If you really want a successful life, start doing these 10 things every day

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, success can sometimes feel like a distant, faraway dream. 

We scroll through social media, flooded with shots of glamorous lifestyles, and wonder, “How do they do it?” f

Well, fear not. There are no shortcuts to success, no magic pills or patented formulas. 

Instead, it’s all about those daily habits and choices we make that gradually pave the way to our own vision of success.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 simple, everyday steps that can lead to a successful life. 

1) Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning

Success is a constantly evolving journey. The key to staying ahead in the game is to dedicate yourself to a life of learning.

Learning isn’t confined to classrooms or textbooks, it’s a daily commitment to expanding your knowledge and skill set.

I once had a friend who asked me how she could one day become a writer like me.

I knew she had a great shot at success as she had long been inspired by the concept of lifelong learning. 

She made it a habit to read at least one new book each week, not just in her favorite genre but across various subjects. She always loved a challenge.

This friend of mine even enrolled in online writing courses, continuously upskilling. 

As a result, her writing became more nuanced, her ideas got deeper and more fleshed out, and her articles became more creative.

Eventually, her success began to be a natural byproduct of her daily dedication to learning.

2) Manage your time to the best of your ability

In the quest for success, time is our most precious resource. To achieve success, you’ve got to figure out how to manage it effectively. 

This involves setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and eliminating any potential distractions along the way.

Earlier in my twenties, I would seriously spend hours scrolling through social media or watching TV. I cringe when I look back on this.

But later, I clocked on to the simple fact that in order to achieve my writing goals, I needed to step up and take control of my time. 

I started using time management techniques like the Pomodoro method, which helped me break work into focused, productive intervals. 

With this newfound discipline, my productivity skyrocketed. Genuinely, my life completely changed. 

I managed to pick up more writing clients and put out more work than ever before.

3) Don’t be scared to set higher standards for yourself

Success is often a reflection of the standards we set for ourselves. 

If you settle for mediocrity, that’s what you’ll achieve. Sorry to say it — but it’s true.

In order to get to a higher level, you’ve got to aim high and continue to raise the bar for your performance and achievements.

I remember when I was starting out as a writer, I really struggled with imposter syndrome. 

I felt like I didn’t deserve success and was often happy with just getting by and slipping under the radar.

However, after attending an incredible writing workshop, something clicked inside me. 

A few weeks later, I went to a local cafe and got down to business. I started submitting my work to larger, more prestigious publications and aiming for more challenging projects. 

As my standards rose, so did my opportunities and the recognition that I received.

4) Pay attention to the little things

Success often depends on the finer points that other people might overlook. 

To be honest, it all boils down to paying attention to the small, seemingly insignificant details that make a big difference in the long run.

Think of success as piecing together a puzzle. Each piece, no matter how tiny, contributes to the bigger picture.

Forgetting to take a look at the smaller details is like leaving gaping holes in your puzzle, resulting in an incomplete and unsatisfying outcome.

Paying attention to these tiny details helps to make sure that your story of success is cohesive and complete.

5) Attend and seek out networking opportunities

Success is often as much about who you know as what you know. 

Building a strong network of professional contacts and collaborators can open doors and provide valuable support and insights along your professional (or personal) journey.

I remember attending a writers’ conference way back in 2014. 

I’ll admit that at first, I was hesitant. I felt super out of my league among established authors and journalists who were also in attendance.

But I took these nerves in my stride and pushed myself to mingle with people I hadn’t met yet.

Across that weekend, I met editors, fellow writers, and literary agents who not only provided valuable feedback on my work, but also introduced me to new opportunities. 

Networking became an essential part of my journey, and it set me up really well for my next steps.

6) Prioritize healthy lifestyle and dietary choices

Success isn’t all about the professional achievements — it’s also about living a fulfilling life outside of work.

In order to do this, it’s important to prioritize your physical and mental well-being. 

Of course, this can involve myriad things, including maintaining a healthy daily diet, staying active with regular fitness classes, and keeping stress levels in check with mindfulness, mediation, and journaling.

This part is crucial because your body and mind are the engines moving you towards your goals of success. 

Just like a car needs regular maintenance check-ups and high quality fuel to perform well, your body and mind need a little TLC to function at their best.

Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle ensures that you have the energy, strength, focus, and resilience needed to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.

7) Seek out feedback from respected peers and mentors

Constructive feedback is like a compass that helps you map out your path to success. 

Feedback provides valuable insights, points out your blind spots, and guides you in the right direction. 

It’s vital to look for feedback from trusted peers who have your best interests at heart, and not people who want to tear you down.

I remember back in college, I often shared my creative writing pieces with a close-knit group of fellow writers. 

Their feedback was instrumental in my growth as a writer. 

My peers were able to point out areas for improvement, suggest new and exciting angles, and even encourage me to take risks with my work. 

Through this process, I figured out that feedback wasn’t just about criticism, it was about growth and improvement. 

8) Time block to concentrate on work and personal time

Have you heard of time blocking? It’s the practice of setting aside specific blocks of time for focused work, personal life, and relaxation. 

This tried-and-tested approach ensures that you allocate time to your most important tasks while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Before I managed to get time blocking down to a T, I often felt overwhelmed with my work.

When I began using time blocking to allocate specific hours for writing, networking, and personal time, I was able to boost my productivity and pour more of my energy into my relationships and hobbies, which all in all helped me achieve a more balanced and successful life.

9) Set aside half an hour of uninterrupted learning

Here’s a unique one.

Each and every day, you could try dedicating 30 minutes to learning something new or deepening your knowledge in a specific area.

This could be related to your work, a hobby, personal development, or really, anything else that interests you. The world’s your oyster!

You can read books, articles, watch educational videos on YouTube, take online courses on Udemy, or engage in practical learning activities in-person.

Consistently expanding your knowledge and skills can give you a real competitive edge and open up new opportunities for growth. 

You might just surprise yourself. 30 minutes of daily learning helps to build continuous personal and professional development, which can lead to long-term success.

Additionally, it can help you stay curious, adaptable, and open to new ideas, which are valuable qualities.

Remember that the key to success is not just in adopting a unique daily habit but also in maintaining consistency and discipline over time. It all takes a bit of practice.

10) One sentence journal entries

Imagine beginning each day with a simple but profound act: writing a one-sentence journal entry.

In that one sentence, you capture the essence of your day, distilling it into a powerful statement that captures the most significant event or insight you’ve come across. Sounds good, huh?

This practice isn’t just about putting pen to paper, it’s a journey of self-discovery.

This habit allows you to pause, reflect, and recognize the essence of what truly matters in your life.

With each sentence, you gain clarity, sharpening your ability to articulate thoughts and emotions concisely.

Over time, as you review your one-sentence diary entries, you’ll pick up on patterns that allow you to track your personal and professional growth, building a deeper sense of gratitude for the moments that influence your journey to success. 

Conclusion

To sum things up, success isn’t something that happens overnight. Instead, it’s the result of daily choices, habits, and actions that gradually give shape to your journey.

Success is also about defining your own path and what success means to you, personally.

So, as you set off on your journey, embrace these simple yet powerful habits, and you’ll find that success is not an unattainable dream — it’s a daily reality waiting to be embraced by you.

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