People who get the most out of life have these 10 habits in common

Life is short.

It’s a fact we are all aware of, or at least one that we should be.

With this in mind, we want to make the most of our limited years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds.

Too dramatic? Well, seconds are what we have when we really break it down.

There are those who waste away their lives doing things they don’t want to, living lives they never intended to, and wallowing in anxiety, indecisiveness, and unhappiness.

Then there are those who seem to have it all figured out, those who seem in control, fulfilled, and to be generally getting the most out of their lives.

Finally, there are those of us in between these two extremes; those of us wanting to get better.

How do we do that?

How do we get the most out of life?

Well, as with most things in life, it comes down to our habits, and people who get the most out of life have these 10 in common.

1) Practicing gratitude

As noted in a previous article, practicing gratitude has many benefits, like better focus, more motivation, and added self-esteem.

People who get the most out of life know that while we may have goals for the future, it’s essential to be grateful for what we have now.

With this in mind, many make a point of practicing gratitude. Some start their mornings by thinking or saying aloud what they are grateful for, while others write it down in a journal.

This exercise gets them in the positive mindset needed to get motivated, overcome doubts and get the most out of each day.

The next one is a little counterintuitive but essential to get the most out of life.

2) Saying “no”

As much as we would like to, we absolutely can’t do everything.

Those who get the most out of life know that a fulfilling life is about quality, not quantity.

They know that when we try to cram too many things into our lives, we can no longer give each thing the attention it deserves.

So what do they do?

They figure out what things are most important to them and prioritize them. This means saying “no” a lot.

It means disappointing friends, colleagues, and even family. It means ignoring the fear of missing out we all have.

But the things that are left are important and can be given the attention they deserve.

3) Exercising

You know this one, but it’s so important for getting the most out of life that it’s worth mentioning.

Those who get the most out of life recognize the advantages that exercise brings to their lives.

The physical benefits of exercise are mostly obvious and almost countless.

As noted by Healthline, it can help you to lose weight, give you energy and sleep. It can even help you to have a better sex life!

However, the benefits don’t stop there. Exercising also has mental benefits.

According to an article by Harvard Health, it can help to improve memory and thinking skills.

Exercise can also help us to be happier and reduce anxiety.

If that’s not convincing enough, I don’t know what is. If you have been slacking off, get back to that workout routine and reap the benefits.

4) Decisiveness

People who get the most out of life do so by taking action. And as noted by Picasso, “Action is the foundational key to all success”.

To live a truly fulfilled life, we need to be decisive. We can’t spend all our time weighing up the pros and cons, we need to make decisions and take action.

This applies to all areas of life but has been proven to be particularly important in terms of financial success.

In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill noted that having studied several hundred millionaires, those who achieve exceptional financial success make quick and confident decisions.

While those who get the most out of life by no means jump into making important decisions without sufficient thought, they know that there comes a time when action is necessary.

5) Thinking positively

The world is full of ups, downs, victories, and setbacks. Navigating these is something we all struggle with.

People who get the most out of life combat this with a positive mindset. They know that their optimism is their armor, defending them against whatever life throws at home.

You’ve heard that positive thinking is beneficial before, but if you need more convincing, here’s some science.

Mayo Clinic noted that the benefits of positive thinking can include lower rates of depression, an increased lifespan, and better psychological and physical well-being.

So, in a nutshell, engaging in positive thinking can help us to be happier, live longer and be healthier both physically and mentally.

These are all things that help us take full advantage of the short time we have.

6) Taking responsibility for their own lives

When things don’t go our way, there is often a temptation to shift the blame to others, like our friends or our parents, or to externalities like the economy or the weather or whatever.

The truth is that our parents or the economy might have played a role in the less-than-ideal situations we find ourselves in.

However, people who get the most out of their lives don’t blame other people or situations.

They take responsibility for their own lives and are accountable for what happens to them and how they respond.

While this may sound harsh, unfair, or illogical, it’s not. They know that blaming others is a habit that takes away their freedom.

It’s a mindset that allows for excuses and makes us feel powerless over our own lives, which hinders us from living it to its full extent.

7) Spending time in nature

Spending time in nature is often overlooked, especially with all the technological distractions at our disposal.

Who has time to walk around a park for no obvious reason?

People who get the most out of life, that’s who. They have caught on to the benefits of spending time outside.

Studies have linked spending time in natural environments with reduced stress levels, lower anxiety, and improved self-esteem.

And as noted by environmental psychologist Lee Chambers, you don’t even need to spend that much time in the outdoors. As little as 2 hours a week can make a positive difference to our well-being.

The next one is a big one, and we would all do well to make this change.

8) Comparing themselves to themselves

With the popularity and reach of social media, not to mention people’s curated online lives, it is easier than ever to compare ourselves to others.

However, as I mentioned in a previous post, it’s a recipe for discontentment, envy, and unhappiness.

Psychology Today wrote that it can even diminish self-esteem and contribute to depression.

While I might be stating the obvious, these are not things that allow us to get the most out of our lives.

People who live life to the fullest know this. Instead of comparing themselves to others and trying to keep up with Joneses, they compare themselves to themselves.

They try to be better than they were yesterday.

9) Continous Learning

Those who squeeze the most from life know that there is always more to learn.

They tend to be lifelong learners whether they consider themselves as so or not. They learn through reading, courses, and even traveling.

Reading, in particular, is practiced by countless well-known people who have certainly gotten more than most out of their lives.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk…the list goes on.

10) Persevering

Persevering is tough. Even the strongest of us consider giving up when we encounter great difficulty.

However, those who get the maximum out of life have a habit of keeping going even when times get tough.

They know that life will throw challenges at them, and to get what they desire from life, they will need to push on through when others might give in and call it quits.

Anything worth having is worth working for. Their reward is getting the most out of life.