Success doesn’t come about from sheer willpower or working longer hours. It starts with building the right habits.
As CEO at JobAdder, I’ve learned that staying productive, managing stress, and maintaining a balanced mindset isn’t something that happens by chance. It’s intentional. For me, it all comes down to daily habits and weekly rituals that help me remain positive, focused, and energised.
Here’s a look at the five daily habits that serve as my foundation.
1. Exercise, no matter what
Exercise has been non-negotiable for me for over 20 years. I realised way early on in my career that I felt twice as good on the days I exercised compared to the days I didn’t.
So it made sense to make it part of my daily routine – and it’s something I never skip. Whether it’s swimming, surfing, yoga, or running, I make sure to move every day.
Swimming as part of a squad in particular has been a game-changer. That’s because it combines four key benefits:
- Cardio and endurance: It provides a full-body workout that strengthens both my body and mind.
- Community: Training with a squad creates a sense of camaraderie, accountability, and motivation. We push each other to work harder and go beyond our personal bests, and we take the time to celebrate our wins together.
- The power of water: There’s something primal and calming about being submerged. It helps clear the mind.
- Breath control: Swimming requires regulated breathing, which doubles as a form of breathwork, naturally reducing stress and improving focus.
This combination makes exercise not just about fitness but also about mental clarity and emotional resilience.
2. Practicing mindfulness, especially self-compassion
Mindfulness is about being aware of your thoughts rather than letting them control you. As a CEO, my days are packed with meetings, decisions, and problem-solving. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of self-criticism and pressure. That’s why mindfulness, especially self-compassion, plays a crucial role in my routine.
During meditation, I make it a point to check-in with myself. If my inner dialogue turns negative or critical, I intentionally redirect it with self-affirmation. That means literally saying things to myself like: “You did a good job. It’s OK to take a break. You don’t have to do it all right now.”
This small but powerful practice keeps me grounded and prevents burnout.
3. Meditation-led power naps
I used to follow a structured meditation routine, but over time, I found a more natural rhythm by combining it with power naps. Every afternoon, I take 10-20 minutes to meditate, whether that’s in my car or at home.
What typically happens is that as I begin focusing on my breath, allowing my mind to clear, I naturally doze off. After about 10 or so minutes, my body wakes itself up, just at the right moment. This quick reset completely recharges me for the second half of the day.
The key is keeping it short – anything longer than 20 minutes can leave you feeling groggy. But within that sweet spot, it’s like hitting a mental refresh button.
4. Creating analog bookends to the day
In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s easy to start and end the day glued to screens. But I’ve learned that my energy, focus, and even sleep improve dramatically when I create boundaries with technology.
That’s why I follow an “analog bookends” approach:
- Mornings: I avoid turning on my phone for at least 30 minutes after waking up. This prevents me from diving straight into emails or notifications, and allows me to start the day on my terms.
- Evenings: I switch my phone to sleep mode usually by 8.30 or 9.30pm, ensuring I have at least an hour of screen-free time before bed. This small shift has made a huge difference in my ability to unwind and sleep deeply.
Technology should work for us, not the other way around. Setting these boundaries helps me stay present, focused, and less reactive throughout the day.
5. Gratitude at family dinner time
Gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to shift your mindset and sustain positivity. With my family, we make it a point to share something we’re grateful for every evening at dinner. It can be as simple as appreciating a moment of good weather, a kind gesture from a colleague, or a small personal win.
This daily ritual reinforces a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity. It’s easy to dwell on what went wrong in a day, but this practice trains the brain to find the good, no matter what.
Investing in habits for long-term success
Someone once shared a piece of advice with me: “When things are going well, meditate for 20 minutes a day. When things are not going well, meditate for an hour.”
It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s a reminder that in times of stress, we often sacrifice the very habits that keep us strong.
When I add up my daily habits – i.e. exercise, power naps, mindfulness, gratitude, and analog time – it comes to about two hours a day. That’s a significant time investment, but here’s the thing: those two hours make my remaining 14 waking hours far more productive, focused, and fulfilling.
By prioritising these habits, I’m not just working harder, I’m working smarter. And ultimately, that’s what allows me to show up as my best self, both as a leader and as a person.
