After interviewing everyone from CEOs to artists, I discovered the most successful people don't rely on cold showers or miracle morning routines—they share 9 surprisingly simple habits that quietly revolutionized their lives.
Add VegOut to your Google News feed. 
Last month, I found myself at a coffee shop eavesdropping on two entrepreneurs discussing their morning routines. One swore by his 4 AM wake-ups, the other by her evening journaling practice. It got me thinking: what habits do genuinely successful people have in common?
So I decided to find out. Over the past few weeks, I interviewed 40 successful people from different fields. CEOs, artists, athletes, writers, and everyone in between. I asked them one simple question: "What habit changed your life?"
The responses varied wildly at first. Some mentioned specific productivity tools, others talked about diet changes or exercise regimens. But as I dug deeper and asked follow-up questions, clear patterns emerged.
Nine habits kept coming up again and again. Not trendy life hacks or complicated systems, but fundamental practices that shaped how these people approached each day.
What surprised me most? These weren't the habits I expected. No mentions of cold showers or bulletproof coffee. Instead, they were deeper, more sustainable practices that anyone could start today.
1. They protect their morning
Nearly everyone I spoke with had some version of a morning routine they fiercely protected. Not necessarily waking up at 4 AM (though some did), but having control over the first hour of their day.
"I don't check my phone for the first 30 minutes," one tech founder told me. "That small boundary changed everything."
The specifics varied. Some meditated, others exercised, many simply sat with coffee and planned their day. But the common thread was clear: they started the day on their terms, not reacting to other people's demands.
When I started implementing this myself after founding Hack Spirit, the difference was immediate. Those quiet morning moments became my thinking time, where my best ideas emerged.
Try this: Pick one thing you'll do every morning before checking your phone. Even 10 minutes makes a difference.
2. They say no more than they say yes
This one hurt to hear because I used to be terrible at it. Every opportunity felt like it might be "the one," so I said yes to everything.
But successful people? They're ruthless about protecting their time and energy.
"Every yes is a no to something else," a bestselling author explained. "I had to get comfortable disappointing people."
In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I explore how Buddhist philosophy teaches us about the power of restraint. It's not about missing out; it's about focusing on what truly matters.
The most successful people I interviewed had clear criteria for what deserved their yes. Everything else got a polite but firm no.
3. They read every single day
Not a single person failed to mention reading. Every. Single. One.
Some read for 15 minutes before bed. Others carved out an hour in the morning. The medium didn't matter – physical books, audiobooks, long-form articles. What mattered was the consistency.
"Reading is like compound interest for your brain," one venture capitalist told me. "The ideas stack and connect in ways you don't expect."
I've experienced this firsthand. My deep dive into Eastern philosophy didn't just inform my writing; it fundamentally changed how I approach problems and relationships.
The key isn't reading more, but reading consistently. Even a few pages daily adds up to dozens of books per year.
4. They move their body daily
Exercise came up in every conversation, but not in the way you might think. These weren't all gym rats or marathon runners. Many just walked.
"I solve my biggest problems on walks," one CEO shared. "Something about movement unlocks my brain."
The science backs this up. Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain, enhances creativity, and reduces stress hormones. But you don't need a complex workout routine.
Since I started running regularly, my writing has improved dramatically. Not because I'm fitter (though that helps), but because movement creates mental space.
Start small. A 10-minute walk counts. The habit matters more than the intensity.
5. They track something meaningful
Everyone I interviewed measured something important to them. Not vanity metrics, but meaningful indicators of progress.
Some tracked their mood. Others logged their deep work hours. A few kept gratitude journals. The specific metric wasn't as important as the act of paying attention.
"What gets measured gets managed," one entrepreneur said. "But more importantly, what gets measured gets noticed."
When I started tracking my daily writing output for Hack Spirit, patterns emerged. I discovered my peak creative hours and restructured my entire day around them.
Pick one thing that matters to you and track it for 30 days. The insights will surprise you.
6. They have a shutdown ritual
Just as they protected their mornings, successful people were intentional about their evenings. They had clear boundaries between work and rest.
"I write down three wins from the day and close my laptop," one executive explained. "It's a signal to my brain that work is done."
In Buddhism, there's a concept called "right effort" – knowing when to push and when to release. This principle transformed how I approach my work at Brown Brothers Media. Better to work intensely for focused hours than to half-work all evening.
My own shutdown ritual is simple: I review tomorrow's priorities, clear my desk, and physically close my notebook. That tactile action tells my brain it's time to switch modes.
Creating this boundary isn't just about rest. It's about being fully present for whatever comes next, whether that's family time, hobbies, or simply relaxing.
7. They invest in relationships
Success without connection is empty. Every person I interviewed prioritized relationships, but they did it systematically.
Some scheduled regular calls with friends. Others had monthly mentor meetings. Many joined mastermind groups or communities aligned with their values.
"Your network isn't just who you know," one founder said. "It's who you regularly connect with."
This resonated deeply. When I was building Hack Spirit from zero to millions of readers, the relationships I cultivated mattered more than any growth hack. Other creators shared what worked. Readers provided feedback that shaped our content.
Relationships require intention. Schedule them like you would any important meeting.
8. They embrace boredom
In our hyper-connected world, this habit stood out. Successful people actively created space for boredom.
No podcasts on every walk. No scrolling during every wait. Just... space.
"My best ideas come when I'm doing nothing," an artist told me. "Boredom is where creativity lives."
This aligns with everything I've learned about mindfulness. The mind needs unstructured time to process, connect, and create. When we fill every moment with input, we rob ourselves of insight.
Try this: Next time you're waiting somewhere, just wait. Don't pull out your phone. See what bubbles up.
9. They reflect regularly
The final habit that emerged was reflection. Weekly reviews, monthly check-ins, annual planning sessions. Successful people constantly evaluated their direction.
"Most people never stop to ask if they're climbing the right ladder," one executive observed.
This habit has been crucial in my own journey. Regular reflection helped me realize when Hack Spirit needed to evolve, when to bring my brothers into the business, and when to step back from certain projects.
Reflection doesn't require a complex system. Just ask yourself: What's working? What isn't? What needs to change?
Final words
After 40 conversations with successful people, here's what struck me most: none of these habits are revolutionary. They're simple, accessible practices that compound over time.
You don't need to adopt all nine tomorrow. Pick one that resonates and commit to it for 30 days. Once it sticks, add another.
Success isn't built on dramatic transformations. It's built on small, consistent habits that shape who you become.
The question isn't whether these habits work. The evidence is overwhelming. The question is: which one will you start with?
Just launched: Laughing in the Face of Chaos by Rudá Iandê
Exhausted from trying to hold it all together?
You show up. You smile. You say the right things. But under the surface, something’s tightening. Maybe you don’t want to “stay positive” anymore. Maybe you’re done pretending everything’s fine.
This book is your permission slip to stop performing. To understand chaos at its root and all of your emotional layers.
In Laughing in the Face of Chaos, Brazilian shaman Rudá Iandê brings over 30 years of deep, one-on-one work helping people untangle from the roles they’ve been stuck in—so they can return to something real. He exposes the quiet pressure to be good, be successful, be spiritual—and shows how freedom often lives on the other side of that pressure.
This isn’t a book about becoming your best self. It’s about becoming your real self.
