Editor’s note: This article was first published in September 2014; Matt Mayberry’s job titles, as founder and CEO of Matt Mayberry Enterprises and a frequent Entrepreneur contributor, are as of that year.
Matt Mayberry describes himself as a peak performance strategist, the founder and CEO of Matt Mayberry Enterprises and a frequent contributor to the well-known magazine Entrepreneur. Here, Matt talks about how easily people and business owners fall into routine and monotony in their careers, getting stuck and missing opportunities. And to address that, he talks about a set of daily habits.
Many people get used to having an average day, where everything is scheduled and mostly already done. And so we gradually get used to the slow loss of interest that sets in.
Matt gives us 20 tips to make every day count, so that each day is exciting and full of passion and, above all, helps us move forward in life towards our goals. Not all of these habits are proven to work, but I fully agree with most of them.
These are 20 daily habits that can change your life
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Every day, picture yourself beyond your current circumstances. Have a dream, and keep that dream with you throughout the day.
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Take consistent action.
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Spend a few minutes alone to think and visualise (a habit common among people in creative professions).
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Write your most important goal on a card and look at it every day. It will help you remember that you are fighting to achieve something.
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Drink plenty of water. It is impossible to perform at your best and reach your full potential if you are dehydrated. Both body and mind need water.
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Eat to win. We are what we eat. So if we eat junk food, what does that make us? Diet also affects our performance.
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Sweat. One of the best productivity tools is exercise. It doesn’t matter whether it is at the gym or at home. Set aside at least 25 minutes every day to exercise.
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Read a book for at least 15–20 minutes a day. Just as our body needs physical exercise, our mind needs to be exercised in the relaxed state that reading brings. And if what we read is productive, we will be learning as well.
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Spend your time with people who add something to your life. Remember that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Choose your company wisely.
(Read: The world’s most successful people have these 7 things in common)
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We spend a lot of time in the car. Use it to switch off the radio and listen to podcasts or audiobooks. That way, even the time lost in traffic jams will not be wasted, but productive.
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Keep a work journal. Write down your thoughts, ideas and strategies. Learn not to rely on your memory alone, because the truth is that many ideas are abandoned simply because they are forgotten.
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Think of five things you are grateful for at that very moment. You will learn to appreciate what you have, because there is always something to be grateful for. Remember that the secret of success is not just getting things we don’t have. It is about using what we have to achieve what we don’t.
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Snack on almonds. They are a great source of protein and other minerals and vitamins that boost your energy levels and keep your performance at its peak.
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He also recommends saying “I love you” often every day to the people who mean a lot to us. If you don’t want to go that far, at least learn to thank many of the people around you for the work they do every day. Showing gratitude will bring you more positive results. After all, we receive what we give out.
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Treat others exactly as you want to be treated. In business and in life in general, this really matters. There is never a reason to be discourteous or rude to the people we deal with, except for those occasional exceptions.
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The green smoothie. Instead of reaching for caffeine, on some days turn to an energising and healthy green smoothie. Matt says one of his favourites is made with organic spinach, apple, lemon juice, three celery stalks and ginger root. I think I’ll stick with coffee, but if anyone feels brave enough to try that stomach-turner, let us know how it goes 🙂
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Write down some inspiring and motivational quotes. When you are having a bad day, turn to them. After all, they are the thoughts of people who remind you how important it is to stay centred and focused on a goal. (Read: 23 motivational quotes for entrepreneurs, and also: 50 inspiring quotes from successful business people for entrepreneurs.)
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Cut out all distractions. When it is time to work, work. When it is time to relax, relax. Keep some discipline with social media while you are working. We all know that sometimes what starts as a five-minute break somehow ends with us waking up an hour later in some strange YouTube video.
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Take full responsibility for your actions at work and in life. Own your mistakes at all times and don’t blame others for your own errors.
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Above all, take time to grow. Find productive ways to broaden your knowledge in different areas, both professionally and personally.
Basically, the idea is that every day should be useful for our growth and our goals, and that each day, instead of being mediocre, ends up being one more day that moves us forward along the right path. It is about adopting winning habits.
See also: 25 habits of successful people
Featured image: Joanna Slodownik from secaucus, nj, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
