Successful people are different from everyone else, but not in the ways you might think. It’s not because they were born into a previously successful family. It’s not because they happened to be born with certain physical or mental traits. It certainly isn’t because they “got lucky” in their lives. Instead, it’s because they have certain tendencies, both natural and developed, that help them make better choices.
These mental habits are common in the highest echelons of successful people, and all of them can be adopted with a simple shift in attitude and perspective:
1. Become more intentional in your actions
Bring your unconscious actions to a conscious awareness by probing yourself about your actions. When you get the urge to check your Twitter feed or scroll aimlessly through Instagram, ask yourself why.
Are you bored? Are you looking for a social connection? Perhaps you’re avoiding a difficult task at hand? Becoming more aware of your attention and where you direct it can be the first step to regaining control of it.
2. Practice forethought
When you have an urge to switch to another site think about the impact this action will have on you downstream in the day.
Will you still be up at 10 p.m. working on that report or will you be relaxing and watching your favorite show? Consider whether the short-term distraction is worth it.
3. Clear your environment of potential distractions
This may seem simple, but leaving your phone in another room can give you the breathing room to focus on the task in front of you. If possible, try to find a quiet space to work in without ambient noise.
4. Use your social media strategically
Rather than scrolling aimlessly, consider a person who you value and then send them a message telling them you’re thinking of them.
This will be a much more meaningful social interaction that can give you the gratification you may be looking for when the impulse is to scroll through your feed.
5. Take breaks proactively before your resources get exhausted
Develop a good sense of your level of available cognitive resources and when you feel them waning, take a break.
A walk outside is best, or even a quick stretch, but even simple, easy activities, like cleaning your desk to playing a quick game can help you replenish.
6. Keep a regular sleep schedule with good quality sleep
Research shows that as sleep debt accumulates, people’s ability to self-regulate the next day declines correspondingly. We all know it, but getting a regular good night’s sleep can make a world of difference.
Implementing some simple changes in our every day habits can lead to noticeable changes and help us stay focused throughout the day. Above all, Dr. Mark underscores the importance of being self-aware and knowing your tendencies when it comes to distractions.
Understanding your own rhythms of attention and knowing when you might need to take a break can be the key to maintaining control of your focus when being pulled in different directions.
7. They think long term.
Too many people focus on the “right now” decisions–they indulge in the easy path rather than taking a longer or harder path with a better eventual payoff. They react to situations instead of preparing in advance for them. Exceptionally successful people, on the other hand, are always thinking several moves ahead–they see the potential outcomes of their decisions not just in terms of days, but in terms of weeks, months, and years. Renowned theoretical physicist Michio Kaku calls this trait “delayed gratification” and has called it the “hallmark of human intelligence.” The classic analogy here is chess to be victorious, it’s not enough to set yourself up for a good position next turn. The further ahead you think, the greater chance you have at eventually winning.
8. They don’t dwell on the past.
The past is the past. People who focus on the present and future have a better chance at actually doing something productive. Since the past can’t be changed, spending time and energy on it is a waste, and successful people have intrinsically realized this. When successful people fail, they take a moment to learn what went wrong and take that knowledge forward; rather than dwelling on that past failure and sulking, they take this new information and start applying it to the present and future which can be altered.
