Whether you’re starting your own business, you’re trying to work up the ranks in your current job, or just doing your own thing, success can seem like a far-away dream. Something that you couldn’t possibly achieve. I get that. But let me tell you right now, success is possible for you, no matter who you are, or where you’re at.
Oftentimes, all it boils down to is consistently working at specific things in your life every day, rain or shine.
Here are some good habits for success that can help you achieve your goals and dreams, whatever they may be.
Consistency
By far one of the most crucial habits, consistency truly is key. By doing little things every single day, it’ll create a sort of “snowball effect”, which compounds your results over time.
Our human minds aren’t really built for consistency. We often start things only to give up months or even days later. We tend to lose sight of the end goal and get caught up in the moment, causing us to lose the desire to work at whatever it is we’re doing.
I know that I struggle with this a lot. It’s so easy to get distracted, and it’s a constant struggle to keep myself just doing those things I know I should do every day. But when you’re able to stick to something, and you see the result months or even years down the road, it can be amazing the results you’ll see.
And you don’t have to do big things. A little bit of work, repeated every single day, can go a very long way. Just making your bed every morning can give you the little boost of motivation you need to get more tasks done and start your day off right!
As we go through the rest of these habits, remember that consistency is key, and that in order to see the biggest results, you must commit to taking action every day, no matter how small.
Reading
Reading is such a powerful tool that so few take advantage of. Nowadays everyone is obsessed with movies, TV, YouTube, and video games. It seems like very few individuals take the time to read a good book.
I used to love fiction when I was younger. It would take me to a far-off fantasy land where there were no chores or work to do. I loved to read stories of brave heroes fighting dastardly villains. But as I grew older, I lost interest in reading and switched to other activities (video games and YouTube were my choices of entertainment, and still are).
But recently I’ve picked up the habit of reading a good book instead. Specifically self-help. And while my consistency could use a little work, I’ve learned so many amazing things just by reading educational books in my free time.
So find a good book, and just get to reading! With e-books being a thing, it’s so easy to just pull one out on the bus in the morning, during lunch, or before bed. Anywhere you have a few free moments to sit and be to yourself, try reading a book!
I promise it will help you to learn so many amazing things, and it will help you be able to achieve any goals you’ve set for yourself. No matter how difficult the challenge, you can learn to overcome it with a little bit of learning every single day.
Make Your Bed
Making your bed might seem like a trivial or useless thing to do, but in actuality, it is one of the best things you can consistently do to be successful.
Making your bed and getting in the mindset of getting stuff done right when you wake up is a powerful thing. It will make it easier to do the next thing you have to do. And the next, and the next, and so on.
This one simple act can set your day up for hard work and productivity, and most importantly, consistency. And that can make all the difference between a “bad day” or an “alright day” to having a “great day”.
In his best-selling book “Make Your Bed”, William H McRaven says:
“Making my bed correctly was not going to be an opportunity for praise. It was expected of me. It was my first task of the day, and doing it right was important. It demonstrated my discipline. It showed my attention to detail, and at the end of the day it would be a reminder that I had done something well, something to be proud of, no matter how small the task.”
If you can start every single day doing something well, how much more motivated would you be to do more things well throughout your day?
Maybe you’d exercise, or eat a bit healthier. Maybe you could work on that business you’ve been starting. Maybe you’d write that book you’ve wanted to do for a long time now.
Each one of us has different goals and aspirations. But one thing is for sure: starting your day right can make all the difference.
Meditate
If I’m going to be honest here, this is one thing I’ve been trying to do for ages, and yet I can never seem to do it with any sort of consistency.
There are countless studies professing the many benefits of meditation. It is definitely one of the most common habits of successful people. But yet it’s so hard to do consistently.
In our world of instant gratification and quick videos and entertainment, it’s hard to just sit still for a few moments and truly experience life and what it’s like to be alive.
And that’s all that meditation is. It’s truly being “one” with the moment you’re in and trying to focus in on it.
There are countless ways to practice meditation and many styles and ideas around it. But personally, I like to keep it simple, so that way I don’t have to stress about if I’m doing right or if all my chakras are balanced.
This is the way that I meditate, and you can feel free to copy me or look up your own meditation styles:
1. Find a comfortable position to sit in. Whether on a floor or chair, make sure you can sit up straight and be comfy.
2. Relax your body as best you can, and just let your eyes close softly.
3. Focus on your breathing. Feel the breath come into your body. Hold it there for a few moments, and feel it in your lungs. Try to breathe deeply into your stomach. Then, slowly exhale, feeling the air slowly leaving your body. How does it feel in your nose? Your mouth? Your lungs? Truly aim to experience and focus on your breath.
4. Repeat this process for 5-10 minutes, and over time you can increase the length of each session.
5. As thoughts come into your head, as they often do especially at the beginning, accept them, acknowledge them, and then let them pass by. It sounds a little odd at first, but it will help you to keep your focus. Trying to push the thoughts away by force will cause them to stay longer. So just let them pass on by as you continue to focus on your breathing.
