When it comes down to it, some of the most successful and influential people in history invested very heavily in developing good habits. In order to live a healthy and prosperous life, we need to understand how habits work.
We know that the motivating factors that drive our conscience and subconscience decisions are learned behaviors; this is why good and bad habits are so powerful. One would assume that the origination of a habit occurs due to culture and traditions; however, A study conducted by M.I.T. identified neurons that fire at the commencement and the ceasing of a behavior. This naturally occurring process creates a loop and a response.
The fact is that habits affect all aspects of your life. Developing bad habits is easy, and often we do so unwittingly. But it’s okay. It happens to all of us, and identifying and adopting healthy routines can significantly improve our quality of life.
Let’s look at some healthy habits for a successful life.
Exercise
Yes, that’s right! Don’t pretend you’re shocked; you knew this already. A primary component of success is training your body and pushing beyond your preconceived notions about what it can do. It’s not what you can do but what you are willing to do to win. According to the National Cancer Institute, regular exercise might reduce the risks of cancer. Exercise helps prevent high blood levels of insulin, reducing inflammation, preventing high blood pressure and obesity.
The idea of exercise turns most people off because of how much they perceive is needed for it to be effective. The truth is that authorities such as personal trainers and instructors suggest 30 minutes of exercise daily. Thirty minutes can go by quicker than you think. As an example, have you ever been out for a walk and received a call from a friend only to realize that, after hanging up, you’ve been out for an entire hour or more?
Get Good Sleep
Sleep is essential for the healthy function of the body and the brain. Getting a good amount of sleep is needed to see the results of the hard work that you put into your exercises and the effort that you bring to your profession. According to Healthline, good sleep can improve concentration and productivity.
Adversely a lack of sleep is detrimental to your mental health. It can create illness in the body and cause weight gain issues as well. Poor sleepers also have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the Sleep Foundation 35.2% of adults in the U.S. report sleeping on average less than seven hours per night. The recommended amount of sleep is 7-8 hours.
Keep A Schedule and Build Discipline
Maintaining a schedule can be a great tool to combat stress and fatigue. It will also keep you focused and motivated. As creatures of habit, we require structure and routine. A regular schedule will also assist your body and mind in being at their peak performance levels consistently.
A great benefit to keeping a schedule is the indistinguishable formulation of discipline. Discipline is one of the most excellent tools that we use from childhood to adulthood to ensure that we are on a path to success. Discipline is required of us academically, socially, and personally throughout our lives. Maintaining a good schedule is essential for success.
Eat Right
Maintaining a healthy diet has many incredible benefits. Appropriate nutrition is undoubtedly one of the building blocks to living a successful life. Our food should be well-balanced and portion-controlled.
Keep in mind that your diet will directly impact the work that you are doing during your exercise time. The results you are seeking depend on this little-known secret, the majority of the work on your path to fitness is accomplished via proper nutrition. Proper nutrition can also affect everything from how well you sleep to your mood and focus throughout the day.
Be Grateful
Having an attitude of gratitude speaks volumes about who you are. That strength and wisdom is shown in humility and gratitude is often a complex concept for some to understand. Not only does showing gratitude the hallmark of a successful leader, but it will generally result in a happier, healthier life. Our attitude can very directly affect our health and wellbeing.
Learn Something
As we progress through life and evolve, we should always be looking to become more capable and valuable humans by expanding our knowledge base. Today we have the great advantage of the Internet, which allows us to find the answers to questions within moments of posing them. We can instantly download books and videos onto handheld devices. We can access, essentially, the collective knowledge of the entire world from nearly anywhere. These days, there’s no excuse for not expanding your knowledge.
According to Healthline, reading regularly helps expand our vocabulary, sharpens our brain, and most importantly, helps prevent age-related cognitive decline. While reading is great, if you prefer a more hands-on approach, try picking up a hobby such as woodworking. In our research, we have spoken to individuals in high-stress professions, such as first responders, who have stated that they learned a skill like woodworking or painting in order to deal with their job stressors.
The Wrap-Up
The truth is healthy habits for a successful life start with you. Your decision to adopt practices that will enhance your quality of life is totally up to you. Keep in mind that good habits are not developed overnight. To accomplish great things, it takes hard work, sacrifice, and passion. Those who are driven make it to the finish line because they were willing to seek the best version of themselves and live out their purpose. A successful life can mean many things, but I can most certainly guess it means happiness in all its iterations.
What does a successful life mean to you?
References
Anne Trafton | M.I.T. News Office. (n.d.). Distinctive brain pattern helps habits form. Retrieved April 03, 2021, from https://news.mit.edu/2018/distinctive-brain-pattern-helps-habits-form-0208
Leech, J. (2020, February 24). 10 Reasons Why Good Sleep Is Important. Retrieved April 03, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#builds-vocabulary
Moawad, H. (2019, October 15). Https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books. Retrieved April 03, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books
Physical activity and cancer fact sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2021, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet
Sleep statistics – facts and data about sleep 2020. (2021, February 08). Retrieved April 09, 2021, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics#:~:text=Adults%20between%2018%20and%2064,than%20seven%20hours%20per%20night.