You know that friend that seems to have everything together?  The one who tackles life head on and seems to have it all figured out?  From the outside it may seem like everything just “goes their way,” but in reality none of that comes by accident and there are no superpowers involved.  The only thing keeping you from being like that friend – is yourself!  Our success is built upon our habits, and the key to mastering your life begins with life planning and setting the right habits for yourself.  So on that note, here are some tips to get you started on forming the best habits to aid you in your journey to success!

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1. Don’t Hit That snooze button

Early to bed, early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.  You may have heard this saying before, but read it now and actually put it to use!  One of the most common habits of successful people is that they make get up early and get a jump start on their day.  If you want to become more successful, follow this advice and get a head start on your day by getting up early!

2. Go To Bed Early

As a follow up to tip #1, make sure you’re going to bed early enough to wake up refreshed rather than drained.  Getting enough sleep is important for our body and our mind, so make sure you’re giving your body everything that it needs to function at it’s best and tackle any task that your day may hold!

3. Make a To-Do List

Creating a to-do list keeps you on task and ensures that you accomplish everything that you need to in a given day.  A follow up tip is to put your most challenging to-do list task on the top and complete it before you do anything else on the list. This helps to avoid procrastination, and you will feel better knowing that you got your least pleasurable task done early!

4. Set timelines

What good is it if you set goals but have no deadline? Those who are the most successful know what they have to do and when they have to do it.  So when you are creating your to do lists, it’s important to seat deadlines for yourself.  This helps to keep you more accountable and push you to get each task done without procrastinating.

5. Work Backwards

We all know that reaching goals takes a lot of focus.  Focusing on the end goal is such a great idea, because when you see the final destination you get more pumped about reaching it!  That being said, sometimes it’s easier to work backwards rather than forwards when trying to reach your goals.  For instance, say your end goal is to move up in your career or get an advanced degree.  Write down the steps from the end of the process to the beginning. This helps to ensure that you don’t miss steps along the way.

6. Read (and learn something new) Everyday

Successful people know that it’s impossible to know everything, but they’re also aware of how important it is to keep our brains stimulated by learning new tasks and information.  Read something new everyday – whether it’s something in a science book, cook book, or the newspaper – keeping out minds stimulated through learning is very important for both our mental health and our success in life!

7. Talk To Yourself. Really!

If you’ve read my post on how to stay motivated, you know that I’m a big fan of positive affirmations.  Self talk is where we get a great majority of our confidence and feelings of self worth from, so it’s important to make sure that you’re only telling yourself how awesome and great you are!  Confidence is one of the most important aspects of success, and positive affirmations are really one of the best ways to increase (or maintain) your confidence.

8. Clear Out The Clutter

You may not realize it, but that cluttered desk is holding you back!  Numerous studies have found that clutter has a strong negative affect on mood and self esteem.  On the contrary, having a clean work space and a clean home can help you to feel more organized and more motivated to get things done.  So clean up that clutter!

9. get moving!

How important is exercise for stimulating our bodies and mind?  Very important!  I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve heard it, but exercise is very important for brain function (among all of the other benefits!).  So make sure you take the time to fit a good workout into your schedule!

10. Fuel Your Mind

What did you eat today?  Did your meal consist of foods that hinder or help your productivity?  The term “you are what you eat” is more true than you may think.  Diets high in sugar and carbohydrates can cause fatigue and slow you down throughout the day, which can destroy your focus and motivation.  Since motivation and focus are important for success, you can imagine the lull that a bad diet can cause.  Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet (with limited sugar and carbohydrates) and drinking plenty of water.

A few books and planners that I like –

I hope you find these tips helpful, good luck on your journey to success!

*Image is from this cute Etsy shop!