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Weird habits of successful people you won’t believe are real

There are 10 weird habits of successful people you have to see it to believe it. The mixture of bizarre routines and odd daily rituals, can reveal how unusual habits can sometimes create success and productivity.

By Click & ClarityPublished 4 months ago 5 min read
Weird habits of successful people you won’t believe are real
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Weird habits of successful people you won’t believe are real

There are 10 weird habits of successful people you have to see it to believe it. The mixture of bizarre routines and odd daily rituals, can reveal how unusual habits can sometimes create success and productivity.

Introduction

We visualize successful people are disciplined, focused and hard workers. We envision early mornings, a detailed plan and the never-ending urge to build.

But what we don’t consider is that behind the polished success story lies a dirty truth: many highly successful people have strange habits that may sound odd - or even unbelievable.

From billionaires that have unwritten routines, to world leaders that have odd tinkering, history has documented that real success sometimes stems from unconventional approaches. Odd habits manufacturer creativity, discipline or focus in others.

In this article, we will look at 10 weird habits of successful people that seem fake but are incredibly true.

If you’re not spurred on to try one (or at least to understand why they’re effective) you’ll hopefully put up with about the experience of reading the article.

One common practice that shocked many of his contemporaries was his habit of sitting by an open window naked every morning, and taking what he called "air baths.

" He believed being naked in fresh air supported good health, and improved blood circulation.

Although odd, modern-day research suggests that fresh air and sunlight may assist with mood and alertness—perhaps Franklin was right.

2. Nikola Tesla Slept Two Hours a Day

Inventor Nikola Tesla had an extremely odd sleeping schedule. Tesla claimed that he only slept two hours a night, and he would frequently work through the night, instead of the normal 7-8 hours of sleep. He believed short naps were enough to eliminate mental fatigue.

Doctors would not recommend this for health reasons, but Tesla credited his odd sleeping habit for his bursts of creativity and innovative discoveries.

3. Steve Jobs Practiced Extreme Simplicity in Clothes

Apple cofounder Steve Jobs famously wore the same outfit on almost every day—a black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. His reason for this was simple; Jobs wanted to conserve mental energy for innovating, which meant less decisions about clothing.

Although this minimalist habit may sound odd, psychologists agree that the steep reduction of small, daily decisions can assist in conserving "decision energe for gigger problems.

4. Winston Churchill Worked from Bed until Noon

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill navigated the United Kingdom through its trials of leadership during World War II, but they were anything but typical mornings for Churchill.

Many times he did not surface from bed until noon, still primed to write letters, read newspapers, and sometimes entertain people under the covers!

What looked a lot like laziness was efficiency, as Churchill simply commandeered his bedroom as a mobile office.

5. Mark Zuckerberg's "Same-Shirt" Ritual

Similar to Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, is known for his gray T-shirt that he wears every day. He claims he does it because he does not want to waste the willpower and energy on which T-shirt to wear.

Essentially, this choice conveys focus and simplicity and illustrates how even billionaires eliminate little distractions.

6. Salvador Dalí Napped with a Spoon in His Hand

The eccentric surrealist painter Salvador Dalí obviously had a strange way of napping. He would sit in chair, hold a spoon above a metal plate, and drift off to sleep. As soon as he fell asleep however, the spoon would drop to the plate and wake him.

This allowed Dalí to nap for just a moment and tap into the weird half-dreaming mode that he believed helped generated ideas and creativity.

7. Elon Musk Schedules His Day in 5-Minute Blocks

As an entrepreneur with multiple companies, Elon Musk has a very unique method of time management. He divides his entire day into 5-minute blocks that he dedicates to a certain task.

Musk's extreme structure helps him cut distractions and maximize productivity any possible way. While it seems exhausting, it demonstrates the pure capabilities of extreme focus.

8. Maya Angelou Hired Hotel Rooms to Write

Most of us grew up with poet and writer Maya Angelou, but she had quite a quirky practice to spur her creativity. She would hire a hotel room, even if she lived next to it.

She took with her a notebook, dictionary, and Bible, then she disconnected from everything until the writing was complete.

This unusual practice illustrates how successfully people arrange uncommon situations to achieve their highest performance.

9. Thomas Edison Used Naps with Steel Balls

Inventor Thomas Edison also believed in the potency of napping, but with a twist. He would sit in a chair, hold steel balls in both hands, then drift off. If he fell into a deep sleep, the steel balls fell and woke him up.

Like Dalí, Edison did this to collect creative ideas at the edge of sleep - which he often credited a source of many inventions.

10. Oprah Winfrey Uses Out-Loud Self-Talk as Motivation

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is extremely disciplined and very successful but, she has also come clean that she has an unusual practice with self-talk; using self-talk out loud.. She uses affirmations and self-talk to stay motivated and positive.

While this may seem odd, psychologists state that positive self-talk can help reduce your stress, increase your confidence, and help performance.

What These Strange Habits Teach Us

On the surface, these habits may seem odd, unnecessary, or perhaps even stupid. However, what they imply indicates more than their surface oddity - successful people are willing to break the existing mold of normal living.

They experiment with their lives, frequently inventing personal systems, uninterrupted by habitual routines that fit their personal preferences to get things done.

Simplicity saves energy (Jobs and Zuckerberg).

Unusual routines can facilitate creative thinking (Dalí and Edison).

Awareness matters (Oprah talking to herself).

Time is priceless (Musk's scheduling).

Context is implementation (the reason why Angelou had those rented rooms).

The lesson: success does not come from doing what everybody else does; it often comes from doing habits that work for you, even if they seem strange to others.

Summary

Success commonly goes beyond standard routines alone. The unique routines of successful individuals remind us that being unusual is not lesser but could also be an advantage.

Franklin took air baths, Oprah consulted affirmations, Tesla would go without sleep, Musk schedules his day in five-minute blocks; these people and their unique routines show us that unusual or different approaches can yield extraordinary results.

So, the next time you find yourself doing something that is rather idiosyncratic, don't underestimate it. Who knows, perhaps that strange little habit is your secret to success!

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About the Creator

Click & Clarity

Click & Clarity makes the digital world simple with clear and actionable insights on tech, productivity, and online trends. One click closer to clarity—every time.

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