Have you ever wondered what the secret to success is? For most people, it's not one specific thing. Rather, it's the result of many daily habits that are repeated over and over. Here are few things you can do every day to ensure that you're being intentional with your time and spending it on your priorities. Incorporate these tips into your daily routine and watch your success soar!
Define your priorities.
What are your main three priorities in your life? What three things do you do with the majority of your time? Do your priorities match up with where you're spending your time? If so, awesome. If not, you'll need to work extra hard to be intentional about spending more time on your priorities, and getting rid of the junk that prevents you from doing what's important to you. Really think about how you want to spend your life – you will likely only feel successful if you spend your time on what matters most to you.
Set a schedule for the following day.
Time is our most precious resource, and it's irreplaceable. If you really want to be successful, you'll need to plan how you're spending your time.
One way to do this is to take time each evening to write out a schedule for the next day. Writing out your schedule helps for three main reasons: It helps you maximize every hour you are awake; it helps you set aside time to focus on your priorities every day; and it helps you discover if you waste a lot of time. Setting a schedule will help you avoid the trap of time-suckers like TV.
Be honest with the person in the mirror.
Be honest with yourself. Some people do their best work before sunrise, and others are incredibly productive late in the evening. If you love starting your day at 5 a.m., wonderful – go ahead. If you prefer to sleep in, that's fine too. Successful people are honest with themselves. They know that setting a goal of working out every morning at 4:30 a.m. isn't the best idea if they've never been a morning person. They set their goals based on their most productive times.
Give yourself deadlines.
Take advantage of a major productivity hack: Parkinson's Law. Parkinson's Law states that work will expand to fill the time available for its completion. If you have less time to complete a task, you'll likely increase your effort. Think about how clean you can make your house when someone calls and says they'll stop by in 20 minutes, and how intensely you can focus when you have a an assignment due the next morning. Your effort significantly increases when time is limited.
Giving yourself deadlines to accomplish tasks can help you achieve your goals. As you set your daily schedule, it can help to use Parkinson's Law to your advantage. One way to do this is by using time blocks. Give yourself 55 minutes to accomplish a goal, and then take a planned 5 minute break. Knowing you have limited time will help maximize your productivity during the 55 minute work session. Also, the mini mental breaks from your hard work every hour can re-energize you.
Minimize distractions.
Get rid of as many distractions as possible while you work. If the internet distracts you, set your computer so it's locked from certain sites during set times of the day. Shut off your phone. Your messages will be there when you're done with your to-do list.
Pause.
Plan time every day to take care of yourself. Set aside time in your schedule for you to give yourself the gift of exercise, quiet time, or ideally both.
Plan backward.
One way to move forward toward your big goals is to plan backward when setting goals.
Write it down.
Research shows that just by writing your goals down, your chance of achieving those increases significantly! Write down your goals, post them somewhere easily visible, refer to them frequently, and you have a much higher chance of success.
Find an accountability partner.
Accountability partners are great; they encourage and support us as we work toward achieving our goals. Maybe you've always wanted to write a book, exercise regularly, or start a home-based business. Tell someone who will help keep you accountable and check in with you weekly to review your progress. It works great to have an accountability partner who has some similar goals.
Compare yourself to others only to fuel your determination.
You really want to feel good about your life? Quit comparing yourself to everyone else if it makes you feel bad. Being envious of others can quickly decrease your happiness and make you feel unsuccessful.
That being said, comparing can be helpful if you're doing it out of admiration instead of jealousy. If your friend is constantly getting promoted at work, study his habits at the office. Does he always arrive early and stay late, and offer to take on extra projects? Emulating his work ethic may help you get the raise you desire.
'When we compare in a healthy way, it can fuel our determination to become more successful.'
Seek out a mentor.
If there's a specific area in your life you are passionate about, choose a successful mentor to help you grow in that area. You may find that you have different mentors for different areas in your life. Consider hiring a coach; the right coach can make a world of difference in your life by giving you the inspiration and tools needed to reach high levels of success.
Delegate.
"If you want to do a few small things right, do them yourself. If you want to do great things and make a big impact, learn to delegate." – John C. Maxwell
As difficult as it can be, it's important to give up some control and delegate certain tasks. After all, there are only 24 hours in the day, and if you really want to focus on your priorities and become wildly successful, you'll need to trust others to take care of the things that are less important to you.
When we delegate some tasks to others, we are able to focus on what's important to us – a key to becoming successful.
Choose your company wisely.
Aside from having one specific accountability partner, choose your entire tribe with care.
According to businessman Jim Rohn, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
Are you hanging out with people who are encouraging, positive, and supportive? Or, do you spend most of your time with people who are toxic? Choose to spend your time with people who inspire you to be your best.
Read.
Want to be highly successful? Read. Read frequently. Reading invigorates us and opens our minds. Read material that inspires you and lights your fire. Delve into self-development. Absorb as much information as you possibly can. There's always more to learn.
Do these things every day and you will quickly be on the path to wild success!
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