6. When the time is up, open your eyes and go on with whatever you have planned for that day!
As you do this consistently, you’ll begin to see many amazing benefits in every aspect of your life. You’ll begin to have a greater sense of peace and well-being throughout your days. You’ll have a greater focus. You’ll truly be able to be “in the moment”. You’ll have more gratitude for your life than you’ve had before.
There are so many amazing benefits to meditation, and these are only the tip of the iceberg. As you get more proficient, you can even move into different styles and methods of meditation. Each one has its own benefits, so experiment and try for yourself!
One of the most interesting styles of meditation I’ve seen is Wim Hoff’s, and is said to be able to assist you in raising your internal temperature, even in cold weather! If you don’t believe me, look up some of the amazing things Wim Hoff has been able to accomplish. It’s truly amazing!
Excercise
This is another fantastic way to help you be healthy and successful! Every successful person has some form of exercise routine to help them stay in shape.
There are many studies that show the benefits of exercise. It’s been proven many times over that it can have many amazing benefits not only to your physical health but also to your mental health!
It can provide increased focus throughout your day, as well as make you happier! Exercising releases chemicals in your brain called endorphins which can help boost your mood.
I know that many times I’ve felt like I didn’t want to exercise, just because I “didn’t feel like it”. But when I end up forcing myself to do it anyway I feel so much better, and it increases my productivity and motivation to work.
Each person will exercise differently, and what is good for one person may not be as enjoyable or beneficial for you. So I recommend looking up and trying out many things to see what really resonates with you!
Some ideas are weightlifting, dance, Zumba, yoga, running, swimming, jogging, parkour, acrobatics, sports, or my personal favorite, calisthenics. There are so many things you can do for exercise, and once you find your preferred method, don’t let anyone tell you it’s wrong! You are the best judge of what you enjoy doing and what feels good to you, so you do you!
If you need help, you can even hire a personal trainer to help you in deciding what’s the best path for you to take, and what will help you to see the most benefit in your life.
As always, remember to stay consistent! I promise you that regular exercise will do wonders for your life, and you will be all the more successful for having turned it into a habit!
I hope you take these habits and apply them to your life. I know that it can be daunting and very difficult to form new habits, but they are the best way for you to see success in your life, and turn your dreams into reality! So go out there and stay consistent! And when you get to the top, don’t forget to bring all the little guys with you!
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, or any other habits you have used to see success in your life, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email and I would be happy to respond! Have a wonderful day!
Cayden
Email: Cayden@GainYourWealth.com
Website: GainYourWealth.com
Success can be as easy as you think if you are consistent in your efforts, day in and day out. Of course, you have to know where you put your efforts. It is the hardest one for me. I love to do what I want not what I need to. Social media, news channels, friends, and families all could add to distractions. Managing distraction with fulling your business where you are aiming at success can be daunting.
The blog really speaks about the key habits to be on a path to success.
Eat healthily and start with a healthy and nutritious breakfast, hydrate, exercise, connect with nature, and stay away from digital gadgets as much as you can help as per research.
More importantly, focus on your consistency with complete dedication until it becomes a habit. Bock your calendar and plan nothing but your business. So also for reading every day. I love your idea of reading e-books.
Every little bit adds and make the business big and successful.
I absolutely agree with you about distractions. It’s so easy to get caught up in less important things and not devote any time to your business. In the beginning it is for sure quite daunting, but once you change your habits and limiting beliefs, you’ll begin to see amazing things happen!
I also agree with the breakfast! It’s so easy to skip this important meal and your day, as well as your energy to work will suffer greatly! And you’re right, consistency is vital to any endeavor in life! I personally have many e-books on my phone and I aim to read at least a chapter a day, something which is slowly forming into a habit for me.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and suggestions, I truly hope you have a wonderful day!
Excellent read! What you said about consistency is very true, it’s something I struggle with as well. I have a bookshelf full of good books that collect dust – because my nighttime routine is typically on the phone before falling asleep. I’d love to see some more articles from you about the benefits of putting down phones before bed, or the benefits of a social media detox.
Also, I’ve tried meditation before but I always end up falling asleep! Any tips on that?
Same here haha! So many good books with loads of useful information, but I just can’t get around to reading them! I have a very similar nighttime routine as you my friend I feel your pain.
I will definitely look into writing articles about those topics! If I knew the benefits of putting the phone away I’d probably be more inclined to do it!
I do the same thing occasionally so you’re definitely not alone! I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the subject, but I do recommend getting some movement in before you meditate. If try meditating right when I wake up, it ends with me falling right back asleep. Also, drinking water and eating something light can help you stay awake. And try very hard to focus on your breathing. As you get more proficient, you’ll be able to hone your focus more, so it should be easier to stay awake. I may have to write an article on meditation in the future as well!
Thank you so much for sharing and have a wonderful day!
This is a very valuable post. Because there are so many important points in this. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to make the bed I slept in. But I did not know that it was a big deal. And consistently and good reading habits. I also definitely read books. Thanks so much for posting like this. Keep posting like this.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It sounds like you’re already well on your way to success my friend! Keep up the good work and I know you’ll go far. Have a wonderful day!