Daily Habits of Highly Successful People You Can Adopt Today

Daily habits of successful people—man, they sound so fancy, right? Like, I’m just sitting here in my Seattle apartment, surrounded by empty coffee cups and a pile of laundry I swear I’ll fold tomorrow. I’m tryna channel some Bezos-level hustle, but my desk looks like a tornado hit it, and I’m pretty sure I just saw a dust bunny move. I’ve been messing around with these success habits, and let me tell you, it’s been a hot mess—sometimes literally, like when I spilled oat milk on my keyboard last week. Here’s my unfiltered, slightly embarrassing take on what I’ve learned about the daily routines of high achievers, straight from my chaotic life in the US.

Why These Success Habits Are Kinda a Big Deal

So, I used to think habits were just boring stuff, like flossing or whatever. But then I read about people like Michelle Obama and that guy who invented Post-its (I think? I’m too lazy to Google it), and their daily habits are, like, super deliberate. It’s not just doing stuff—it’s doing stuff that makes you better. I tried this journaling thing I saw on Forbes, and I swear, I wrote “buy socks” five times in one entry. But even that disaster showed me something: little actions add up, even if you’re a scatterbrain like me. It’s like, consistency is the secret sauce, y’all.

My Disastrous Attempt at Morning Routines

Okay, morning routines are supposed to be this magical thing for successful people. I read that some CEO wakes up at 4 a.m. to “seize the day.” Bruh, I can barely seize my phone without dropping it. Last Tuesday, I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. to try this “productive routine” thing. I hit snooze four times, tripped over my sneakers, and ended up “meditating” for 30 seconds before my neighbor’s lawnmower kicked in. But I kept at it, and now I’m up to three minutes of deep breathing before I panic about emails. This Harvard Business Review article says small wins are everything, and I’m starting to believe it.

The Daily Habits of Successful People I’m (Kinda) Nailing

Alright, let’s talk about the success habits I’m actually trying. Some work, some make me feel like I’m faking it, but here’s the rundown:

• Morning Journaling: I read about this “morning pages” thing where you write three pages of whatever’s in your head. My first page was just me ranting about how I hate my neighbor’s dog. But it’s kinda cathartic? Like, it clears my brain fog, even if I’m just whining about burnt toast.
• Time Blocking: I saw this on Inc.com, and it’s supposed to make you super productive. I block out 25 minutes for emails, but I still end up scrolling X for cat videos. Yesterday, I watched a parrot sing Beyoncé during my “work block.” Oops.
• Moving My Body: Every high achiever seems to exercise. I’m not about that gym life, so I started walking around my block. Last week, I got so into a true-crime podcast that I walked into a bush. My shins are still mad, but my brain feels clearer.

The Embarrassing Side of These Productive Routines

Real talk: trying these daily habits of successful people has been humbling as hell. I thought I’d be all zen and productive by now, but nah. I tried this “no screens for an hour” thing, and I lasted nine minutes before checking X for memes. Also, I attempted that “drink a gallon of water” habit because some tech bro swears by it. I just ended up running to the bathroom every 15 minutes and forgetting my keys at a café. My point is, these success routines aren’t about being perfect—they’re about showing up, even when you’re a walking disaster like me.

How I’m (Barely) Making These Success Habits Stick

Here’s the deal: I’m not some high achiever (yet), but I’m figuring out how to make these daily success tips work. My apartment smells like burnt popcorn right now because I got distracted writing this, but I’m learning. One trick I found on Psychology Today is habit stacking—pair a new habit with something you already do. Like, I journal right after I brush my teeth. It’s not glamorous, but it’s something. Also, I’m cutting myself some slack for messing up. That’s the real tea—successful people just keep going, even when they suck at it.

My Weird Obsession with Gratitude

Okay, this one’s super cheesy, but stick with me. Writing down three things I’m grateful for every night is low-key life-changing. Last night, I wrote: “1. Didn’t burn dinner. 2. Found my favorite hoodie under the couch. 3. Only cried once today.” It’s dumb, but it makes me feel less like the universe hates me. There’s legit science behind this—this UC Berkeley study says gratitude rewires your brain for good vibes. Who’d have thought?

Wrapping Up My Chaotic Take on Success Routines

So, yeah, I’m not out here waking up at 4 a.m. or running triathlons, but I’m starting to get why daily habits of successful people matter. It’s not about being flawless—it’s about showing up, even when you spill oat milk or walk into a bush. My Seattle apartment’s still a disaster, my plants are basically dead, but I’m journaling, walking, and tryna be less of a trainwreck. If I can do it, you can too. Pick one habit—just one, seriously—and give it a whirl. Hit me up in the comments or on X (@TotalMessButTrying) to tell me what you’re trying. What’s your favorite success habit? Or, like, are you as bad at this as I am?