Paul Brian
There are good habits and bad habits.
Then there are habits that just waste our time.
Here are the most useful habits that will move you ahead in life.
1) Sleep well
Getting a good night’s sleep is an indispensable habit that will make a lasting difference in your life.
The best position to sleep is on your side, and it’s also important to buy a mattress and pillow that help you sleep soundly.
I also recommend buying a knee pillow, as it helps have a more comfortable sleep.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, check out the video below.
2) Wake up early
Waking up early is another of those indispensable habits that’s going to put you light years ahead down the road.
When you sync up with the Circadian rhythm you do your body and mind a world of good.
How early is “early” is ultimately up to you.
If you can get up with the sunrise then you’re doing better than me!
3 ) Have cold showers
Taking cold showers when you wake up and later in your day is another power tip when it comes to healthy habits.
As cold shower advocate Jeremy Ethier explains, taking cold showers gets your body to release norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.
“The benefit of this is improved mood, energy and focus, similar to the feeling you get after going for a run or doing a workout.”
4) Eat healthy
What you put into your body matters a lot, and over the years healthy eating habits always pay off.
Specific diets and types of food are up to you, but one diet I have found effective is the “eat right for your type” diet.
This matches up your blood type with the best kinds of food for you to eat to be healthy and have a balanced weight.
5) Work out
Working out and exercising is a foundational habit that will greatly improve your physical and mental health.
I recommend starting out with a personal trainer in order to get acquainted with a gym and plan walks, runs and outdoor activities.
It’s also a good idea to keep a small notebook where you note down what you’re doing and how you’re progressing on it.
6) Work smart
When it comes to work, what are some habits you can work into your routine to save time?
For example, bringing a prepared lunch, trying new programs to stay organized, delegating certain responsibilities you do to others…
Instead of just working harder, practice work habits that make your jobs a little bit easier while still maintaining an income flow.
7) Upgrade skills
A big part of working smart is constantly updating your skills.
Whether that’s new software, new equipment, new training, improving your typing or alternate ways to get work done, go for it!
There’s never a bad time to improve your skills and often on the job is the best way to keep doing that.
8) Care for your skin
Skin care is one of those things that often gets neglected until you start looking like an overripe cabbage by middle age.
Men and women should both care about skin care, and it’s really not a gendered issue.
Having a healthy dermal layer isn’t just about appearance, it actually makes you feel better in your own skin (literally).
9) Read books
I used to read many more books growing up, but recently I’ve been getting back in the habit.
Whether these be on your digital device, audiobooks on your headphones or physical books, try to imbibe some words.
They’re good for the soul, and you learn so much whether it’s from fiction or nonfiction.
10) Watch documentaries
Documentaries are another excellent habit to get into.
Try not to make all of them conspiracy documentaries on YouTube, although no judgment if you’re into that type of thing…
But informative and fact-filled documentaries are an excellent way to keep your mind agile and expand your knowledge base, plus you have a world of choices:
Do you want to watch a history documentary or something about early anthropology?
11) Plan ahead
Keeping an agenda or an organized system on your devices for scheduling is a highly beneficial habit.
Not only will you be able to keep much more abreast of what needs to be done, you’ll also be able to adjust it accordingly to hit longer-term goals.
What do I need to do to earn a certain amount this year, lose a certain amount of weight or get a certain job?
Then reverse engineer backwards from that goal until every day has a purpose!
12) Invest
Investing is more of a choice than a habit, as I don’t recommend day trading.
Statistics consistently show that those who invest for longer amounts of time have a better ROI (return on investment).
Put some money somewhere secure but with potential and let it grow.
You’ll be happy you did, especially when you need a nest egg a few years down the road.
13) Network
Networking is a habit that’s always in your best interest to cultivate.
Getting to know new people and introducing yourself can be hard at first, but it becomes easier as you start seeing everything as a natural interaction.
Instead of just talking to people when you want something, try talking to them regardless.
You’ll learn a lot and end up stumbling across way more opportunities and connections than you’d ever expect in a million years.
On a related note…
14) Partner up
Some of us are more solitary than others, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But partnership can be a great habit to build in your work and personal life.
Things can be a lot easier when you learn to share the load and collaborate with others on achieving your goals and shouldering your responsibilities.
15) Take calculated risks
Next up you want to also cultivate the habit of taking calculated risks.
There are times when you’ll want to take a leap of faith…
But calculated risk is more about determining what risks are worth it and what risks aren’t.
As you take such chances you’ll get better and better at discerning between reckless choices in life and decisions which are a risk but make a lot of sense.
16) Practice gratitude
Gratitude is an amazing habit that accumulates as you go.
The more you’re grateful, the more things you realize you have to be grateful for.
Practicing gratitude helps you see all the ways in which your life is worth it and continue to improve what’s in your control.
17) Help others
Helping others is an excellent habit to get into.
This gets you ahead because it makes you a higher-value person who is able to see the world more clearly and live with empathy.
Plus, when you help others you see so many more opportunities and connections you never used to see which can help you in every area of your life.
18) Say no
Far too many people go through life trying to be nice.
They end up years down the road realizing there’s very little left of them.
They’ve been so busy saying yes and trying to accommodate everyone else that they have abandoned their own priorities and needs.
Don’t be them: learn to say no to what you don’t want and to become your best self.
Let’s see how far we’ve come
If you practice the habits above I guarantee you’re going to make progress in your life.
In a decade from now, you’ll be so far ahead of everyone else that you’ll be able to help lots of people and inspire them with what you’ve done.
Most importantly, you’re going to feel outstanding about yourself and mentally and physically capable of facing the challenges life throws at you.
