Daily Habits of Highly Effective People
Take your mind off of how many dozens or hundreds of days that habit will take to form. The earlier you start and commit, the less time it’ll take for you to become a highly effective person.
What gets us up at 5 am to make a fresh pot of coffee is the same thing that drives us to finish that task, or read that daily book chapter.
I’m not talking about goals. I’m talking about habits. The things you do day after day, bit by bit, step by step, until you reach said goals — be them short or long-term aspirations.
A lot is said about goals, but I feel like habits are scarcely mentioned in comparison. “What are your goals for 2022?” or “What are your intentions for 2022?” are everyone’s most pressing questions when another year rolls on. And that’s valid! We should all have aspirations to look forward to. We deserve to get excited about all of the incredible things we can achieve.
However, if we’re so keen on planning and aiming, why don’t we bring the same effort toward sketching – and committing to – the steps needed to get there?
So much is said about the destination, while the process leaves much to be desired. And the reason for that is pretty simple: forming habits requires discipline. As with everything, the time it takes for someone to form a habit varies from person to person. It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a solid habit, according to Healthline.
Now, here’s where everything tends to fall flat.
Everyone wants to be on the 18 or 20-day spectrum, but not all of us will. That’s the truth no one wants to hear. The 10th day comes around, and then the 20th…you realize that “this is probably just a huge waste of time”, and give up. When, in reality, you've just nipped your progress in the bud by doing that. What could have become a solid habit a few days from that moment is no longer a potential habit – and every single time you decide to do that, you’ll need to start from scratch.
I know. The easiest thing I can do is sit here and write about how you should get your habits straight. Both starting and maintaining a habit are hard jobs, and none of this is inherently exciting for anyone. But here’s something that might change your mind.
Winners and losers have the same goals. The difference lies in their habits.
What sets the seemingly “motivated” gym goer from the one whose mantra is “I’ll start on Monday”? You guessed it: habits. Only, motivation is just a detail. A lot of the time, it’s not even present in the equation.
When people understand and truly internalize the fact that processes and systems matter more than goals and motivation together, they’ll spend less time aiming for something and more time working for it.
If you’ve ever wondered what one of the best-kept “secrets” of highly effective people is, that’s unwavering dedication to their habits. More than anyone, they know that if they wait for motivation to get things done, they’re doomed. You know how the saying goes: “if you wait for the perfect circumstances, you’ll never get anything done.”
So, what are some examples of those successful habits?
Highly effective people follow a daily schedule.
Each hour of your day is valuable. With that in mind, each hour of your day should be devoted to things that bring you closer to your goals. And no, that doesn’t mean you’ll spend 24/7 either working or thinking about working. Here’s what I mean.
Einstein himself had a pretty simple, yet solid routine. It consisted of what most of our routines look like: waking up at the exact same time every day, having breakfast, driving to work, and having lunch. In the afternoon, he usually saved some time for a nap and coffee or tea before going back to work. After getting home, it was dinner time and then straight to bed.
Although we have no detailed information about what exactly he used to do or think about during his free time (much less with whom he used to spend it), you may have noticed that there’s nothing special about his routine. There isn’t anything unusual there, and truth is, there doesn’t have to be.
The admirable aspects of his routine? Repetition and commitment. The key to building habits is knowing exactly what your day will look like from the start. Will there be roadblocks and detours eventually? Of course. But you should do your best to keep that off your mind.
Instead, have your entire day and week mapped out. Whether you use a calendar or a bullet journal to do that, it doesn’t really matter. As long as you already know where and when your day begins and ends.
They don’t ignore family time.
If Elon Musk is sure about one thing, this is it: from 6pm to 9pm, his day should be dedicated to family and being with his children.
Now, wait a minute. Is that even a habit? And should family time take up as much as three whole hours of your day? How will that bring you closer to your goals?
First things first: you don’t necessarily need to block three hours off your day to family time. That portion will, of course, depend on your availability. But you should dedicate a small portion of your day to being with the people you love and admire.
Funnily enough, so many people will associate highly effective people to closed off human beings. Just like crazy, antisocial geniuses, these people should be 110% about their “grind”. It doesn’t matter if they have to shut themselves off from the world and become complete strangers on the path toward their goals.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Your journey to success will be anything but easy. At some point, you’ll need the encouragement and support from the people whose opinions you value. As we all know, not all family members are supportive – that’s why I wrote “people you love and admire”, instead. It could be a sibling or a friend, as long as they take you a step closer to your goal every day. As long as they ease your mind, and help you stay sane.
