TT7 - 5 Habits For Long-Term Success and Happiness

We are creatures of habit. From the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we go to sleep at night, we perform multiple tiny habits throughout our entire day. From the morning routine that we have, to the way we perform our hygiene routine, to the way that we speak to people, and even to the thoughts that we have, our habits can either push us to become better people, or pull us to become worse. That's why it's so important to choose our habits wisely. In this week's Thursday Thoughts, I lay out 5 habits that I believe are crucial to living a happier and more successful life in the long-term. I also cover the most prevalent excuses that I hear as to why people can't do each one, and why those things are excuses and not actual reasons. I hope you enjoy.

1. Meal-Prepping - When it comes to meal-prepping, the purpose is to get a better understanding of what you are going to eat during the week. This will decrease the chances that you veer off your diet and go grab a fast-food burger instead due to time constraints. When I speak about meal-prepping, the most used excuse that I hear is that meal-prepping is boring. What people probably imagine is the bodybuilder who cooks dry chicken with plain brown rice and boring broccoli for every single meal, stored in plastic containers just waiting to be microwaved. Actually, meal-prepping is the time to try out new recipes, andeat more creative things. Rather than doing an intense recipe and only making one meal, this is the opportunity to try out new and tasty things. But meal-prepping doesn't even need to be cooking every single meal for your week at once. Meal-prepping can be as simple as planning out what you will be cooking and eating for each individual meal during the week, just so you know what to expect. 

2. Movement - Some of the many benefits of movement is that it is good for your physical and mental health, your longevity, and your ability to concentrate (along with many other things). When people think of movement and exercise, the biggest excuse is that they don't have enough time. I imagine that they're picturing that it will take 10 minutes to get changed, 20 minutes to drive to the gym, a 10 minute warmup, an hour workout, a 10 minute cool-down, some time in the sauna or steam-room, a shower, and the 20 minute drive home. Fortunately, you can get an intense HIIT workout done from the comfort of your own home or neighborhood in as little as five minutes. 

3. Reading - Just as nutrition and exercise are good for the body, reading is time to work on your mind. Reading books is a great way to remain present, and learn new information, or just enjoy a really cool story. Reading can boost creativity, intelligence, and can even reduce stress and inflammation. The biggest excuse that I hear when it comes to people not reading is the fact that 'they don't enjoy it'. My guess is that if you don't enjoy reading, you've only read the books that they forced you to read in high school. There are so many amazing books out there, and even if you only read for 10 minutes or 10 pages a day, you'll be sure to see some benefits in your life.

4. Sleep - Sleep is usually thrown to the side as unimportant, when in fact, it's one of the most important parts of our lives. Poor sleep quality or length can cause a multitude of health issues, both with our body and our mind. Getting proper sleep is so important for long-term health and happiness, and using the excuse 'I don't have time' is irrelevant. No matter what is going on in your life, sleep should always be a priority. And even if for some reason you can't make more time for sleep, at least work on improving your sleep quality. You can grab our Better Sleep Blueprint here.

5. Wake Up Early - Personally, this is my favorite. Waking up early and creating a routine that focuses on you is the best way to set yourself up for a less stressed and more successful day. The average person hits snooze multiple times every morning, and then checks their phone or goes to do something for someone else immediately when they start their day. This causes unneeded stress, and if you were to make even 5 minutes in the morning to relax and focus on yourself, your days would improve tenfold. The most common excuse I hear for this 'I'm not a morning person', and it's one that I used to use as well. But if you focus on getting better sleep, and focus on creating a consistent routine in the morning, things get a lot easier a lot more quickly. Try it out. And if you're looking for a place to start, make sure you check out the Early Risers Course.

Quotes To Ponder And Share: