I used to think successful people were just 'lucky', until I spent a month observing a CEO, a professional athlete, and a bestselling author. It turned out their secret was not talent, but these ten habits.
1. Morning intake 5–4–3–2–1
Photo by Christian Köpke on Unsplash
(How to beat procrastination before your brain wakes up)
My first morning with the CEO:
5 AM: She was already dressed (no 'just 5 more minutes').
The trick? 'If it takes less than two minutes, do it now.'
Make the bed → Boosts productivity
Drink water → Wake up your brain
Open blinds → Signal 'the day has started'
'When there’s momentum, motivation isn’t needed.'
Want to take your morning to the next level? Here’s a shortcut to the CEO routine. Be sure to check it out for helpful tips.
The millionaire's morning routine you can steal (no need for a 5 AM alarm)
'I used to wake up 10 minutes before the first Zoom call, drink cold coffee, and call it 'morning productivity'. And then I…
medium.com
2. Focused 90
(Why 90-minute work blocks are better than 8-hour marathons)
The athlete's training secret:
Work in 90-minute sprints
Then 30 minutes of complete rest. (no screens!)
Based on ultradian rhythms — the natural cycle of your brain's focus
My test: completed a client project in 3 targeted blocks that used to take 2 exhausting days.
3. The 'What to Stop Doing' list
Photo by Glenn Karstens-Peters on Unsplash
(High achievers subtract first, then add)
The author showed me their 'Not Allowed' list:
✗ Checking email before noon
✗ Meetings without agendas
✗ Saying 'yes' to things that don't inspire him
Your turn: Write down 3 things that you need to stop doing this week.
4. The two-minute rule
(How to prevent small tasks from turning into mental monsters)
Overheard from the CEO's assistant:
'If a task takes <2 minutes, do it NOW.'
Respond to this short letter
Hang up your coat
Wash the coffee cup
Result: 80% fewer 'I'll do this later' ghosts haunting your brain.
5. The power of 'yes or no'
(How high-performing people avoid mediocre commitments)
Athlete's opportunity filter:
If there’s no 'Yes, hell yes!' → It's a 'No'
Saved 11 hours a week by refusing 'maybe' scheduled events
Try this: in your next invite, ask: 'Would I do this if it were tomorrow?'
6. Weekly review
(Why Friday nights make or break high achievers)
The author's ritual:
Celebrate 3 wins (train your brain to recognize progress)
Identify 1 friction point (and eliminate it next week)
Schedule 3 priorities for Monday (to start strong)
My version: 15 minutes every Friday = no Sunday scare.
If you plan to develop these habits, you probably need perfect Sundays, and here’s the shortest path to them.
I'm sure you'll feel cozier just by reading this beauty. Be sure to check it out!
Plan your 'perfect Sundays' — (no productivity hacks allowed)
I used to always think that 'the perfect Sunday' was waking up at 5 AM, writing a plan for the next week, and meal prepping for...
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7. Body energy audit
AltumCode photo on Unsplash
(People who achieve outstanding results don’t ignore their biology)
Athlete's checklist at 3:00 PM:
Have I moved in the last hour?
Do I have enough fluids?
Do I need protein or rest?
The shocking effect: instantly eliminated energy supply failures at 3 PM.
8. Input/output ratio
(Why effective people consume strategically)
Author's media diet rules:
For every hour of scrolling → 30 minutes of reading books
For every binge session → 1 skill development video
My hack: Follow 'no empty scrolling' — always have a learning goal.
9. The 10–10–10 rule
(How to make decisions as a high-performing professional)
The CEO's question for each choice:
How will I feel about this in 10 minutes?
10 months?
10 years?
Used it to: Fire a toxic client, start exercising, call mom more often.
Here’s a brief and simple guide to help you maintain these habits even on bad days.
How to maintain habits (even when you're depleted)
I used to be the queen of abandoned habit trackers — until I discovered the secret that finally made my habits stick…
medium.com
10. Shutdown ritual
Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
(Why successful people don't sleep on the job)
All three did something like this:
Write down 3 main tasks for tomorrow
Close all tabs/apps (physical closure = mental closure)
Say out loud 'done' (signal to your brain to rest)
My result: fell asleep faster, woke up with a clearer mind.
Your turn (start small)
Choose one habit that you'll try this week. I started with item 7 — now I keep almonds on my desk and take meetings while walking.
'But I'm not a CEO/athlete/writer!' I am too. But after 6 months of such habits? I:
Tripled my freelance income
Recovered 12+ hours/week
Finally felt in control of my time.
Applaud 👏 if you've ever felt 'too ordinary' to achieve extraordinary results. You're closer to your goal than you think.
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