Their interest and encouragement matter, even if you choose to believe they don’t. The people who help you keep your chin up are meaningful steps toward your goals, and you won’t be able to get there without them.
They fuel their bodies and minds.
You’d figure that world’s #1 chessmaster Magnus Carlsen spends 50% of the time studying chess and the other 50% staring at a chess board during tournaments. Certainly not.
Great part of his time is spent in a healthy diet and exercise. He takes his diet and his exercise routine as seriously as he takes his professional training and tournaments. And so should you.
Although Carlsen enjoys sports like hiking and skiing, a much more accessible part of his exercise routine would be his 30-to-60 minute daily treadmill run. You could replace that with a gym session, a jog outside, or anything that gets your body moving and your mind at ease. Here’s why that matters.
Regardless if you’re sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 or standing all day, your body needs the necessary conditioning and fuel to keep working throughout the day. Failing to provide your body with the right nutrients will eventually make you sluggish, tired, and unwilling to function.
There’s no shortage of scientific sources that prove the benefits of a nutrient-dense diet and regular exercise for increased energy and concentration. Physical exercise works as a booster for the “feel good” chemicals in our brains: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This boost will not only make you feel better, but it will also improve your focus on your daily activities.
As for food, it should come as no surprise that you need to eat correctly to keep your wheels turning. A balanced diet rich in “brain foods” will fuel your brain – and therefore your entire body – with the necessary nutrients so you can keep moving forward.
They read. A lot.
When it comes to reading, highly effective people look for sources that will expand their knowledge in their field. Though that’s necessary for practice and continuous improvement, a person’s library should be way vaster than that.
That means reading more than what you’re already familiar with. You should pick up novels, biographies, articles, studies, and everything in between. It’s about expanding your horizons, and finding ideas and inspiration in unusual places.
Bill Gates is known for his varied library, which even includes books recommended by his wife, Melinda. As with everyone else, his reading habits vary according to his mood. One interesting observation he made on his blog, Gates Notes – which I recommend everyone reads – says the following: “As I got older, I started reading a lot more non-fiction. I was still interested in books that explored the implications of innovation, but it felt more important to learn something about our real world along the way.”
A lot of the time, it’s worth getting your nose off the same genre and wandering off into unexplored lands for a change. You’d be surprised with how much you’ll learn, how much more interesting you’ll become, and the number of connections you’ll be able to make. Highly effective people aren’t confined to a bubble, nor are they closed-minded. They refuse to be. They’re constantly looking to open up their minds, especially if their field involves creative endeavors.
Whatever your job is, know that things and ideas are interconnected. You can make unlikely, yet possible connections between things you’d never imagine could fit in the same context. That’s how your brain gets smarter, and that’s how you find that the world is a lot more interesting when you aren’t locked into your own world.
They sleep well.
Highly effective people know the benefits of a good night’s sleep. More than that – they know the benefits of a good night’s sleep every single night.
Like every starry-eyed professional in the beginning of their career, Bill Gates used to be an advocate for burning the midnight oil. We’ve all done it, and maybe even encouraged it at some point. Some people, however, will “sell” this as a recipe for success, when it’s in fact a recipe for failure in the long-term.
That’s not the case with Gates at all. As his larger responsibilities started rounding the corner, he understood the undeniable importance of at least seven hours of sleep every night. Yes, even if that may sound way too much for some people.
Seven to eight hours of sleep every night will aid in everything ranging from problem-solving skills to memorization and creativity. If reaching your goals requires your brain to stay sharp, you’d better make quality sleep a nightly habit.
Scrap the word “motivation” from your vocabulary. From now on, replace it with “habit”.
Many people use the word “motivation” like a crutch. This may not be what you want to read, but relying on motivation alone won’t get you anywhere.
Contrary to motivation, you’re the one who decides to create and stick to your habits. You don’t wait for them, like a muse, to come to you. You’re the one who goes out there and makes them happen.
Motivation is what you’ve hopefully felt after reading these words. Something may light up within you, and an inside voice may whisper something along the lines of “maybe I can do it”. Sadly, this flame will wane at one point. You should light it back up with habit – consistent, focused habit.
Take your mind off of how many dozens or hundreds of days that habit will take to form. The earlier you start and commit, the less time it’ll take for you to become a highly effective person.
—
See you next time,
Kazuki