Clifton Kopp
When it comes to being successful, the little things count… in a big way.
Case in point: our morning habits.
When you habitually roll out of bed on weekday mornings at noon, hungover and dehydrated, it’s unlikely you’re on your way to great things in life.
Successful people understand that how they start the morning starts the tone for the rest of the day.
So while many of us dread mornings, successful people value them, always making them count.
In this article, I’ll go through the particular things successful people do each morning to get ahead of the rest.
Let’s get to it!
1) They get up early
This one is a no-brainer.
Nobody is saying you have to get up at 4 am and have a hard session at the gym or open your laptop and start working on spreadsheets, but regularly getting up at a reasonable early hour will go a long way.
From my experiences, the vast majority of genuinely successful people I’ve come across in life tend to wake up early.
This way, they get more out of the day.
While most people are still deep in dreamland, they will use the extra time in the morning to start their day off productively, getting their thoughts organized and prepping for the tasks ahead–without the unnecessary rush.
2) They do some exercise
Successful people have a firm understanding that your physical state has a direct correlation to things like mood, cognitive function, productivity, and so on.
Whether it’s taking a brisk walk through the neighborhood or the park, doing some yoga, or light weights, exercise in the morning is an excellent way to start the day.
It will energize you, reduce stress, release endorphins, and increase your ability to concentrate throughout the day.
Trust me: when it to exercise in the morning, the hardest part is starting.
Once you get in a rhythm, exercise becomes effortless… and even fun.
3) They practice meditation or mindfulness
Now I’ll be honest: there was a point in time when I’d dismiss mindfulness and meditation as new age psychobabble.
I thought these concepts were just something my middle-aged aunts would preach about, and had no real bearing in the real world.
But boy, was I wrong.
It’s scientifically proven–that engaging in mindfulness exercises can help your focus and concentration considerably, helping you manage stress and maintain mental health.
Most of all, mindfulness encourages us to live in the present moment, not worry excessively about the past, or ruminate about the future–a trap many of us easily fall into.
These benefits are essential for long-term success.
4) They plan strategically
The mornings are an ideal time to get your thoughts in order–and successful people know it.
It’s quiet, it’s still, and there are minimal distractions; hence, high achievers will use that early morning tranquility as a time to plan and prioritize tasks.
We live in the golden age of distractions, digital or otherwise.
Wherever we look, limitless stimuli are begging us to get sidetracked.
Successful people know that the mornings provide a refuge from all the noise of life… and they tend to take advantage of that.
Typically, they use this opportunity to set goals for the day, reflect on progress, and review long-term plans and objectives.
In a sense, because of their habits, they have a head start to everyone else.
5) They consume a healthy breakfast
Intermittent fasting may be all the rage now and sure, it may have its share of benefits, but still… a nutritious, well-balanced meal in the morning is key to productivity and high performance.
Eating a good breakfast gives you the energy, physically and cognitively, needed to perform your duties at a high level.
You shouldn’t gorge yourself with a greasy plate of food at Denny’s every morning but getting some moderate sustenance in the mornings is critical.
Whether it’s toast, eggs, low-sugar cereal, fruit, and so on, successful people prioritize a nourishing morning meal that will fuel their body and mind–and set them up for high output.
6) They read and take in knowledge
Successful people aren’t just successful because they have hefty savings accounts; they’re successful because they have an inherent worldliness about them.
They tend to have a heightened awareness of what’s going on around them.
Doing a bit of morning reading helps them stay informed, so they can be on top of trends and current events, occasionally using that information to advance their careers.
Besides, reading in itself supports continuous learning; it helps clear the mind and encourage independent thought, qualities crucial in today’s fast-paced world.
7) They connect with loved ones
As touched on in the previous point, true success isn’t completely about monetary value.
The most successful people I know prioritize balance.
This means they make a concerted, regular effort to foster the relationships that matter to them.
They won’t often get so caught up in work that they neglect their spouses, kids, or friends.
Before the day officially starts, successful people will sometimes use this period to spend time with family or close friends.
Sure, they might not be around for hours, but the time they do spend with their loved ones is valuable, it’s sacred–and through consistency, it builds emotional support, maintaining and strengthening bonds.
8) They avoid technology
For better or worse, we live in a world that is saturated with technology–a process that shows no signs of slowing down.
We’re constantly connected; technology dominates our lives.
Once the work day starts, the majority of us will end up staring at screens for hours at a time; and when we take breaks, we’ll stare at our other screens for entertainment and respite.
Hence, moderating your usage is crucial.
Successful people understand this; they understand the value of taking time to log off once in a while and striving for balance.
And mornings, before the hustle and bustle of the day starts, is an ideal time to do this.
While most people almost instinctively turn to their phones upon waking up, the truly successful person will work to avoid this behavior.
They’ll avoid emails or social media first thing in the morning, which can prevent a reactive mindset… and help maintain focus and perspective on their key goals in life.
Final words
Remember, success is always within your grasp if you want it to be.
But here’s the thing: you have to want it badly enough.
Meaning, you have to be willing to adjust your habits to ones that are geared towards success.
Changing ingrained habits and routines isn’t always an easy path.
But the effort is worth it.
Anything of value in this life takes sacrifice.
So if you have to set your alarm an hour earlier, then so be it… It will pay off in the end; it always does.
