12 Habits of Successful People

by Lisa | Mar 21, 2021 | Personal Development | 2 comments

12 Habits of Successful People

The term “success” means different things to different people.

You don’t have to be the CEO of a company or a multi-millionaire to consider yourself successful.

To me, success is defined as living your life on your terms-living the life you envision for yourself.

The life you’ll look back on one day and know you lived it to the full.

Regardless of what “success” entails for you, I think you’ll find these 12 habits of successful people to be helpful.

12 Habits of Successful People

They micro-manage their goals.

People who write down their goals have a 42% increased chance of achieving them, compared to those who don’t. Those who review their goals daily and micro-manage them have an even greater increased chance of achieving them.

So, how do you micro-manage your goals? You make them measurable so you can track your progress.

For example, you might have a goal to lose weight or get out of debt.

These are great goals to have, but how much weight are you going to lose, and by when? What specific actions are you going to take each month/week/day to achieve weight loss?

How much money are you going to save, and by when? What dollar amount are you going to set aside each month/week to reach that goal, and what actions are you taking to be able to set aside that monthly/weekly amount?

How are you going to track your progress?

You need to hone in on the specifics of your goals and then write them down so it’s there for you to review in writing, and for you to track your progress.

Otherwise, setting a vague goal, such as to “lose weight” or “get out of debt this year” without specifics is like throwing darts at a dart board blindfolded. There’s probably a 1% chance you’re going to hit the bullseye.

Having specific, measurable goals will motivate you to reach them, as opposed to vague goals with no real call to action to achieve them.

Here’s a good example of getting specific with your goals and how it can help you achieve them:

Recently, I set a goal to double my monthly income from freelance writing. I set it on the first of that month, with the deadline to achieve it by the end of that same month.

When I wrote the goal down in my goal-setting planner, in the notes section, I wrote out “Week 1/Week 2/Week 3/Week 4.” Every Sunday, I’d write in how much money I made the previous week so I knew where I stood. That way, if I was falling behind, I could search for more work, if needed. I was laser-focused on this goal!

As the last week of the month started, I’d achieved my goal-before the deadline!

Related:

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing & Achieving Your Goals
How to Set Goals the Right Way
Grow You (by my favorite life coach!)
Ways You’re Self-Sabotaging Your Dreams
How to Set Goals and Achieve Them

They have a morning routine.

If you’ve been with me for awhile, you know how obsessed I am with morning routines!

Until a few years ago, I didn’t even know that morning routines were a thing.

You may not realize it, but what you do in the morning on a regular basis, right now, is your morning routine.

Whether that means spending 30 minutes in bed scrolling social media before getting up and getting ready for work at the last minute, or getting up early to work out.

When I intentionally created my morning routine a few years ago instead of just waking up and reacting to whatever the day threw at me, I noticed positive changes. I started waking up earlier willingly, I started the day in a better mood, I felt refreshed, and I had clarity for the day ahead.

Here are some activities you can implement into your morning routine:

Journal.
Exercise.
Pray/Meditate.
Read.
Review your goals and the day’s schedule.

Related:

They wake up early.

“Join The 5 am Club. Your most valuable hours are 5 am-8 am. They have the least interruptions.” – Robin Sharma

If you’re not a morning person and you routinely hit snooze five times before scrambling out of bed, listen up!

I used to be part of the “I’m not a morning person” club. But what I’ve learned the last few years is, you’re only not a morning person if you choose to be.

You can train your body and mind to wake up early. But before you start setting your alarm for an earlier wakeup time, you need to understand why waking up early is beneficial. Otherwise, you’ll be like me-constantly battling myself to get out of bed, and failing every time.

Once I understood the concept (and importance) of a morning routine and implemented that into my daily routine, I began to realize how beneficial the early morning hours are.

Not only that-I started to look forward to getting out of bed. This, coming from someone who just three years ago would scramble out of bed at the last minute and rush to get ready for work, showing up at the office on time but irritable and frazzled.

Now, I get up at 5:30am-even on weekends (it’s not even a struggle)-and by the time I sit at my desk in my home office at 9am, ready to start my work day, I have already accomplished so much.

By 9am, I have had my coffee, gone through my morning routine, checked the ad campaigns I oversee for my friend’s digital marketing business, worked out, and got ready for work (for my day job).

When I sit down at my desk at 9am, I feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead-not irritable, rushed, and grouchy.

This is the importance of waking up early.

Can you imagine how much you could accomplish with a few extra hours in the morning?

Resources:

**On average, they watch one hour or less of television a day.**

How much more could you get done in a day if you hit the “off” button on the remote?

Television isn’t all that bad-when consumed in moderation.

For so many people, watching hours of television is a way to zone out and numb themselves to life’s problems. It’s a coping mechanism no different than overeating, overdrinking, overspending, etc.

Limit television watching to an hour or less a day and use that extra time to pick up a book, spend quality time with a loved one, start a workout routine or clean a room in your house. Something that contributes to the greater good for your life.

As a rule of thumb, for every hour of low-quality content you consume (such as television), counter-act it with high-quality content, such as reading a personal development book or listening to a podcast by your favorite motivational speaker.

Resources:

They spend an average of 30 minutes a day on personal development.

Study any successful person closely enough, and you’ll notice they put a focus on personal development.

In order to be successful in life (whatever your definition of “success” is), you need to have that desire to constantly learn and grow.

Personal development isn’t just for life coaches and CEO’s-it’s for you and me, and for everyone.

I have seen massive changes in my life since I took interest in personal development three years ago. It’s actually what led me to create my website-I became so passionate about it, I wanted to share the goodness with other people.

