Whether they’re big or small, everyone has goals which they set for themselves. Finding the motivation to take action, however, has proven itself to be a difficult task at times.

Some days, despite your best effort you simply can’t seem to focus on what has to be done. Your mind has trouble concentrating and soon enough you find yourself with a handful of tasks nearing their deadlines.

The following habits are some of which have been shown to lead to a series of other productive habits. Simply incorporating one of the habits below in your daily routine may be the piece of the puzzle you were missing to help you live a more productive lifestyle.

Pro Tip: Every person is different than the next, try each and every one of these habits until you find out which works best for you.

Wake up early

We often hear many successful people say they wake up at 5:00am, so why not do the same?

Simply being up earlier can make a drastic change in your daily routine. First, this will allow you more time to focus on tasks without interruption while the world is still asleep so you can accomplish more. Second, your brain tends to be more alert and think more clearly in the morning which means you will have better decision making allowing you to work more effectively. Third, getting out of bed early leaves a sense of accomplishment that will stick with you throughout the day, allowing you to take on whatever life decides to throw at you.

Make your bed in the morning

It only takes a minute, yet, so many of us brush it off with excuses such as “I don’t have time”, “It’s just going to get unmade tonight”, and so on.

Making your bed has been proven to lead to increased productivity and is a great way to kick-start your day. It may only be a small accomplishment but it is enough to get you ready to take-on the day.

The commander of U.S. Special Operations, Admiral William McRaven explained it best: “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.”

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is a great habit that leads to a healthy body and a healthy mind. As discussed in our other article ‘How To Be More Productive‘, research has shown that exercise can make you happier, smarter and more energetic.

Through regular exercise, your mind subconsciously takes action towards a healthier lifestyle. Most people notice an improvement in their diet and tend to stay away from unhealthy foods.

Read

One of the wealthiest people alive, Warren Buffet, claims he read between 600 and 1000 pages per day when he was first starting his investing career. Nowadays, he says he still devotes over 80% of each day to reading.

Reading is a great habit that can lead to increased amounts of productivity and is one of the best ways to acquire knowledge. Oftentimes, reading will have a direct impact on your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re reading a book about money management, you subconsciously be more money conscious and develop more frugal spending habits.

Meditate

Meditation is a powerful tool that has become increasingly popular. It has been proven to help relieve stress, improve brain function, spark creativity, and do so much more. By simply dedicating 15 minutes per day to meditation, you could put your mind at ease, allowing you to focus on important tasks and work more efficiently. Furthermore, it has a series of health benefits such as reduced blood pressure, boosts the immune system, slows the aging process, etc.

Let us know which of these keystone habits you found most useful, or if you have any keystone habits that you use which we may have missed!