“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.” ~Jim Rohn
Have you ever felt a bit overwhelmed by all the different habits you could incorporate in your life in order to get ahead? I mean, if you google ‘success habits’ then you get a list as long as LA to NY, which isn’t very helpful.
I prefer to incorporate things that has neuroscience or other research supporting them, if possible. Then I test and track to see what positive impact they have on my life and performance. Which you should do too. Always test, tweak and modify so that things work for your specific situation.
Here are five habits that have been game changers for me. I hope they will serve you as well as they have me.
5 Daily Habits That Gets You Ahead
ONE: No digital input for the first hour in the morning. That means no email, no social media, no TV, no news. When you first wake up your brain is still in a subconscious state of mind. Which means, whatever you put in there first thing fuels your mood and energy for the day. I take this even further. I don’t check email or social media until noon usually.
Sadly over 80% of people grab their cell phone first thing and lose precious time being down the rabbit hole. Now the brain is processing all the “gotta do this” “oh, no this happened” which can be dealt with later. If someone has to wait an hour to get a response on an email or text the world will not end. Spend your morning in a way that sets you up for a great day instead. Nurture you, not your cellphone. Your phone will survive.
TWO: Productivity is very much energy management. Want to get more done? Take a 10-20 minute break every 90-120 minutes. Your brain needs you to take a break or it taps out when you are constantly forcing it to focus.
And NO cell phone during your break. That isn’t a real break as your brain still has to process all that input. Meditate, go for a walk, eat lunch, close your eyes, have a fun conversation with someone. Real breaks = productivity boosters. Also, make sure to fuel your brain good nutrition.
THREE: Drink more water. Hydration is essential for health, energy and helping rid your body of toxins. Most people don’t drink nearly as much water as they need. Consult a physician on your recommended amount but most of you need to drink a gallon (3.78 liters) a day or more. Think of it. Your body is about 60% water. It’s that ratio for a reason.
FOUR: Daily and weekly reflection. Highly successful people analyze their day and week to see what works and what doesn’t. They are constantly reviewing and adjusting so that they can improve themselves, processes and systems. That way you can see if you’re on track or off target. Block out time when you sit down and ask yourself what worked and what didn’t and what to do better.
FIVE: Sleep 7-8 hours every night. Over 60 years of sleep research shows that your brain, body, organs and cells need 7-8 hours of sleep in order for you to function properly. Anything less than that not only puts you in a lowered cognitive state, but it heavily impacts your mood, health, hormone balance, productivity, energy, decision making, memory, lifespan and more. Most people say they would never drink and drive, yet they get in the car after only 5-6 hours of sleep, which means they are in a similar cognitive state as if impaired by alcohol!
If you were to incorporate these five habits you’re well ahead of most people. Try them out and let me know what positive impact they have on you and your life. You’re not here to do average things so stop doing the habits of average people.