A great way to get started with personal development is to pick up a book and start reading. Just start with one chapter a day. Or, try the audio version if you’re not a reader (although you can totally train yourself how to become one).

There are also many amazing personal development podcasts out there, and I’ve listed a link below where you can find my favorites.

Related:

They limit time on social media.

Social media has its pros and cons. I know for me, I love being able to keep in touch with family and friends that live out of state. It’s also fun to see the positive things going on in others’ lives.

Unfortunately, more than ever, social media has become more harmful than anything. People are addicted to scrolling their feeds and consuming the negative input that runs rampant on social media platforms.

If you don’t give yourself a time limit or exert discipline with social media, it becomes not only a distraction, but an obsession.

And with so much negativity on social media platforms, you’re basically self-sabotaging yourself by consuming negative content.

Successful people know social media can be a major distraction and is also detrimental to their well-being, so they limit their time on it.

Related:

They are mindful in their relationships with others.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” ~Proverbs 13:20

Successful people are intentional in their relationships with other people.

They keep people close who are positive influences and keep those who aren’t at arm’s length.

It’s wise to take stock of your inner circle-do they have similar aspirations? Do they support your aspirations? Are they a positive influence? Do you feel energized after spending time with them?

If so, these are all great signs you’re surrounded by the right people.

On the other hand, you may feel drained after spending time with certain people. People who are “toxic”, as I say, or have a lot of drama. If you’ve known someone for several years and they haven’t changed and have no intention of changing, this is probably a sign they are probably best kept at arm’s length.

Remember, you are the company you keep. You don’t have to cross people out of your life necessarily, but if someone is dragging you down, known when to step away. And keep those close who contribute something meaningful to your life.

Resources:

They live outside of comfort zones.

Successful people live outside of their comfort zones in two particular ways.

The first way has to do with motivation. Successful people know they aren’t always going to be motivated to do xyz, but they’re willing to go through temporary discomfort for long-term satisfaction.

A great example I can give of this is exercise. Someone who is dedicated to exercise isn’t always going to feel like exercising every day, but they do it anyways. I myself am dedicated to exercising five days a week. And while I’m not always eager to set foot on the treadmill, I do it anyways and feel like a million dollars by the time I’m finished.

Another way successful people live outside their comfort zones is they don’t let fear stop them.

“People are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams.” ~Norman Cousins

Staying inside your comfort zone where it’s “safe” will hinder you from experiencing more in life.

You will remain where you are if you cannot walk through fear.

The best way to break out of your comfort zone is to try to do at least one thing (even if it’s minor) every day that is outside of what you consider to be “safe”.

For you, that may mean joining a gym, scheduling that job interview, going on a date, trying something new, etc.

So, understand that you won’t always be motivated, and do the hard thing anyways. Understand you have to walk through fear to get to the thing you want, and walk through the fear anyways.

Related:

**They are proactive, not reactive.**

Everyone makes mistakes or experiences rough patches at one point or another. Successful people don’t dwell on past mistakes or misfortune; they roll with the punches and move onward.

Having a victim mindset is extremely toxic to your future and well-being. You will remain where you are with this way of thinking.

Don’t allow failure to mean anything about you. Failure lets you know what isn’t working, so you can recalibrate and figure out what is working.

The most successful people got to where they are by failing-forward-learning from their failures.

Related:

They don’t pay attention to what other people are doing.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~Theodore Roosevelt

If you are focused on what other people have compared to what you don’t have, you’ll remain right where you are.

As a side note, this is one reason why too much social media is a bad thing-the comparison trap.

You are capable of achieving anything your heart desires, but it’s up to you to make that happen.

Quit watching people live their dreams and go live yours!

Related:

How to Overcome Envy

They take care of themselves and their possessions.

The way you do anything is the way you do everything.

Is your home a cluttered disaster or neat and tidy?

How about your car?

You may have an old car that’s seen better days and you might not be in your dream home quite yet, but you need to take care of what you have now before you’ll be blessed with more.

A messy house or dirty car can also suck the life and energy out of you, causing unnecessary stress and taking up space in your mind.

And what about your appearance?

Do you go into work polished and put together or looking like you crawled out of bed 5 minutes before you left the house?

Put effort into your appearance every day. You’ll feel more confident, be in a better mood, and be more productive.

You don’t have to look like Miss America-it’s not about being the best dressed person in the room or going over the top-just get ready every morning so your appearance is a reflection of you at your best self.

I promise it will impact your day ahead in positive ways.

Resources:

They prioritize exercising.

Successful people make fitness a priority.

Exercising isn’t just for people trying to lose weight-it’s for everyone. There are endless benefits to working out on a regular basis. Aside from keeping your body in shape, it keeps your mind sharp and your heart healthy, among other benefits.

As I mentioned, I work out five times a week, and it invigorates my body and mind. It’s as though I drank a second cup of coffee.

Successful people understand the importance of exercise, and it’s why they make it a priority.

Related:

How to Make Exercise A Habit in 6 Steps

Before You Go

I hope this article motivated you to revamp your daily habits!

I’d love to hear what you think, and I’d love to hear what your essential daily habits are to lead a successful life! I read and respond to all comments, so don’t be afraid to drop me a line-I don’t bite! 🙂

I think I found a blog that I could stay on for a long time. Every post I have read on your blog has truly influenced me in a positive way. I could sit here all day and read your blog. I have bookmarked it so I can read a little each day to help me stay positive and to be as successful as I can. Thank you for taking the time to write each of these posts. Please know that you have truly touched me and I’m looking forward to learning more from you. 🙂