9 habits of highly successful people

March 17, 2022

Highly successful people have one thing in common: consistent habits and routines. Contrary to what most people think, their success is not a matter of luck but of discipline, because thanks to this, they manage to have productive days that bring them closer to their goals.

Here are 9 things high achievers do every day to reach their full potential:

1. They wake up early and at the same time

The most successful people on the planet share the habit of getting up early. In addition, they do it at the same hour to always maintain the sleep rhythm, including on weekends. This allows them to generate stable cycles that guarantee optimum rest, which benefits physical and mental health.

One of the best-known cases is Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, who gets up every day at 3:45 am. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, is also known for getting up early and starting his day at 4:30 am.

Other successful people who share this habit include Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

2. They get enough rest

Although successful people take advantage of the mornings, it is vital to guarantee a good sleep since sleeping increases concentration, creativity, energy, and good humor, among other benefits.

In December 2019, Tobias Lutke, founder and CEO of the e-commerce company Shopify, admitted to sleeping 8 hours a day on Twitter. “I need 8ish hours of sleep a night. Same with everybody else, whether we admit it or not.”

Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, have also acknowledged that they sleep at least 7 hours a day.

3. First things first

Many of the CEOs of the most successful companies spend the first hours of the day on the most critical tasks. The idea is to advance in high-priority projects, avoid interruptions, and take advantage of a clearer mind.

4. They take care of their health

Eating well and exercising, along with getting plenty of rest, help maintain a healthy body and mind. Exercise helps to have better oxygenation, greater clarity in ideas, and a good mood. One of the things that high-achievers do is exercise in the morning before starting their workday. Some examples are Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, who gets up every day at 5:00 am to execute his exercise routine, or Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, who wakes up every day to run with his dog.

When it comes to nutrition, a balanced and healthy diet also helps maintain productivity and focus, as healthy eating promotes clean and constant energy.

5. They plan

Getting organized is a fundamental part of success, as it avoids wasting resources, time, and energy. Without it, it is impossible not to get lost. Successful people plan and prioritize activities. High-achievers schedule the week and the day in advance. On Sundays, for example, they can plan the entire week, and one day before going to bed, they already have the to-do list for the next day.

“Each day, I ensure every minute is accounted for. I plan my calendar a week in advance, and each evening I write out a full schedule of the next day from 6 am to 9 pm, including items you don’t think you spend much time on — getting dressed, your morning commute, your work schedule, and meetings you have. I schedule time for tasks that are non-appointment and, of course, schedule family time with my daughter. As a busy executive, it’s really tough to make time for everything, but we all have the same hours in a day”.

Suneera Madhanim CEO of Fattmerchan, in Inc.com.

6. They never stop learning

Steven Spielberg returned to college 34 years after dropping out, graduating in May 2002… One of the most significant constants of successful people is curiosity and learning. They are never satisfied with staying with what they already know, so they read a lot, study things outside their field, investigate, specialize, and document themselves. Knowledge is crucial for growth. Learning helps you be more creative and find new problems and new solutions.

Billionaire Warren Buffett put it this way: “There’s one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself. Nobody can take away what you’ve got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven’t used yet.”

7. They spend time with their loved ones

The most successful people include spending time with their loved ones in their habits. Whether with their partner, friends, or family, an essential part of their routine is to spend time with those they love, as they value and understand how supportive they are.

8. They have a hobby

Successful people often have hobbies to disconnect from work. Some learn to play an instrument, others play chess, practice an instrument or climb. Whatever the hobby, the important thing is that it is part of the routine. For them, it is crucial to have a balance in all aspects, so relaxing is essential to rest the mind.

9. They make space for meditation and they give thanks

Meditation is one of the best ways to relax the mind and create space for new ideas. Many high-achievers have incorporated meditation and mindfulness as part of their habits due to their physical and emotional benefits.

They also have an open space for thanks. Whether upon waking up or before going to sleep, successful people are grateful because being grateful is one of the principles of happiness.

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Also in The Kosmic Times