When people talk about success, they usually focus on big moments—grades, opportunities, wins, or luck. What I rarely hear discussed is habits. School never taught me how powerful they are, yet they quietly shape almost everything in life.
Not the kind of habits that look impressive at the time. Not overnight transformations. Just the small things we do every day without thinking much about them.
What time we wake up.
How we spend our free time.
What we do when we’re bored, stressed, or tired.
These choices may not feel important, but over time, they influence who we become.
Why Habits Matter More Than Motivation
Motivation is unpredictable. Some days it’s there. Many days, it isn’t.
Habits are different. Once they’re built, they run automatically. Research in behavioral psychology shows that a large percentage of our daily actions happen on autopilot. That means our future isn’t shaped by the big decisions we make once in a while, but by the small decisions we repeat consistently.
This explains why two people with similar talent can end up in completely different places. One built habits that quietly worked in their favor. The other relied on intention alone. And intention without repetition doesn’t compound.
Habits don’t guarantee success, but they shift the odds in your favor.
And when you start early, that advantage compounds.
Identity Comes Before Results
One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve learned is that habits aren’t really about what you want to achieve. They’re about who you’re becoming.
Instead of focusing only on outcomes like success, discipline, or financial independence, a better question is:
What kind of person would naturally make the choices that lead there?
When you value focus, reading instead of scrolling stops requiring motivation.
When you respect your future self, wasting time starts to feel uncomfortable.
And when you want freedom, learning how money works early becomes a natural choice.
Habits are evidence of identity. Every small action is a vote for the kind of person you’re becoming.
Why I Took My Phone Out of My Room
One of the most impactful habit changes I’ve recently made is keeping my phone out of my room at night and waking up at five.
Before this, my nights and mornings looked very different.
On weekends, I’d wake up around eight or nine, grab my phone, and scroll for at least an hour—Instagram, YouTube, random videos, “day in the life” content. People living lifestyles I told myself I wanted.
It felt harmless. Just entertainment. But underneath, something else was happening.
I felt drained before my day even started. Unproductive but stuck. Like I should be doing something better while doing nothing at all.
Comparison crept in quietly. I wasn’t building my own life. I was consuming everyone else’s. The more I watched, the less motivated and confident I felt.
That’s when I decided something had to change.
The Five A.M. Switch
I got the idea from The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma. What stood out to me was learning that the body naturally becomes more alert in the early morning hours. By waking up before notifications, messages, and distractions, I created a quiet window to think clearly instead of reacting to the world. Sharma calls this the Victory Hour.
From five to six in the morning, I follow a simple structure:
For the first twenty minutes, I move. Pushups, crunches, squats. Nothing fancy. No gym. Just enough to get my heart rate up and prove to myself that I can do something hard early in the day.
For the next twenty minutes, I reflect. I meditate, write down what I want to get done, list what I’m grateful for, and get any negative thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
For the final twenty minutes, I grow. I read. No phone. No notifications. Just learning and clarity.
That single hour sets the tone for everything that follows.
Proactive Versus Reactive Mornings
There is a huge difference between starting your day proactively and starting it reactively.
Before, my phone decided how my day felt. Now, I do.
When your day begins with distractions, your mind stays scattered. When it begins with movement, reflection, and learning, that focus carries forward.
I am not waking up early to be impressive. I am waking up early to protect my attention.
What These Habits Changed for Me
The changes weren’t dramatic at first. There was no overnight transformation, but they compounded.
I’m more patient when things take longer. My attention doesn’t wander as easily. I scroll less without forcing it. My mood feels more stable.
Most importantly, I trust myself more. Not because of results, but because I’m keeping promises to myself.
Cutting out habits like binge watching, endless Instagram scrolling, and late-night YouTube didn’t make my life boring. It made me focused. It stopped me from wishing for someone else’s life and pushed me to start building my own.
Why Habits Come First
Before investing.
Before leadership.
Before success.
Habits are the foundation.
If you can’t manage your time, money won’t save you.
If you can’t lead yourself, titles won’t help.
If you can’t delay comfort, freedom stays out of reach.
I’m still building my habits. I still mess up. But paying attention to them and taking small, intentional actions have already changed how I think, focus, and move through my days.
These habits are quiet. But they are shaping the person I am becoming.
