Five success boosting habits to adopt today
To be successful in work, you need to have a high level of discipline. Most successful business people credit daily routines for allowing them to get ahead in their careers and stay focused.
Here are five habits, that if practised regularly, can boost your success at work and in your day-to-day life.
1. Keep a gratitude journal
There is a long list of studies which advocate the benefits of simply writing down things which we are grateful for. Benefits are reported to include better sleep, less illness and more happiness.
Each night, aim to write in your gratitude journal for around 15 minutes. Set an alarm or reminder on your phone if you are prone to forgetfulness. Now write as many things as you want in your journal, 5 – 10 is a good number to aim for.
What you are thankful for doesn’t have to be overly emotional, for example being thankful for a fantastic book you read recently or a conversation with a family member is totally fine!
2. Stick to one task at a time
Switching from one task to another, before the first task is complete, can be disastrous for productivity. According to research, we spend just 1 minute and 15 seconds on a task before being interrupted. It then takes around 25 minutes to resume a task. Think of all that wasted time trying to multitask.
Productivity expert Glenn Tranter suggests batching similar tasks to increase productivity, by allowing you to fully focus.
3. Exercise
We all know how important exercise is, but for most of us, finding time in the day for the gym is a difficult task.
If you are pushed for time, the seven-minute workout could be perfect for you. Scientists have found that short bursts of high-intensity interval training can provide similar fitness benefits to prolonged endurance training! Perfect for those of us with busy schedules.
4. Have a cool-down ritual
Create a cool-down ritual that helps you wind down from the stresses of the day, fall asleep comfortably, and wake up feeling refreshed and focused. Research has found that simply writing down the tasks you need to take care of tomorrow can help.
My cool-down ritual consists of writing down my tasks for the next day, cleaning my desk and shutting down my laptop. This acts as a signal to my brain that work is over and it’s time to relax.
5. Create a sense of calm
This could be as simple as waking up half an hour earlier to have a coffee and read the newspaper or going to a yoga class. We are all so used to rushing around straight from when we wake up until we go to bed, so having a calming morning ritual can help you destress, reflect and plan the day effectively.
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Published: 4 November 2024
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