Success is not something that is built overnight. It takes a gradual process and a one step at a time approach. Building effective habits is the foundation of personal growth and this personal growth eventually leads to success.

Most successful people remain successful and wealthy by consistently practicing productive habits that help them stay focused and on track. 

Except you are born into a wealthy family, there are essential and productive habits you need to cultivate for success. How do you form these habits and ensure that they are sustainable and lead to actual success? In this article we will walk through 15 practical and research backed ways to build productive habits for success.

15 Ways to Build Productive Habits for Success 

Let’s dive in:

1. Create a Morning Routine 

Someone once told me that 6am is the time legends are either going to bed or waking up from sleep. I thought of the reason behind the statement and then I found out from previous studies and research that 8.1% of the entire world population wakes up around that time.

This is because it is a peak hour of the morning and the time people feel more energetic to begin the day.

However, you don’t necessarily have to adopt an exact wake up time to be successful as what works for one may not work for another. Do what works for you; create a routine that works and aligns with your work schedule and lifestyle. What matters in the end is that we all arrive at our intended destination which is success.

2. Start Small and be Consistent 

Building productive habits does not happen overnight; neither does it require a drastic measures or change. It requires just doing small things and being consistent at it. 

In fact, it is more effective to start small and be focused and consistent than trying to hop on all the big things at once and become overwhelmed by them in the end. 

Start with small doable goals to avoid overwhelming yourself. For example, if you want to build a reading habit, you can start with reading 3-5 pages a day and gradually increase it as you get used to it.

In order to maintain momentum, it is also very crucial to make a plan on how to stay consistent even on days you’re weak and not feeling motivated. For example, you can download a reading app to your phone so that even when you cannot read on your phone, you will just set it to read your set pages even while you are lying down.

3. Practice Mindfulness 

Mindfulness is one good way to build productive habits for success. Being conscious and mindful of the things you do and the things you’re surrounded with, such as;

• Simple and mental exercises like meditating
• Taking deep breaths
• Thinking of the positive things and your present wins helps you stay present, focused and calm. 

It improves your mental clarity and productivity. 

4. Leverage the Power of Reward 

Reward reinforces positive behaviour and enhances productiveness, no doubt. Never ignore a milestone you’ve achieved. 

There’s this boost that reward gives to people. The power of positive effects of reward cannot be ignored when it comes to success. It is like a catalyst that spurs our inner creativity and the zeal to push further.

So cultivate the habit of taking yourself out of that circle of individuals that their goals in life don’t align with your own. You’re likely going to be successful surrounded by like minded people and goal getters.

6. Tie Habits to Routines 

7. Eliminate Frictions/Minimize Distractions 

The first step is to identify your biggest distractions and try to eliminate them. This could mean putting your phone on flight mode when studying to avoid being distracted by notifications, sounds, calls or other unnecessary messages. Or even wearing noise -cancelling headphones to work.

Also, keep your work space neat and organised. An organised and clean environment helps you to think clearly with a clear vision of your direction. Avoiding or removing distractions makes habits easier to adopt. These distractions could be external or internal but the goal is to eliminate it whichever form it comes in. 

For example, when I resumed school this year, I noticed that I spend more time planning what to eat than I spend on other important things so, I had to stop thinking or planning what to eat and settle for any food available because I have a lot of other important things to plan and think about.

8. Have Accountability Partners 

Having someone to track your progress with you is an added advantage. 

It makes you remember that you are accountable to someone and therefore, you’d thrive not to disappoint them because disappointing them feels like disappointing yourself as well. 

9. Plan Your day 

It is a productive habit to plan the day—each day as it comes. 

Using this metric, tasks are done sequentially just as it is in the metrics. Most important things are done first, i.e the tasks that must be done that day, followed by the less important ones.

In this generation, we can not deny that our phones and other gadgets are one of the greatest enemies to productive habits. We’re often carried away by one message or TV scene.

Just as subconscious little acts gradually become habits, whether they’re good or bad acts. Most successful people we know and hear about and probably think they have more hours and time than us make use of the same 24 hours with us. 

How would you know if you are using too much screen time? 

Compare the time you spend on the screen for something unproductive and the time you spend on important things, if the former is more than the latter, then you have your answers. Minimize your screen time.

12. Learn to say no

Saying no is often seen as a bad trait but there are times that we really need to say no. Saying no to unnecessary obligations, personal cravings, unrealistic requests from friends or colleagues etc. could be just the first step we need to achieve a lot of things as it concerns productive habits.

When you say no to certain things at certain times, people get accustomed to your pattern. They will adjust and respect your choices.

13. Take Breaks 

This idea may seem contrary to most things that has been said especially for business owners and entrepreneurs who are used to utilizing every productive minute of the day.

However, it is important to know that working without breaks can lead to both mental and physical breakdown. 

So you have to take breaks when you work for hours, it is important to take a break to relax and replenish your energy. It also helps to refocus and think clearer.

14. Learn From Your Mistakes and Failures 

See failures and mistakes as opportunities to try again and this time even better. Failures and mistakes are an inevitable part of life’s journey but, how we view or take the setback determines the impact on us. 

We should not let our setbacks and mistakes derail our progress. Get used to the fact that it may not always go well and use this realism to your advantage by getting back up and trying again each time you fail, even when you’re unsure of what the outcome will be.

15. Reduce Unnecessary Meetings 

Unnecessary meetings can take a huge part of your productive time, if you are not disciplined enough to cut them down. 

According to recent research, the average professional spends 21.5 hours per week in meetings. That is more than half of the working hours in a week. Now, imagine if these meetings are reduced or avoided and the time used for something productive. 

One good way to know if a meeting is unnecessary is by gathering reviews or conducting an audit to ensure that the meetings you have are important, productive and valuable. With that, you can remove the unnecessary meetings.

Benefits of Building Productive Habits for Success 

Cultivating tenacity and resilience. Jim Rohn, an entrepreneur and author, once said, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

Productive habits will equip you to become a strong and excellent leader.

Productive habits will make you efficient, and more productive.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Build Productive Habits for Success 

Building productive habits is a journey that requires consistent efforts and enthusiasm. 

The above tips are proven ways to build productive habits for success. Building productive habits is not difficult, however, it might be exhaustive but it’s achievable. 

Make use of productivity apps like To-do list, Todoist to enhance your productivity. Explore some apps that could help with your planning and tracking of your progress and choose the ones that work best for you. 

Also, reward yourself. Rewards have a major influence on our mental and physical productivity.

Finally, use the above tips to start and never stop building.

FAQs

What are Productive Habits?

Productive habits are routines that help individuals manage time, prioritize tasks and strike a balance between their work and lifestyles.

Why are productive habits important?

Productive habits are important because they help you become a better individual and it is the vehicle that drives you to success.

How do I start building productive habits?

You can start building productive habits by setting clear and SMART goals. Prioritizing your tasks and being consistent with it. 

What could be obstacles in building productive habits?

Some obstacles are social media, frequent and unnecessary hang outs, procrastinations, surrounding yourself with people with negative influence.

How can I stay productive and consistent?

You can stay productive, motivated and consistent by starting small and eventually incorporating others when the previous has ingrained.