There is virtually no one in the world who doesn’t want success in some way, shape, or form. But achieving success in an uphill battle that’s easier said than done. Still, success is not impossible. By mindfully forming positive habits, you can begin to lay the foundations for a successful life.Â
Here Are 6 Things To Start Doing Today To Be More Successful
1 – Be Productive
Productivity is often wrongly defined as being very busy all the time. But productivity isn’t about keeping busy; it’s about getting things done efficiently. Sure, productive people do often maintain a work-oriented schedule, but it’s not all about that.
Essentially, working for a month straight and finishing up at the end of the month is not as productive as working five days a week but finishing a task a week. What you get done is what matters, not how much time you spend trying to get it done. You can be doing nothing and be more productive than someone burning the midnight oil.Â
So, how can you turn endless working hours into shorter but more productive ones? It’s often as simple as honing your focus. Distractions from your task elongate the time you need to finish it. Some other tips for productivity include:
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Use Your Travel Time Wisely
Take a long train or bus ride? Use it to read books, learn new simple skills, check your emails, and use the time to your advantage.
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Give Yourself Rewards
When you complete tasks, reward yourself with something sweet, like a short 10-minute break to do what you want, a nice meal, a day off, something sweet, a cheap purchase you’ve wanted, or anything similar.
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Delegate
If you work in a position of power, figure out how to fairly delegate and divide tasks among yourself and those who can help you.
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Set A Regular Bedtime
No matter what, except in unavoidable circumstances, you must make this bedtime happen every night. No staying out extra long, no binging a few more episodes of a show, and no giving up early, either. Go to bed at the same time every day and wake up after 8 hours minimum.
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Don’t Multitask
Multitasking is glorified but very overrated. When you multitask, you’re less likely to give enough attention to all the areas of your task that need it. Focus on the most urgent or biggest job at hand and only start other kinds of work once you finish. This can also motivate you to finish things faster.
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Get Some Morning Quiet
A little quiet in the morning, whether through meditation or just sitting by yourself in peace, can help reduce your stress over the day, which in turn makes you more productive.
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Take Breaks
It sounds counter-productive at first, but breaks can have a hugely positive effect on your work. The ability to take breaks helps refresh your mind and can even give you better perspectives on conquering tasks once you return.
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Make To-Do Lists In Advance
Before you go to bed every night, make your to-do list for the next day. This means you’re already getting a productive head-start on the following day.Â
2 – Engage With Others
There are probably a lot of people who you admire, look up to, or that you can find good traits in, and they’re all around you! Work on engaging them. These people can teach you, and some may even agree to mentor you.
This also goes for who you choose to spend your time with. You should choose friends who:
- Are successful or becoming successful
- Are reliable and trustworthy
- Believe in mutual respect and expect that of you
- Match their words with their actions
- Are happy to share their experiences with you
Social skills are very important and can reduce depression and other health issues. So, even if it can be intimidating, don’t be afraid to make the first move! Introduce yourself to your colleagues. Be educated by those you admire. Help those weaker than you. It’s a simple but wonderful cycle!
3 – Set Goals
It’s difficult to achieve success when you don’t have an action plan to get there. And it’s difficult to form an action plan when you don’t know what direction you’re supposed to be heading in. This is where goals come in handy.
But even when they set goals, many people fail to do so correctly. When you’re trying to remember what qualities your goals must have, remember the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Here’s what each letter stands for:
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S = Specific
Your goals must be specific enough that you can hone in on them without confusing yourself. Additional words to add to this are significant (so set goals that mean something important to you), simple (don’t set overly complex goals), and sensible (don’t be unrealistic – but we’ll get to that in a bit).Â
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M = Measurable
If you can’t measure your progress towards a goal, how can you tell if you’re going forward or not, or if you’re advancing at an acceptable rate? Additional words to add to this are meaningful (so the goals you set must be valuable) and motivating (set goals you’re passionate about).
