5 Simple Habits Of Highly Successful People
Author Tom Corley spent years researching the difference between self-made millionaires and individuals with average annual earnings of $35K. As a financial planner and accountant, he studied and surveyed over 300 people and discovered that the biggest difference between these economic classes was their daily habits!
Here are five simple habits of highly successful people:
Successful People Wake Up Early
What is our biggest excuse for why we don’t get more done? Not enough time. Corley found that over half of these self-made millionaires woke up three hours before their workday even started. The point being, they controlled their day rather than allowing their day to command them. Plan for your day by focusing on the top three things that you want to accomplish and set your morning alarm accordingly.
Successful People Get Plenty of Sleep
You won’t be able to wake up early if you can’t get out of bed. It’s easy to snooze the alarm when our body hasn’t had enough rest. Corley wrote that nearly 90% of the highly successful people he researched got 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Your memory function and creative thinking rely on sleep. Luckily, there are ample sleep apps available to help us get more sleep and better sleep. If you tend to be more of a night owl, try setting an alert on your phone to notify you when it’s time to start winding down for bed. If you’re a light sleeper or like to get up naturally, try a light-adjusting alarm clock.
Nearly 90% of the highly successful people Corley researched got 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
If waking up is a little more difficult for you, see if it helps to put your phone or alarm clock in a place that requires you to physically get out of bed to turn it off. If waking up is really a struggle, there are some useful habit conditioning devices that can literally zap you into submission. It might also be helpful to invest in a Fitbit or something that can track your sleep quality. They also come in handy when monitoring exercise.
Successful People Exercise
As if managing your sleep and a busy schedule weren’t enough, successful people also make time to work out. Understandably, it’s often the first thing we toss out of our regular routine when we feel swamped. However, according to doctors, even just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day can make a huge difference in our brain function. Corley states that over 75% of his millionaires made time to at least to walk, jog, or bike every day.
Even just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day can make a huge difference in our brain function.
Successful People Avoid Wasting Time
To them, time is money. Our first job usually teaches us the value of a dollar. Corley suggests that similarly, it’s important for us to interpret the value of our time. Avoid the vortex of Instagram or Netflix! Try downloading apps that stimulate brain health like Elevate, Apple’s app of the year. Learn a new language with Babbel or Duolingo, or better yet pick up another self-made millionaire hobby – read!
“Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest.” – Warren Buffet
Nearly 90% of those highly successful people Corley studied read for at least 30 minutes a day. In addition to reading, these same individuals spent about 15 minutes a day in quiet introspection. A few minutes practicing meditation, prayer, or focusing on just your breathing is a healthy way to break up a busy day.
Successful People Spend Time with People Who Inspire Them
It only makes sense that successful people like spending time with other successful people. After all, we assimilate to be like the people we spend the most time with. So be choosy in who you hang out with. As Corley says, “You are only as successful as the people you frequently associate with.” In the new year, focus on adopting a few new friendships. Search for friends who will entice you to learn new skills, develop more in your goals, and perhaps ones who will help you focus and better define your priorities.
You are only as successful as the people you frequently associate with.
If you find it hard to meet people in real-time, utilize Bumble BFF or social media to reach out to new people. Try out programs like ClassPass, where you can try different gyms and classes. It can be an easy way to find a workout buddy! Volunteering is also an excellent opportunity to meet people that share similar values. Most importantly, try and find yourself a mentor!
Closing Thoughts
These habits are simple, and with a little time and self-discipline, they can be easily adopted into a new routine. For more tips, check out Tom Corley’s book “Change Your Habits, Change Your Life.”
*Updated 2/23/2021