successful-people.html
https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299699#1
