Are you trying to be more successful? If so, you might want to look at the habits of those who have already achieved notoriety in their careers or lives. Start planning out your day to mimic theirs, and you might just find more success coming your way.
They Get Up Early
They say the early bird gets the worm … but it’s actually kind of true. Laura Vanderkam penned a book called “What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” that explored the habits of high achievers, and one thing that most people had in common was waking up early.
They Follow a Routine
However, people are not just getting up early to pamper themselves before work. They follow a strict routine that lets them get a head start on the day. For example:
- Jayne-Anne Gadhia of Virgin Money and Gretchen Rubin, who wrote The Happiness Project, check their email to stay on top of work.
- Oprah uses her mornings to meditate for 20 minutes, while Arianna Huffington combines yoga and meditation.
- Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square, jogs every day at 5:30 a.m., while Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox, works out with her personal trainer.
They Eat Breakfast
Don’t skip breakfast, as it’s the most important meal of the day. Most successful people have light foods like protein smoothies or a fruit salad so they aren’t bogged down.
They Start With the Tough Stuff
After eating, it’s time to head to work. Instead of slowly sinking into the day by checking email or data administrative tasks, successful people jump right into the most important tasks. While you might not feel like you’re awake enough to handle this, science shows our brains are more effective earlier in the day. Successful people know this and take advantage of the boost in brainpower.
They Avoid Distractions
Successful people are usually busy people, which means there’s the potential for a whole lot of distractions to come their way. However, they don’t let these instances get them off track.
For example, founder of Project 11 Katie Rae says she stays moving when she needs time to think away from the chaos. She’ll go for a run, drive in her car, or bike around while she’s processing thoughts.
They End the Day Strong
For many successful people, inspiration strikes at night, so they use that opportunity to get some extra work done. Barack Obama and Michael Lewis are both well known for this habit.
For those that don’t work best under the cover of darkness, they use the night to wind down. Some go on walks or turn off their phones to get away from it all and alleviate any tension.
Success comes in many different forms, but it’s telling that many achievers have similar routines. Alter your days to better fit this schedule, and you may find that success naturally follows.
Works Cited
Giang, Vivian. “Hack Your Day: Morning to Nighttime Habits of Highly Successful People.” American Express.https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/hack-your-day-morning-to-nighttime-habits-of-highly-successful-people/.
Johnson, Amy. “Daily Routine of Successful People That Will Inspire You to Achieve More.” Lifehack. 27 June 2018: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/this-what-the-schedules-successful-people-look-like.html.
