Check out a few of the lifestyle habits of successful women living out their dreams and be inspired by what might be helpful in your day-to-day life:
1. They are lifetime learners who read, read, and read some more.
For Serena Williams, the Bible is her jam; for a transformative boost, The Alchemist does it for Issa Rae, and Regina Hall has sworn by Freedom In Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lamai. It's clear that no matter what industry or career you choose, reading is more than fundamental: It's a must for inspiration, motivation, and reflection.
And so many successful women are either leaders of expansive book clubs (hello, Oprah Winfrey, Tanya Sam, and Gloria Edim!), and Bookstagram communities filled with amazing, educated, savvy women professionals and entrepreneurs are no longer just a trend. They are the norm.
No matter what career you choose, reading is more than fundamental, it's a must for motivation.
2. They find passive ways to grow their wealth.
While a love of money is the root of evil, financial freedom is a must, and successful women don't play about those finances. For some, following a budget or facing debt can seem like a real headache and really not something we want to spend our Friday nights doing, but the full picture of success includes one's financial security. That being said, think about any woman you admire (or who has the receipts of a successful life), and name one who doesn't have her hands in more than one cookie jar of income.
I'll wait. Yep, all of them.
Even the most successful doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur, homemaker, or creative is doing more than one thing to get to the bigger bag, with a good number of them earning passive income.
Some find success via investments (i.e., retirement and/or brokerage accounts, angel investment efforts, real estate, or tax-free savings accounts). If they're not investing, they have side hustles that practically make them money in their sleep or with minimal effort on their part (i.e., through book, course or content publishing, music royalties, voice-only YouTube channels, artwork investments or resales, buying and selling websites---the list goes on and on).
This is not to say you need to be a member of TeamToo-Much--- pushing yourself to the limit toward busted, booked, and busy chasing quantity and not quality. If you can find ways to stretch the value of your time and money, be strategic, match those efforts with your actual passions and skills, and do what works for you.
3. They network across and up, and surround themselves with amazing folk.
Issa Rae took the idea of "networking across" mainstream. If you watch the growth of many of your favorite leaders in their respective fields, you'll notice that there are groups of besties, business partners, and friends who lift one another up as they all climb. From Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny Harris" winning in business, TV production, and music together, to Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah serving as respective powerhouses in Hollywood, to Sherri Shepherd and Niecy Nash holding each other down both personally and professionally, one thing successful women definitely have in common is a good network of friends, associates, and supporters.
Check out the Instagram or TikTok of any successful woman you admire, and you'll probably see some of the same faces at the baby shower, book launch, business opening, conference, or other major event in the photos or videos. They work together on projects, cheer each other on, show up for one another, and are down even in challenging times. They value strong relationships that are balanced, inspiring, and healthy, and they're always thinking about ways to work together for the advancement of their respective groups and those they serve.
Lifting each other up while journeying through success is a common thread shared among successful women.
4. They make mental and physical wellness a No. 1 priority no matter what.
It can seem like we're drilling this into the ground, but prioritizing health and wellness isn't something to take lightly, especially when you're in a glow-up phase or transitioning to ascend to another level in your life and career. You have to be at your best, mentally and physically, to sustain all that comes with being a boss, leading companies, building a business, or giving your best to your job.
Exercise (or some sort of intentional and consistent fitness activity), at least 20 minutes per day, is a common habit among successful CEOs and leaders. Meditation and prayer are also key common activities among successful women who often face quite a few stress triggers throughout their day.
Therapy is also big on the list of habits that boost success, as the practice allows for trauma healing, reflection, emotional release, and simple stress relief.
If you're not into traditional exercise (i.e., pumping up in the gym or running on somebody's treadmill), you can explore other creative ways to incorporate fitness, such as a dance class, walking instead of driving to certain places, taking on Pilates, going for a bike ride, or twisting up in some aerial silks. No matter what size, shape, or lifestyle, adding fitness and wellness habits to your day is a no-brainer when it comes to success.
No matter what walk of life or stage you're in, at least one of these habits could take you that much closer to the life of your dreams. Take a nod from women who have shown that we can continue to be our ancestor's wildest dreams, one step at a time.
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Featured image by alex starnes on Unsplash
