Throughout our journey in this life, we play different roles, sometimes at the same time, sometimes not. We are somebody's child, parent, sibling, colleague, employee, associate, etc. These roles are inherent in our lives, and we learn how to behave and fit in accordingly. We start mimicking in childhood, doing what our referents do, parents, tutors, teachers, mentors, and so on. We develop habits intending to cope with life and get the best of it. 

   However, it happens that, at some point, we realize that we are not achieving our goals. That is because we have become prisoners of our habits. Habits that corner us into some behavior that prevents us from getting satisfactory results. When we become aware of it, we need to start making adjustments, which will impact our careers and our lives.

10 success habits for life

1- Find time for yourself: Introspection and Retrospection. It sounds common sense, but how frequently do you handbrake and listen to your inner voice? It is not easy on how to get started. The first step is to make a firm decision to go ahead and listen because you may not like what it will tell you. Once you are there, find that part of the day that best fits to be with yourself. If it is still hard, let us try some inspiration, doing something you enjoy, such as carpentry, gardening, taking a walk, cooking, or just sitting doing "nothing."  

   Looking back inside and in time will give you that insight you need to understand better what changes you need to make.

2- Organize your life. Life is made up of countless instants.

   Organizing your time is organizing your life, personal y professional. Start from little, then go bigger. List your priorities and start with your day, make a to-do list, a realistic daily plan, and follow it as much as possible. 

3- Keep focus.  It is essential to do your best not to get distracted and lose focus on your priorities over details. 

   A good departing point is going over what you have and taking one step at a time. What are your current resources, and what do you need to get something done?

4- Look for strategies. Use a calendar or planner. Online there are plenty of free options. Use your computer and smartphone to your advantage, programming them with scheduled and recurring calls and meetings, alarms, reminders, stickies, etc.  

5- Resist. The beginning may be more challenging when you see the long road ahead. Well, you have already made up your mind for a change. Repeat to yourself that there is no point turning back. Take little steps to keep you going and carry on.

6- Do your best. You may feel tempted to do as little as possible to be done with things fast. But the truth is that, by doing so, you will be stuck in standard behavior, preventing you from leveraging up your quality of life.

7- Take care of yourself. Spend at least ten or twenty minutes a day taking care of yourself, starting with a hair- cut or getting new clothes to a meditation session, whatever that makes you feel you are investing in yourself.

8- Take care of your body. Everybody knows the benefits of physical activity for the body, from system functionality to weight control and mental health, from increasing mental sharpness to fighting stress and anxiety. Learning breathing techniques might be very useful when facing stressful situations at home and at work. 

9- Think positively. When thinking negatively, we attract the negative. Learning to look at the half-full instead of half-empty is not an easy job, but it is worth it. Get some distance from those people who see problems in everything and get closer to those whose word, example, positive thinking, or whatever you feel from them that can enrich your life.

10- Tell the truth. Once you have lied, you will possibly need another one to cover up the first and so on. Living your life like this, you are setting particular standards that many people will not find comfortable and can also cost you your career. Only those who play similarly will stay around you. When you are treated the same way and feel cheated, you may want to reconsider the value of truth.

What are some bad habits?

1-Do not get too comfortable with half a loaf.In Spanish, there is a saying: “A falta de pan, buenas son las tortas."  The question is if half a loaf be enough for the rest of your life when you know you can get out for more.

2- Do not close yourself off. Negative feelings tend to take us into our inner caves. Go out and look for people you feel you can trust. The burden gets lighter when we share. In your personal and professional life, network not only asking for insights but also giving them from your own experience. You may be of great help to others.

4- Do not give in to your fears. Do not let your brain and emotions tangle you in adverse scenarios. Breathe deeply, evaluate the risks which constitute the baseline of your fears, think of positive alternatives, and take action.

   Habits have a significant effect on our daily lives. If we can adapt and embrace good ones little by little and step by step, they will surely help us shape tailored-made and successful lives and careers.

Hispanic Outlook’s Job Board allows applicants to search for jobs by category, by city and by state.  Both Featured and Latest Job Positions are available at https://hispanicoutlookjobs.com/ 

And for employers, Hispanic Outlook’s Job Board offers a wide variety of posting options.  Further information is available at https://hispanicoutlookjobs.com/employer-products/