--- ---  # How to Build Lifelong Habits for Success by [Quora](https://time.com/author/quora/) ## Quora Apr 23, 2015 2:37 PM UTC  Soccer players training on field Soccer players training on fieldGetty Images by [Quora](https://time.com/author/quora/) ## Quora Apr 23, 2015 2:37 PM UTC [_Answer_](http://www.quora.com/What-can-I-do-now-at-the-age-of-16-that-my-future-self-will-thank-me-for/answer/Julian-Reisinger)_by_ [_Julian Reisinger_](http://www.quora.com/Julian-Reisinger)_on_ [_Quora_](http://www.quora.com/)_._ Building lifelong habits starting right now is the way to become superhuman. The list below might seem overwhelming, that’s why I suggest you only pick one or two habits at first and increase the number once you know what works and what doesn’t. ## Health & Fitness * **Floss** every day. * **Brush your teeth** at least twice a day. * **Find a sport** or other physical activity you enjoy and practice it at least twice a week. Preferably a team sport. * **Use PH-adjusted shower gel or soap** without perfume. * **Use sunblock!** [It is the best thing you can do to benefit your life](http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-thing-you-can-do-at-age-30-to-benefit-your-life-at-age-50-and-beyond/answer/Cyndi-Perlman-Fink?srid=dU6v&share=1) * **Drink water** instead of sodas and juices. * **Stay away from addictions** of any kind. * **Cultivate a morning routine** that involves physical activity, gratitude, showering and getting dressed right after waking up. ## Learning & Career * **Study** a small amount of time each day instead of learning everything right before the exam. * **Read one book per week**. Switch between fiction and nonfiction from time to time. * **Learn programming, Photoshop, Illustrator and Excel** as well as you can. These skills alone can open up a world of possibility for you. [Tutorials](http://tutsplus.com/) are a great way to start. [Learn to code](http://www.codecademy.com/). * Always **have a project** you are working on and finish it. Choose something creative that excites you instead of something you think is useful, like these [two kids who remade _Indiana Jones_ shot for shot](http://www.vice.com/video/america-is-obsessed-with-indiana-jones). * **Write down your goals** for the next 3 months, 1 year and 5 years. Write down small action steps that will gradually get you there. * **Always try to solve problems on your own** before asking someone for help. * Use every possibility to **speak in public**. Great public speaking is one of the most valuable skills one can [acquire](https://www.toastmasters.org/). ## People Skills * **Be honest.** More specifically don’t lie and don’t exaggerate. This can destroy your self-esteem. * **Speak with people** everywhere you go. * **Surround yourself with go-getters.** People who strive to become the best version of themselves and act on it. Stay away from “too cool for school” kids. Popularity fades quickly. * **Call your friends** (especially the ones you don’t see often) instead of texting. * **Look people in the eyes.** Sounds obvious but I was oblivious to the fact (I avoided eye contact until I was 18.) * **Remember names.** Ask how the name is spelled or repeat the name immediately. “Hi I am Robert.” “Hi Robert, nice to meet you.” (How do you feel if someone always forgets your name?) * **Stop dwelling about what you can’t change.** Catch yourself each time you are doing it and tell yourself it’ll be OK. Then think about something else. ## Money * **Start saving** right now! Lay aside 10% of whatever you make and don’t touch it for now. Trust me, you can use it much better in a couple of years. * **Earn money on the side** by applying your best skills. This will teach you a lot about life and will hopefully spark the entrepreneurial spirit within you. ## Confidence * **List all your fears**, insecurities and unhealthy idiosyncrasies. Eliminate them one by one. I suggest you use [systematic desensitization](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic%5Fdesensitization). * **Travel** as much as possible. Later it will be much harder to do when you have a job and a partner. Resources to help you cultivate your habits: * [All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage](http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-get-over-my-bad-habit-of-procrastination/answer/Rendell-Peh?srid=dU6v&share=1) * [The Habit Change Cheatsheet: 29 Ways to Successfully Ingrain a Behavior](http://zenhabits.net/the-habit-change-cheatsheet-29-ways-to-successfully-ingrain-a-behavior/) * [How do I get over my bad habit of procrastination?](http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-get-over-my-bad-habit-of-procrastination/answer/Oliver-Emberton) * [Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard](http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428147729&sr=8-2&keywords=switch) * [Fail Faster at Habits](http://zenhabits.net/ship/) * [Superhuman By Habit: A Guide to Becoming the Best Possible Version of Yourself](http://www.amazon.com/Superhuman-Habit-Becoming-Possible-Yourself/dp/1503295591/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428147893&sr=8-1&keywords=superhuman+by+habit) _This question originally appeared on_ [_Quora: What can I do now (at the age of 16) that my future self will thank me for?_](http://www.quora.com/What-can-I-do-now-at-the-age-of-16-that-my-future-self-will-thank-me-for) _More from Quora:_ * [How do you do things out of your comfort zone?](http://www.quora.com/How-do-you-do-things-out-of-your-comfort-zone-Im-really-shy-and-prefer-to-not-talk-to-people-But-is-there-a-way-to-change-that-or-should-I-just-be-happy-with-who-I-am) * [How do you know you are on the right path in your life?](http://www.quora.com/How-do-you-know-you-are-on-the-right-path-in-your-life) * [How does one manage time more effectively?](http://www.quora.com/How-does-one-manage-time-more-effectively) How to Build Lifelong Habits for Success ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3821907/build-lifelong-habits-success/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3821907/build-lifelong-habits-success/"},"headline":"How to Build Lifelong Habits for Success","datePublished":"2015-04-23T14:37:34.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T06:23:58.871Z","description":"Surround yourself with go-getters","url":"https://time.com/3821907/build-lifelong-habits-success/","keywords":["advice"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3e2b389aef0b56ec/6987eb05e20a87d8b9a88e3c/478168877-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Quora","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/quora/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3e2b389aef0b56ec/6987eb05e20a87d8b9a88e3c/478168877-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"soccer-players-playing-field","caption":"soccer-players-playing-field","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/advice/","name":"advice"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3821907/build-lifelong-habits-success/","name":"How to Build Lifelong Habits for Success"}}]}] ```