Entrepreneurs, world leaders and professional athletes all have one thing in common: They all have some quirky habits.
In the world of sports, strange habits like spitting on the ground and even clapping have been credited with improving athletes’ performance. But, is there something to this beyond superstition? It turns out that maintaining a few small, ritualistic habits can have a potentially measurable effect on performance. By some accounts, 45 percent of folks admit they carry out some kind of ritual before they tackle a difficult piece of work.
These four habits might not be as strange as those rituals, but at least we can explain why they will improve your performance and attitude.
1. Get to work (a little) early
Let’s start with the basics, shall we? Getting to work earlier than you need to might not sound great, but as a habit, it has the potential to improve your mindfulness and your outlook. Let’s break it down. Getting to work early includes:
- Picking out your clothes at night before you go to bed.
- Having a lunch made the night before.
To be clear: We’re not encouraging you to get to work hours early, or even a half-hour early. The goal is merely to cut down on the inherent anxiety of waking up at a fixed time, taking care of your morning constitutionals and then braving savage rush hour traffic, with the intention of arriving clear-headed and without any lingering road rage.
The point is, if you leave yourself just a few extra minutes each morning — and do so as a matter of habit — you’ll cut out a lot of frustration and anxiety from your life, and likely improve your mood and performance in the workplace while you’re at it.
2. Leave yourself notes (everywhere)
You never know when inspiration is going to strike. It might be in the shower, on your way to work or in the middle of the night. If you’ve ever sat bolt upright in bed…