10 Good Habits That Lead to Success
Have you ever met someone successful? I’m sure the answer is yes. Every successful person that I know has some good habits. They weren’t always a success. They probably had some bad habits at one point, but they developed routines to help get them to the next level. In today’s post, I want to share with you ten good habits that lead to success. These are things that anyone can do. You have to stop procrastinating and develop willpower.
10 Good Habits
1. Listen to Business or Motivational Podcasts
I love music. If you follow me on Instagram, you may hear me listening to some 2pac, Prince, or Jeezy in my stories often. When I’m not listening to music, I’m checking out podcasts. I listen to a few of them each week. Some of my favorites are His & Her Money, Side Hustle Nation, and Smart Passive Income. The podcasts help me keep the right mindset. Listening to podcasts that are motivational or business-related will help you as well. Besides the podcast I mentioned above, you can also search Spotify and Youtube. There are hundreds of them to choose from.
2. Wake up Earlier
They say the early bird gets the worm. Getting up one or two hours earlier each day can be beneficial. You can use that extra time to meditate, pray, or work on your side hustle. I know several people who’ve read the book, The Miracle Morning. They’ve made it a habit to get up early every day and accomplish things. Waking up earlier can help you as well. Decide if you want to get up an or two sooner and set your alarm. Getting up earlier works for some folks, but it might not work for you. If that’s the case, this next habit is on the list.
3. Stay up Later
Next up on the list of ten good habits is to stay up later. As I stated earlier, everyone may want to stay on time. You can do the opposite: stay up late and work. Some people are night owls. In college, I used to be up until 2 or 3 am religiously. While I don’t stay up that late anymore, I still enjoy working on side projects at night. If you’re the same way, feel free to do some work until bedtime.
4. Watch TV Later
When I was unemployed a few years ago, I would watch TV from damn near sun up to sundown. I was wasting valuable time, and I wasn’t being productive. I realized I had to break this habit by my second month of unemployment. I started reading and working on my blog during that time. I began to care less about the television. Watching less TV helped so much with my productivity. Years later, I still don’t watch much TV. Try watching less TV later next week. Don’t be surprised when you notice your productivity change for the better. You will get so much more things done.
5. Evaluate What You’re Watching
While I’m discussing TV, it’s time for you to evaluate what you’re watching. I don’t watch many regular shows. However, I love sports. They are motivating. I love to see people succeed at things that they worked hard at. Back in the day, I used to watch reality shows like Flavor of Love. I’m glad I grew out of that stage. A lot of what they show on TV (especially reality programming) is trash. How can you expect to be a success if you’re watching hours and hours of it each week? You won’t be. That’s also not how life is. The time you watch The Real Housewives could be used for so much better. Eliminate those distractions today.
6. Work on Weekends
We’ve made it to number 6 on the list of 10 good habits that lead to success. Some people use the weekends to relax and chill. That’s not an option for me right now. Until I have financial freedom, I refuse to chill. The weekends can be used to work on your side hustles or complete work around the house. To become a success, you have to do what others won’t do. Many people won’t do any work on the weekends. That’s fine, but I know I must do the work to reach my goals.
7. Sacrifice
This next habit is huge. Every successful person will tell you that they’ve sacrificed something. It could be time spent with friends or sleep. Some sacrifices will have to be made. I don’t go out as much as I used to or spend as much on shoes as I did. It will all be worth it when my debt is paid off. It takes work in the beginning to sacrifice. You may even make a mistake, but sacrificing things will get easier over time. This is one of the most important items on the list of 10 good habits.
8. Do Something During Lunch
Your lunchtime is a critical part of the day. Many people eat and watch Tiktik or Instagram videos during that time. You could do so much more. You can listen to podcasts, freelance work, and edit blog posts. In the past, I’ve typed blog posts and answered comments during lunch. This is one of my favorite good habits. Your lunch break is an hour where you can get things done without people bothering you.
9. Read More
Believe it or not, many people don’t read much anymore. It’s a shame. Reading keeps your mind fresh. As a successful person, you need your mind to be the best it can be. Books can educate you and help get you to the next level. Here’s an article that has a couple of books that I’ve read and would suggest.
10. Exercise
You probably hear this saying all the time, but health is truly wealth. You can’t be your best self if you’re sick. Take care of yourself by working out. Some people like to work out in the morning, while others work out in the evening. It doesn’t matter; do something. If you want to walk or run, go to your local park or track (weather permitting). You can also join a gym. Depending on the gym you go to, they may have different classes, such as Zumba. Exercising and being active will help you feel better overall.
Bonus Habit: Drink More Water
Here’s a bonus tip on this list of 10 good habits. Many folks need to drink more water. Our body needs a lot of it. It keeps us refreshed and hydrated. A few years ago, I became dehydrated due to working a full-time and part-time job and not drinking enough water. When you don’t drink enough water, you might not be able to think straight, you can become dizzy (I suffered several bouts of dizziness before I figured out the problem.), and you might not have much energy. Even if you have to force yourself, drink more water. Your body will thank you for doing it.
You’ve just read ten good habits that lead to success. The sooner that you start them, the better. If you want to succeed at anything, you have to start practicing certain habits. The ones that I shared above can help you with that.
Jason Butler is the owner of My Money Chronicles, a website where he discusses personal finance, side hustles, travel, and more. Jason is from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University with his BA in Marketing. Jason has been featured in Forbes, Discover, and Investopedia.