We all have some habits we’re proud of, and some we aren’t. Having been inspired by some of your posts about habits, here are some that have helped me keep consistent and keep learning.

Get to bed by 9:00 PM every night, including weekends

(There are always exceptions to this, but it helps with the next one.)

Get up at 5:00 AM every morning, including weekends

I’ve found that for me, the consistent sleep schedule always feels better than trying to sleep in. Of course there is the occasional exception when I just need to crash. These are the days I don’t even remember turning off the alarm.

This is great because on weekdays I have something of an early-in early-out schedule, and weekends I can either have a super productive morning or I can “reward” myself by using that time to relax or game.

Eat breakfast

I can't believe people get by without this! Waking up early means if I haven't eaten yet my stomach has become a commercial vacuum cleaner by 9:00 AM.

Use the commute to listen to audiobooks and podcasts as much as possible

Sometimes you just need to hit reset with some good music, but I found that by this simple habit I was able to hit book goals I never could otherwise. (I got through the entirety of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillion in less than 6 months, and I guess I'm sharing that because I don't regret it.)

My podcast rotation right now is heavily TechStuff and Hanselminutes, with a mix of Cyber Security Weekly Podcast and 99% Invisible. I love the variety this gives to my day, as well as the connectivity I feel to things I would otherwise never hear about.

Read e-books in the bathroom

This is time you will always have, and it adds up. Since making this a regular thing, I’ve read Robert C. Martin’s Clean Code and The Clean Coder (both are must reads in this community!) and half of the GoF Design patterns book.

Keep trying new things

This list isn’t exhaustive, but these things keep me consistent and always learning. Some of these may have made you shudder. I acknowledge these aren't for everybody, but they've shaped me into who I am today.

How much time, attention, and effort you invest in something will determine how much you gain; whether in physical results, understanding, or building of character. This is also how you fundamentally recognize your priorities, and how you evaluate what they should be.

With your own habits, decide what you want most. If something is a priority, you can give it your time without any guilt or regret. Always be willing to try new things, and when something works, stick with it.

Habits are the quirks that form around our priorities. What are yours?