Looking to copy the habits of rich people? Anyone can incorporate these simple, everyday habits into their life
Ever wondered why the rich keep getting richer? The gap between the rich and the poor only continues to grow.
Why is this so? There are probably a million reasons (or excuses) we can make to say why we aren’t rich. But the truth is it comes down to us and our daily habits.
I have been fascinated by self-made millionaires and entrepreneurs.
What is it about them that makes them special? Are they smarter? More determined? Is it their genetics? I humbly believe there’s nothing special about them.
It all boils down to their mentality and their habits. Habits are the root of everything in our lives. Our successes and failures depend upon what we do every day.
Not-So-Secret Habits Of The Wealthy
Keep Track Of Their Money
Rich people have strong control over their finances. They aren’t compulsive spenders and they create and keep budgets. Rich people know every dollar that comes in and every cent that goes out. They are always in complete control over their finances.
Personal finance is a skill that anyone can learn and educate themselves on. Unfortunately, for many of us, finance isn’t taught in schools so we lack the skills and abilities to make correct financial decisions.
Very few adults are financially literate! If you are completely new and overwhelmed by the world of personal finance, consider reading Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover.
Don’t Avoid Risk
I have never met a rich person that hasn’t lost money. However, I have met plenty of poor people that have never lost a penny (in terms of investing).
Rich people take calculated risks and aren’t scared to lose some money in the process. Are you terrified of losing even $50? What about $50,000?
I’m not telling you to throw all your life savings into a stock (especially when you know nothing about stocks), but what I am telling you is the greater the risk, the greater the reward; and rich people know this! They take calculated risks to get richer.
If you’re new to taking a calculated risk, perhaps consider signing up for Acorns. A simple and easy way to invest your spare change.
You can decide how aggressive or conservative you want to be with your portfolio. It’s a nice way to get your feet wet in the world of risk and investments.
The automatic roundups at Acorns make saving and investing easy, and most investors will be surprised by how quickly those pennies accumulate.
They Read. A Lot
Rich people read a lot of nonfiction and self-help books. They are constantly trying to learn and better themselves in some capacity.
Consistent learning and growth is the key to success. The most successful business leaders in the world read every day. Warren Buffet reads 500 pages every day. Mark Cuban says he read for three hours a day.
What do rich people read? According to Corley, 88% of wealthy people read for self-improvement, verses 2% of poor people who do the same.
As most wealthy people are self-employed, they are constantly trying to learn and educate themselves. The downside of a 9-to-5 can sometimes be you start lacking the motivation to learn more as your salary doesn’t necessarily increase when your knowledge does.
Motivate yourself to read more and actively learn more. Fair warning: You might become an entrepreneur the more you read (that’s what happened to me).
Have Big Dreams
I’m not talking about wanting a big house and a nice car, rich people have dreams far bigger than that. And a lot of the times, their dreams seem unreachable to their peers.
You know that quote, “shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.” That’s basically the philosophy of many of the richest men in America.
Now, you don’t have to be Elon Musk and dream of a petroleum-free world, but you should have some underlying motivating factor that pushes you strongly towards your dreams.
When you dream big and constantly focus on what you want, small hurdles or roadblocks won’t stand in your way.
Value Their Time Over Everything
Time is the only thing in this world money can’t buy. The rich don’t exchange their time for money the way the poor do. But they do realize that time is money and focus their efforts on productive activities.
The best way for you to work on valuing your time (even if you work in a 9 to 5) is seeing where you are wasting time.
Things like email, social media, and small talk with colleagues can really take up a large chunk of your day where you can be productive and get some serious work done.
Avoid Television
Rich people are more creators than consumers so they don’t spend a lot of time watching television. This goes back to valuing their time above all things. Unfortunately, shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashian won’t add much (if any #sorrynotsorry) benefit to your life.
You don’t have to throw out your TV, simply put a time limit on yourself. Personally, I don’t allow myself to watch more than one 30-minute episode a day.
If I didn’t have this self-imposed limit on myself, I would watch four episodes of The Office daily and never have time to create this blog.
Value Relationships
Relationships, like time, can’t be bought. Rich people know there is an unmeasurable value in friendship and networks. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can be crucial to your success (or failure) in life.
Focus on creating meaningful, positive relationships in your life and letting go of any that are toxic or no longer serve you.
There’s nothing wrong with outgrowing people and finding new friendships that are more aligned with the life you want to lead.
Exercise
It should come as no surprise that rich people exercise. Exercise is such a great way to de-stress and take care of your body. On top of this, it helps you stay focused and improves your mood. When I’m happier, I tend to be much more productive and motivated.
If you struggle to hit the gym, try to see exercise as a privilege and not a chore. Instead of creating physical goals, like ‘I Wanna weigh 110 lbs” or “I want abs,” simply workout to try and feel good.
Find activities you genuinely enjoy. If you hate running, then don’t run! Try yoga or a kickboxing class. There are so many options out there.
Go To Bed Early
No, this won’t make you a grandma! Going to bed early and getting a good nights sleep is essential to being productive the following day.
Set up a nighttime routine so you can guarantee you get a sufficient amount of sleep. An hour before you scheduled bed-time, turn your phone of and limit TV time. Brush your teeth, get cozy, and maybe read or write for a bit.
A healthy adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. If you are working (or watching tv) until 2-am most nights, you are very likely to get burnt out and demotivated.
They Cultivate Patience
Rich people know Rome wasn’t built in a day. They are aware that they have to put in some effort upfront and spend months (or even years) before they can reap the rewards.
In this world we live in where we get instant gratification from things like social media, you would really do yourself a favor to slow down, take a deep breath, and take things day by day. You have to find the joy in the journey. If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t enjoy the outcome.
If you have trouble practicing patience, consider a meditation practice or some yoga!
They Act
How often are you talking about your dreams and plans and they end up being just that? All talk.
Rich people talk less and do more!
Instead of just telling people what you want to achieve, why not show them? Rich people go above and beyond their job description. If you see something that needs to be done, do it! Don’t leave it for someone else. Start taking more initiative in your job or even your personal life.
They Don’t Give Up
How many things have you started and quit when things got hard? If you’re a chronic quitter, this is THEreason you aren’t rich and successful.
Rich people don’t quit. When they have their mind set on a goal, they are determined and become passionate about achieving their goals at all costs.
This one might be a harder habit than the others to develop simply because it can be engrained in you from a young age to just give up on things.
I gave up on things constantly as a child (painting, games, horseback riding), and what’s helped me become much more persistent and determined as an adult is writing down my goals and dreams on a piece of paper (or vision board) and placing it somewhere I see every day. Constantly seeing your dreams and goals is a great motivator.
Although I’ll have days I’m more productive and determined than others, I am still 100% focused on my goals and dreams and push through because I have that constant reminder.
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