10 things unsuccessful people do every day

Life is a big journey filled with ups and downs. A lot of what happens to us comes down to our daily habits – the little things we do without even thinking.

Sometimes, without realizing, we get stuck in bad habits that hold us back from doing well in life.

This article talks about ten everyday habits of people who aren’t doing so well.

By shining a light on these habits, we can learn to avoid them and make better choices every day.

Let’s dive in and see what might be holding us back from living our best lives.

1. They hit the snooze button

We all love those extra minutes of sleep in the morning, right?

But for unsuccessful people, hitting the snooze button isn’t just about a few more Zzzs. It’s a habit. It’s an excuse to procrastinate and delay the start of their day.

It’s a small indication that they’re not ready to face their responsibilities head-on.

Remember, how you start your morning often sets the tone for the rest of your day.

So, if you’re starting with procrastination, guess what’s likely to follow you through the day? That’s right – more procrastination!

Practical Tip: Place your alarm clock or phone across the room so you have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. This can help you wake up faster and resist the urge to hit snooze.

2. They skip breakfast

You’ve probably heard it a million times – breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But unsuccessful people often ignore this golden rule.

They rush out the door without fueling their bodies with the energy needed to tackle the day’s tasks.

This not only leaves them feeling sluggish and less focused, but it also signals a lack of self-care.

Starting your day by taking care of your physical health can boost your mood and productivity. 

Practical Tip: Prepare a simple and nutritious breakfast the night before like overnight oats or have some easy-to-grab fruits and nuts available.

3. They don’t plan their day

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a plan for your day. Unsuccessful people often jump into their day without a clear plan or goals.

This can lead to wasted time and unfocused efforts. I remember a time when I would just take each day as it came, without any direction.

I found myself constantly busy but not really achieving much. Once I started planning my day each morning, I was able to prioritize my tasks and stay focused on my goals.

Trust me, a little planning can go a long way in boosting your productivity and success. 

Practical Tip: Spend 10-15 minutes each morning or the night before to jot down your to-do list and prioritize tasks for the day.

4. They consume too much negative news

Have you ever noticed how starting your day with negative news can cast a cloud over your mood and crank up your stress levels? It’s a trap that many fall into.

Unsuccessful people often make a habit of plunging into negative headlines as they sip their morning coffee, unknowingly setting a gloomy tone for the hours that follow.

This ritual of morning negativity can slowly seep into their outlook, tainting their interactions, decisions, and overall spirit throughout the day.

On the brighter side, imagine beginning your day with a dose of positivity or an inspirational story.

By choosing to start your day on a positive note, you’re not just brushing off the early morning blues, but you’re setting a hopeful and energetic tone for the entire day.

So, swapping the morning gloom for some early hours of inspiration can indeed be a game-changer, steering you closer to success and satisfaction.

Practical Tip: Begin your day with a positive podcast, uplifting music, or a motivational book instead of diving into the news.

5. They neglect self-care

It truly breaks my heart to see people neglecting the most important person in their life – themselves.

Unsuccessful people often put everything and everyone before their own needs.

They rush through their morning, skipping exercise, meditation, or simply a moment of silence with their own thoughts.

By doing so, they start their day already feeling depleted and stressed.

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish; it’s a necessity.

If you want to give your best to the world, you first need to take care of yourself. 

Practical Tip: Schedule self-care activities into your day, even if it’s just a 10-minute meditation or workout routine in the morning.

6. They get distracted easily

Ah, distractions! We’ve all been there, haven’t we? I know I have. Unsuccessful people often let distractions rule their day.

Whether it’s constantly checking social media, getting lost in irrelevant emails, or engaging in office gossip, these distractions can eat up a lot of your valuable time.

I’ve found that setting specific times to check my emails and social media accounts has helped me stay focused on my tasks.

Every distraction is a step away from your goals. So, learn to manage your distractions before they manage you!

Practical Tip: Use apps or tools like the “Pomodoro Technique” to work in focused bursts with scheduled breaks to manage distractions.

7. They avoid challenges

Unsuccessful people tend to run away from challenges. They see them as scary obstacles instead of opportunities for growth.

They stick to their comfort zones, even if it means stagnation. But here’s the hard truth: life isn’t always easy or comfortable.

It’s those tough challenges that push us beyond our limits and help us grow.

So, instead of running away from challenges, embrace them!

You might be surprised at what you can achieve when you push beyond your comfort zone.

Practical Tip: Adopt a growth mindset. View challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, and take small steps outside your comfort zone daily.

8. They lack persistence

Did you know that Thomas Edison failed a whopping 1,000 times before he successfully invented the light bulb? Imagine if he had given up after his first few failures; we’d probably still be living in the dark!

Unsuccessful people often lack this persistence. They give up too soon, without realizing that success often lies just beyond the point of giving up.

Persistence is key in the journey to success. So, keep going even when the going gets tough. 

Practical Tip: Set clear, achievable goals and remind yourself of the long-term benefits of persistence when facing obstacles.

9. They don’t value time

Now, this one hits close to home. I used to be someone who didn’t value time. Unsuccessful people often fall into the trap of thinking they have all the time in the world.

They procrastinate, delay tasks and before they know it, the day has slipped away from them.

I’ve learned the hard way that time waits for no one.

Once a moment is gone, it’s gone forever. So, start treating time like the precious commodity it is.

Plan your day, set goals and stick to them. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you start respecting your time. 

Practical Tip: Use a planner or digital calendar to schedule your day, and use timers to keep on track with tasks.

10. They blame others

Let’s be brutally honest: unsuccessful people have a habit of pointing fingers.

They blame their bosses, their colleagues, their families, and sometimes even the universe for their failures.

But this blame game gets you nowhere. It just keeps you stuck in a loop of bitterness and resentment.

Success comes when you take responsibility for your actions, learn from your mistakes, and use those lessons to improve and grow.

Stop the blame game. Your life is your responsibility, make it count!

Practical Tip: Practice taking responsibility by analyzing what you could have done differently in challenging situations and how you can prevent similar occurrences in the future.

11. They fear failure

This one’s a tough pill to swallow: unsuccessful people are often paralyzed by the fear of failure.

They’re so scared of making mistakes that they don’t even try. But here’s the raw truth: failure is not the opposite of success, it’s a part of it.

Every successful person has failed at some point. What makes them successful is that they didn’t let those failures define them; instead, they learned from them and kept going.

So, don’t fear failure. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it propel you towards success!

Practical Tip: Change your perspective on failure by viewing it as a learning experience. Consider keeping a failure resume to reflect on lessons learned from past mistakes.

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Lachlan Brown

I’m Lachlan Brown, the founder, and editor of Hack Spirit. I love writing practical articles that help others live a mindful and better life. I have a graduate degree in Psychology and I’ve spent the last 15 years reading and studying all I can about human psychology and practical ways to hack our mindsets. Check out my latest book on the Hidden Secrets of Buddhism and How it Saved My Life. If you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

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