Very few successful people made it where they are through simple luck. Most got there through working hard, being committed, and staying consistent. Even if they don’t have a “routine” - perhaps because, like myself, they travel around a lot as part of their job - they’ll still have a few extremely important disciplines that they maintain each and every day.
Those disciplines are what I want to talk to you about today. There are a huge number of articles out there about how to be more successful, whether that’s in terms of finances or general wellbeing. Most of those articles, however, are pretty abstract! They tell you to do things like “Be more focused”, “Be more ambitious” and “Be happier”. Great, thanks for the tips!
Obviously they’re nice ideas, but they’re not actually very helpful. That’s why I wanted to put together a much more practical article. These are four daily disciplines - each of which is easy to implement - that are absolutely sure to bring you long-term benefit.
1. Wake Up Early
Read any interview with any successful person regarding their daily habits, and I almost guarantee they’ll mention waking up early.
I want to make it clear from the outset that this does not mean getting less sleep. Sleep is incredibly important for our mental wellbeing, and is an integral part of any exercise regimen too. No, I just want you to adjust your sleep pattern so that you wake up earlier.
We’re far more productive earlier in the day - when we’re still full of energy - than we are later on. By waking up earlier, you’re capitalizing on this period of increased productivity. Whatever you’re working on, you’ll work faster and find it much easier to focus.
2.Plan Ahead
If you’ve read any of my blog posts, you’ll already know that I’m a massive fan of planning ahead.
There are only so many hours in the day. If you want to keep progressing towards your goals, and make the most out of every single day, then time management is absolutely crucial. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, or - even better - the evening before, I want you to start planning out every single day in advance.
Identify the things you want to achieve each day - outside of the things you have to do, like being in the office at certain times - and be sure to allocate the necessary time to them. Start doing that, and you’ll find your days becoming a whole lot more productive in no time.
3.Live A Healthy Lifestyle
Well, you knew this one had to be coming!
I’m obviously a huge fan of health and fitness (you kinda have to be, as a professional athlete), but - even if it’s something that doesn’t come naturally to you - you need to know about all the benefits a healthy lifestyle can bring.
To clarify, what do I mean by a “healthy lifestyle”? Well, you don’t have to train like a UFC fighter, or look like a heavily-Photoshopped Andrew East. You just have to exercise regularly (preferably every day), and maintain a diet that’s right for your goals (high protein for putting on muscle, lower calorie intake for burning fat, and so on).
There are so many long-term benefits to doing this that I couldn’t list them all here. But, in short, you’ll look better, feel better physically and emotionally, have more energy, and massively cut down on your stress levels. This is an absolute no-brainer.
4. Get Your Mind In Check
We put a big emphasis in our culture nowadays on taking care of our bodies, but I still don’t think we put enough effort into taking care of our minds.
How you actually do this is completely up to you.
A lot of successful men like to practice “visualization” - in short, they picture themselves achieving their goals, and this gives them the confidence to actually do so. Alternatively, meditation is obviously a millenia-old technique of clearing your mind. There are a load of different meditation techniques, most of which will help to relax and focus you. Finally, if you’re a religious guy, then you’ll already know all about the benefits of prayer - something that’s helped me countless times over the years.
The specific method you use to get your mind in check isn’t that important - just find the one that works for you. The important thing is that you put that phone down, close that laptop, switch off that TV, and take some time to just be by yourself. Do this and you’ll find your mind gets clearer, you become more focused throughout the day, and you generally feel like a happier and more peaceful person.
So, there you have it - four daily disciplines that are sure to have long-term benefit. None of them are difficult to start doing, but the key is that you keep on doing them for the long haul. Stay committed to these disciplines, stay committed, and - whatever “success” means to you - you’ll be well on your way to achieving it.
