While success can mean different things to different people, developing positive habits can help you continue growing and improving in meaningful ways. Here are eight habits that can guide you on your personal journey.
1. Get an Early Start
Wake up early in the morning each day to get a good start. Oftentimes, the early morning is filled with quiet, and can give you uninterrupted time to plan or focus on what you want to accomplish. It will also give you a head start over many people who choose to sleep in. Be sure you are going to bed at a reasonable time, so you are still getting an adequate amount of sleep. Most adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
2. Set and Work Toward Goals
It's easier to feel a sense of progress if you have goals that you are able to achieve. Start by setting them, and then work diligently to accomplish them. You can set long-term goals and work on them little by little in addition to short-term or daily goals, which you can work to achieve regularly.
3. Read Every Day
Take the time to read every day. It's easy to get caught up in distractions all the time with our smartphones always within reach, but you can do better than spending time scrolling through social media feeds. Take the time to read full articles and books to deepen your knowledge. Audiobooks are also great for "reading" while on the go. Tune in to one during your commute or while going for a walk. The key is to always be learning. Expand your knowledge, your vocabulary, and your skills.
4. Engage in Self-Care
Engage in self-care to tend to your mental health. This can encompass a variety of activities as long as they make you feel better in some way.
"When you hear 'self-care,' you may imagine taking a bubble bath with a glass of wine," says Elizabeth Perry at BetterUp.* "And while this can be an enjoyable activity, it doesn’t represent the complete meaning of the concept. Self-care is any activity that promotes your physical and emotional well-being, including exercise, doctor’s appointments, and free-time hobbies. Start implementing healthy daily habits like eating well, getting sufficient rest, and disconnecting from social media to access your most productive self. Doing so offers you boosts in creativity, energy, and mental sharpness, all of which might help you avoid burnout as you work toward your goals."
5. Work on Time Management
Time management is an important skill for success. Time is limited every day and in our fast-moving digital age, it seems like there's never enough time to get everything done. Work on managing your time to achieve your goals and increase your productivity, whether it's for your work or for personal reasons. Utilize planners, timers, or apps to stay organized, and work on reducing distractions and habits that take away your time.
6. Be Proactive
Be ready to act when the occasion calls for it. Procrastination can cause unneeded stress and lead to undesirable outcomes.
"Being proactive is pivotal to success in your personal or professional life, regardless of the endeavor you take," says Rajeev Dhir at Investopedia.** "Taking action can boost your confidence, help you make and set very clear goals, and push you to move forward to achieve them. To accomplish this, ensure you identify and manage your fears, and most importantly, don't wait until tomorrow to begin. It's also important to be clear about what you want. It's important to be intentional about what you want and follow that with perseverance."
7. Spend Time with Positive People
Spend less time around people who often speak in negative terms or have generally pessimistic qualities. Instead, try to spend more time around people who frequently express a positive attitude. This positivity can be contagious, and having a good attitude can help to motivate you. If this is a rare quality among your friend group and your positive attitude isn’t causing them to change their pessimistic nature, seek out mentors or colleagues who can inspire you rather than bring you down.
8. Be Smart About Money
Be smart about how you spend and manage your finances. Success doesn’t have to be defined by a large bank account balance—what matters is feeling more in control of your financial life. By budgeting, saving, and making thoughtful financial choices, you can build a strong foundation for the future. Make it a habit to learn about personal finance topics regularly (you can even work this into your reading time). Take practical steps like tracking your spending, setting and sticking to a budget, maintaining an emergency fund, and avoiding unnecessary debt.
A successful life starts with the right mindset and habits. Try to live a life that is goal-oriented and positive while taking care of yourself and your finances and always looking to learn and manage your time well. Look in the mirror in the morning and say, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.”
* https://www.betterup.com/blog/habits-for-success
** https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/092515/10-habits-successful-people.asp