The art of being average: 9 ordinary habits that quietly lead to extraordinary results

Ever notice how the most successful people in your life rarely seem to be trying that hard?

I used to think extraordinary results required extraordinary effort. Back when I was grinding away as a financial analyst, I'd watch colleagues who seemed to put in half the effort yet somehow achieved twice the results. It drove me crazy. They'd leave work on time, take actual lunch breaks, and still outperform those of us burning the midnight oil.

Then burnout hit me at 36, and therapy forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: maybe trying to be exceptional at everything was actually keeping me from being exceptional at anything. Maybe the secret wasn't working harder or being more talented. Maybe it was something far simpler.

Since then, I've spent years observing, journaling (47 notebooks and counting), and testing what actually moves the needle in life. What I've discovered might surprise you. The habits that create lasting success aren't glamorous or Instagram-worthy. They're boring, ordinary, and so simple that most people overlook them entirely.

Here are nine average habits that quietly compound into extraordinary results.

1. Reading for just 20 minutes before bed

Forget speed-reading courses or those "read 100 books a year" challenges. The real magic happens when you simply read for 20 minutes each night before sleep.

I started this after leaving my corporate job, when my mind would race with worries about income and career choices. Those 20 minutes became my anchor. Not only did it calm my thoughts, but over time, those pages added up. Twenty minutes daily equals roughly 18 books per year. That's 180 books in a decade.

Think about it: while everyone else scrolls through their phones before bed, you're quietly absorbing wisdom, expanding your vocabulary, and training your focus. You're not trying to impress anyone with your reading list. You're just consistently showing up for those 20 minutes.

The compound effect? Better sleep, deeper knowledge, and conversations that naturally become more interesting. People start asking, "How do you know so much about so many things?" The answer feels almost embarrassingly simple.

2. Writing three things you're grateful for

This one feels so basic it's almost cliche, right? But here's what nobody tells you: gratitude journaling isn't about feeling good in the moment. It's about rewiring your brain to spot opportunities instead of obstacles.

When I first started journaling after therapy, gratitude lists felt forced. "Coffee. Sunshine. Health." Generic stuff. But forcing myself to find three specific things each day trained my brain to scan for positives throughout the day. Now I notice things I would have completely missed before: the way morning light hits my garden, a helpful email from a reader, the satisfaction of finishing a difficult run.

This shift in attention changes everything. Problems become puzzles to solve. Setbacks become stories to tell. You become someone who finds gold where others see dirt. And that quality? It's magnetic. It opens doors. It builds resilience.

3. Making your bed every morning

Yes, really. Making your bed. The most mundane task imaginable quietly sets the tone for your entire day.

When I wake at 5:30 AM for my trail runs, making my bed is the very first thing I do. Takes maybe two minutes. But those two minutes accomplish something profound: I've already succeeded at something before the sun comes up.

Naval Admiral William McRaven wasn't wrong when he said if you make your bed every morning, you've accomplished the first task of the day. It's not about having a Pinterest-perfect bedroom. It's about starting with a win, however small. That tiny sense of accomplishment creates momentum. One completed task leads to another.

Plus, you always come home to a made bed. After a tough day, that simple sight reminds you that you're someone who takes care of things, who finishes what they start.

4. Saying "no" to most things

Warren Buffett once said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

When I worked in finance, I said yes to everything. Every project, every networking event, every favor. I thought being helpful and available would fast-track my success. Instead, it fast-tracked my burnout.

Now? I protect my time like it's my most valuable asset (because it is). I say no to most invitations, most projects, most "quick coffee chats." Not because I'm antisocial, but because saying no to good things leaves room for great things.

This ordinary habit of declining most requests means when you do say yes, you can give it everything. Your yes becomes powerful because it's rare. Your commitments get your full attention because you have so few of them.

5. Taking walks without your phone

Remember when walking was just... walking? Not a chance to catch up on podcasts or scroll through Instagram, but simply moving through space?

Three times a week, I leave my phone at home and just walk. No music, no audiobooks, no tracking my steps. Just me and my thoughts. These phoneless walks have become my secret weapon for problem-solving. Without constant input, my mind has space to wander, connect dots, and generate ideas.

Some of my best article ideas come during these walks. Solutions to problems I wasn't even actively thinking about suddenly appear. It's like my brain finally has the bandwidth to process everything it's been storing.

In our hyper-connected world, the ability to be alone with your thoughts is becoming a superpower. Those who can still access this mental space have an enormous advantage over those who can't.

6. Doing less, but better

Quality over quantity sounds obvious, but actually living it? That's radical in our more-more-more culture.

I write one article per week. Not three, not five. One. But that one article gets my full attention, multiple revisions, careful thought. My running? I don't aim for maximum mileage. I run 20-30 miles weekly, focusing on consistency and enjoyment rather than constantly pushing for more.

This "less but better" approach means you're never stretched thin. You have energy reserves. You can go deep instead of wide. While everyone else is frantically juggling, you're calmly mastering. The result? Your work stands out because it has the depth that rushing doesn't allow.

7. Responding to emails once a day

Check email constantly, and you'll constantly be responding to other people's priorities. Check it once a day, and suddenly you're in control.

I check email at 2 PM. That's it. One session, one time slot. This simple boundary transformed my productivity. Mornings are for deep work, creating, thinking. Afternoons handle the administrative stuff.

People adjust quickly. They learn you're not immediately available, but you are reliably available. The urgent stuff finds another way to reach you (spoiler: almost nothing is actually urgent). Meanwhile, you've reclaimed hours of focused time each day.

8. Going to bed at the same time

Nothing sexy about a consistent bedtime. No one brags about being in bed by 10 PM. But this boring habit quietly enhances everything else in your life.

Since I started waking at 5:30 AM for runs, I'm in bed by 10 PM. No exceptions. No "just one more episode." This consistency means I rarely need an alarm. My body knows the rhythm. I wake up naturally, energized, ready.

Good sleep isn't just about health. It's about showing up as your best self. Better decisions, clearer thinking, more patience, increased creativity. All from the decidedly unglamorous habit of going to bed on time.

9. Finishing what you start

We live in a world of half-finished projects, abandoned courses, and forgotten goals. Being someone who simply finishes things puts you in rare company.

When I decided to leave finance for writing, I gave myself one rule: finish every article I start. Even the terrible ones. Even when I lose interest halfway through. This habit of completion builds trust with yourself. You become someone who follows through.

Finishing isn't about perfection. It's about honoring your commitments to yourself. Each completed project, however small, builds evidence that you're reliable, capable, trustworthy. That self-trust becomes the foundation for taking bigger risks and tackling harder challenges.

The art of average

Looking at this list, nothing here requires special talent, expensive equipment, or radical life changes. These are ordinary habits that ordinary people can do on ordinary days. That's precisely what makes them so powerful.

While everyone else chases the latest productivity hack or life-changing morning routine, you can quietly build extraordinary results through consistent, average actions. No fanfare, no social media documentation, no dramatic transformations.

Just simple habits, repeated daily, compounding quietly in the background of your life. That's the real art of being average: understanding that extraordinary isn't about doing exceptional things, but about doing ordinary things exceptionally well.

The question isn't whether these habits work