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A = Achievable
If you set your goals unrealistically, you won’t be able to achieve them, and you’ll wind up discouraged. Yes, your goals should challenge you, but they shouldn’t be impossible to get to. Additional words to add to this are attainable (same meaning) and agreed (ones that work for you and those affected by your goals).Â
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R = Relevant
Your goals should be relevant to your life and career. If they’re not relevant, how can you believe in them? Additional words to add to this are realistic (or achievable), results-based (so your goals focus on what you achieve over your methods of achievement), reasonable (again, achievable), and resourced (well-researched and prepared for).
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T = Time-bound
All your goals should have deadlines, which you can adjust if they prove to be too tough or too easy to meet. It does you no good to have a goal you never feel the need to get to.
Read more about setting SMART goals–and learn how they help you become successful.
4 – Keep Healthy Habits
A healthy body makes for a healthy mind. You will never be able to be successful if your body is suffering. That’s why maintaining positive and healthy habits is very crucial to success. Here’s how to do so:
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Exercise And Stay Active
Exercising helps keep you fit and active while increasing brain blood flow. This sharpens your focus, increases positive thinking, and helps keep your mind from wandering.
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Wake Up Early
Your body is designed to wake up early. When you do, you are more invigorated and can get more things done when your mind is at its sharpest, instead of rushing to work and then finishing things late at night. If you have a sleep condition that makes waking up early difficult, speak to a doctor about solutions.
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Eat A Balanced Diet
Good food provides you with nutrients, reducing the risk of deficiencies and other similar issues. In the right balance, food can power you can give you even more energy to use throughout the day. Plus, unhealthy foods have been linked to a wide host of physical and mental health options.
5 – Take Ownership
Nobody is perfect. Sometimes, you’ll make mistakes, mess up, or hurt others. The first instinct one may have in this situation is to defend themselves or deflect blame. But if you want to be successful, you must take ownership of the mistakes you’ve made and the wrongs that you have done.Â
Take responsibility for events that you had a hand in, whether directly or indirectly, and no matter how big your role in it was. You need to hold yourself accountable and admit to the wrongs you’ve taken part in.Â
On top of that, when you take ownership of things like this, you’re helping yourself to learn. You see where the mistakes came from, what you did to contribute, how to avoid this in the future, and what lessons you can learn. These are all valuable tidbits of information!
In addition, if someone is pointing fingers at you, don’t wallow in pity, and don’t do more than the basics: stating your case firmly and standing up for yourself. Then, regardless of the outcome, it’s time to move on. Put these injustices behind you, and you’ll have much more energy to devote to your work.
6 – Take Care Of Yourself
When people think of success, they often think of a non-stop worker who barely even pauses to catch their breath before putting their nose back on the grindstone. But that’s not going to get you success – it’s going to get you a burnout, exhaustion, and a lot of effort that doesn’t produce results because of how little rest you get. To take care of yourself, you should:
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Cut Off Toxic People
Toxic people can kill your vibe and bring you down quickly. They might be people who deliberately act negatively, or they might be those who are wallowing in so much negativity that they inflict it on others. Find friends and communities that lift each other up instead! You can encourage each other to become successful.
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Prioritize Balance
The world can often pressure you to work and work and work with no break. But balance is necessary for success. You need sufficient time for leisure, rest, and spending time with your loved ones. If you’re really to packed, look into your schedule and see what can be let go.
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Make Time For Self-Care
Self-care has amazing effects on mental health and positive thinking. Your mind and body cannot be the hardworking marvels they need to be if they aren’t well-cared-for. Take time out to make sure you have time for yourself, even if it’s just to relax and pamper yourself alone!
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Focus On Your Happiness
Don’t just think about what’s good for your career. Think about what makes you happy, too. If you pour all your effort into something that you aren’t passionate or even a little interested in, you’ll lose your motivation and will be less likely to stay committed. Don’t waste time on what drains you.
Final Thoughts On Some Things To Start Doing Today To Be More Successful
Success can be yours if you know how to form habits that pave the way for them. Still, remember to be committed to success! Motivation is a fickle thing, often coming and going as it pleases. Commitment, however, is long-term and remains regardless of your motivation. So to become successful, be committed to these new habits, and start doing them today!
