7 Ways Successful People Spend Their Time After Work

By Lilian Wamaitha

You know the likes of Bob Collymore , Chris Kirubi, Michael Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates and more. The list is endless.

The truth is that these people didn’t get to be the richest and most successful people in the world by watching movies and clubbing every other Friday.

I always remember a quote from the popular Three Idiots movie – pursue excellence, and success will follow, pants down. This simple quote, that I know most people never thought deeply about, has been the inspiration I need to make my life better each day.

When you think about it, we are the only limits to success. If you put your mind to it you can become whoever you want to be.

Here are things that successful people do after work and which you should too.

How Successful People Spend Time After Work

What do you do after a long day at work? Do you prefer winding up at a club downtown or catching up on the latest series.

While this is not a crime, you also need to adopt some of the behaviours of successful people after work once in a while. Let’s take a look, shall we?

1.They work out

I know this is an over emphasized cliché but one that works wonders. Working out consistently is known to boost your creativity, confidence as well as resilience.

Wonder where successful people get all those creative ideas to improve themselves? Try working out.

Spare at least 30 minutes of your time after work to workout. And you don’t have to go to a gym by the way, just do your own things in the house.

2. They seek inspiration and new experiences

The biggest mistake we do, is to just float around in a bubble refusing to explore new things.

You are an  accountant, not bad, in fact its one of the most marketable professions in Kenya .

However, once in a while get out of your comfort zone and seek for inspiration elsewhere.

Attend that art exhibition or investor conference. Am sure it won’t kill your career to do something different once in a while.

3. They build authentic relationships

When was the last time you had a meaningful face to face or telephone conversation with that friend colleague or a better half? And am not talking about texting or messaging on social media – am talking about a real tradition conversation.

When was the last time you put your phone away and just struck a conversation with the person seated next to you in a matatu on your way home?

The truth is that we are bringing up a generation that is addicted to social media and one whose life revolves around the internet.

Successful people take time after work to build real authentic relationships.

4. They say No a lot

Successful people have learned that they can’t build empires by saying yes to every request.

They have to weigh their options, whether saying yes will in  any way help them achieve their goals.

Like them learn to say no to some things. Learn to say no to your boys or girlfriends who always want to go out every other Friday.

Instead, do things that are beneficial to yourself. Before accepting any request, always ask yourself how accepting it will benefit you in the long run.

5. They Unplug

Accomplished people have one thing in common, they take time to unplug. Am talking about taking time off social media, WI-FI and not checking your emails. Just put that phone or laptop away and curl up in a sofa with a good book or something.

If the busiest people in the world, still find time to be free of the social media craze, why can’t you do it?

The problem is that we have grown so accustomed to our phones, that they have become a part of us.

Put it away and enjoy nature, watch that comedy, attend an event or read that book that you have been putting off for so long now.

6. They get the most out of their evening routines

I know you know that thing about making the most of your morning to have a successful day. Successful people know that finishing their day in the right way also matters.

For instance, after work you can just turn off your phone when going to bed so that you are not tempted to look at it.

I know what your thinking – but it’s my alarm. Get yourself an alarm clock. I mean it won’t cost you your weight in gold.

7. They take classes and invest in themselves.

I mean, if the most successful people, even with their billions in the bank, still find time to enhance their knowledge through additional classes, who are you?

You can never succeed by remaining in your comfort zone. Want that promotion so badly? Do something about it.

Direct some of your resources to take up additional classes, which is a great investment in your future.

Most of the accomplished people weren’t born with  silver spoons in their mouths. They learnt to work through life by doing the simple things we take for granted. Start taking some of the things discussed serious and like Rancho, success will follow, pants down. Am off to register for my French course.

What are you going to do to change the course of your life today? Share in the comments section below.

Lilian Wamaitha is a Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Contact her via lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke