How to Profit From Your Daily Habits

A few small changes in your routine can make big differences in your personal and professional lives

Let’s face it — in our overwhelming world of instant communication, constant mobile alerts, and 24/7 business hours — finding time for ourselves is harder than ever. We read countless articles on improving our productivity, cutting off the excess, and prioritizing the important things — but how many of us can actually apply these tips to our daily lives?

Many people are stuck on the question, “what should I do to improve personally and professionally?” This is not a bad inquiry, but it implies a degree of change and commitment to a new lifestyle that may not even work for your unique situation. Everyone has different capabilities and shortcomings, so one self-improvement article does not fit all. That is why I am proposing a new question:

“How can I improve personally and professionally with what I already do?”

By shifting the focus from starting new habits to maximizing our existing routine, change (or the lack there-of) becomes feasible. The success rate also increases, as these changes are based off our current habits.

Here are my personal habit tweaks. They may or may not work for you, but the point is to personalize them to suit your own lifestyle.

From Bedtime Browsing to Career Crafting

Over the years, I have developed a bad habit of checking my phone in bed before sleeping. What began as a quick notification clear-out became a long nightly routine of checking four email accounts (consolidated into one App of course), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks to “sharing”, I also started to scroll through Buzzfeed, Business Insider, and TechCrunch, just to name a few.

75% of my bedtime browsing is irrelevant by the next morning, but the remaining 25% is useful information worth remembering. I enjoyed reading “Brilliant Management Advice From LinkedIn’s Billionaire Founder” as much as “50 Things That Look Just Like Your Childhood”, but only one of these articles could profit my personal and professional image.

That’s where Content Curation comes in. The next time you stumble upon an interesting and useful read, don’t just click the next recommended link. Share it on LinkedIn (or preferred network) with your personal commentary in a few sentences. Write clearly, concisely, and professionally — you are crafting your public image.

Three observations of recruiters and peers on your profile:

1. You are a self-motivated and adaptable learner. By sharing your latest reads, you prove that you invest time in expanding your knowledge and keeping updated.
2. You are professional, yet personal. By providing your opinions, you show your critical thinking skills and distinct personality.
3. You are interesting and educated. By curating articles about various topics, you display your diverse interests while implying that you are well-versed in many areas (even if you aren't).

There you have it — your nightly routine turned into a career-building habit. Just don’t overdo it; nobody wants to see 10 Finance articles from the same person in a week. Also, choose your channels wisely; BuzzFeed belongs on Facebook, while Forbes fits with LinkedIn.

From Coffee Chats to Natural Networking

I love catching up with a friend over a cup of freshly-brewed coffee or a delicious meal. Coffee chats and dinner dates are a regular part of my social life — perhaps a bit too regular for the sake of my wallet. However, I believe that friendships are more important than money, so I consider my tendency to arrange tasty meetups as one of my better habits.

Networking is a terrifying word for many new and experienced professionals alike. There is something about selling a prepackaged image of ourselves to higher-ranking strangers or disengaged peers that brings out the butterflies in the strongest of stomachs. Networking events also require extra preparation, professionalism, and patience to compete with 10 other people crowded around one fatigued VP.

That’s where Natural Networking comes in. Instead of stressing at overcrowded events, why not steer your everyday conversations in the same direction? There is a high chance that your friends can connect you to the right person through their personal network. Not only can you avoid extra stress and time commitments, you can bypass the long line of resumes and LinkedIn connections vying for the same goal. A personal recommendation is guaranteed to at least get you noticed.

Three benefits of Natural Networking:

1. No stress or extra preparation needed in a friendly, casual environment.
2. No competition, distractions, or strict time limits in a one-on-one chat.
3. Easier to be authentic and memorable with a trusted friend.

(Plus: Save time since your coffee date is technically a scheduled part of your thriving social life.)

The next time you catch up with your classmate or second cousin, bring up your skills and career aspirations. You never know who they know, and you have nothing to lose even if they can’t help you at the moment. Be bold about marketing your genuine self and it will pay off in the long run. All of my freelance clients have been referred to me through our shared personal connections — I have yet to spend a minute searching for them myself!