6 low-effort ways to become a successful person

Have you ever felt like success is a distant, almost unattainable dream? 

I’ve been there. For years, I believed success was reserved for the few who could endure extreme efforts and sacrifices. 

Yet, here I am today, living a life I once thought was out of reach, and guess what? The journey wasn’t as daunting as I feared. 

In fact, I discovered some surprisingly low-effort ways to turn my life around. I wish I had known these earlier! They could have propelled me forward much faster. 

Now, I’m eager to share these simple, yet effective strategies with you. 

Let’s embark on this journey together, where success is not just a possibility, but a reality within your easy reach.

1) Set crystal clear goals

You probably know already that not all goals are like the others. People give all sorts of advice for the best way to set goals.

When I first decided to start being more goal-oriented, I got lost in the sea of information and the overwhelm really bogged me down.

But all you need to get started is one simple rule to follow: make your goals clear. In other words, know exactly what it is you want to achieve. 

For instance, you might want to “be more productive”, but what does this mean exactly? Do you want to spend a maximum of 15 minutes per day on social media? Or spend 30 minutes every day improving a skill? Or finish work by 6pm?

These all fit under the vague term “be more productive”, but they are very different things. 

Getting clear on your goal transforms it into a tangible target. You’ll know what actions you must take to reach it, and you’ll also easily tell whether or not you’ve reached it. 

And it’s a very easy fix to make. First write down your goals in any way they occur to you, and then make them as specific and clear as possible. 

2) Develop simple routines

I struggled for years to develop routines, so I’m very familiar with all the right and wrong ways to do them. And one of the biggest mistakes I made before was to try to make them too complicated.

I’ve seen influencers share their 20-step morning routine, and felt a twinge of jealousy — how come I can’t manage to do that?

But the truth is, routines don’t have to be complex or time-consuming. They can be as simple as drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning, or spending 20 minutes before bed reading. 

And to be honest, it’s best that you start with something as easy as that. Because if you try to implement 20 things into a brand new routine at once, that routine won’t last you very long.

Dumb it down to the bare essentials and what really matters to you. If you had to drop everything but one thing, what would you keep?

Or, a better question: what is something that would bring you the greatest success the way you define it, if you could stick to it every day?

Maybe you could write the book you’ve been dreaming of, if only you could write one page every morning for a year. 

This is how you use the power of habit in order to compound tiny steps into quantum leaps. 

3) Learn to say no 

In the whirlwind of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending stream of requests, invitations, and expectations from others. 

For years, I found myself saying yes to nearly everything – social events I didn’t want to attend, extra tasks at work, favors for friends and family. I was scared of disappointing anyone, but I ended up spreading myself way too thin.

The turning point came when I realized that every time I said yes to something I didn’t want to do, I was actually saying no to myself and my own goals. 

Every time I had a choice, I asked myself, “Is this task worth reserving time for — time that I could spend on something else?”

This was a game-changer. Learning to say no became my secret weapon in the pursuit of success.

And the truth is, setting boundaries is also a sign of self-respect. It’s about knowing your limits and valuing your time and energy. 

You might be surprised at how much respect you start to get from others, and how much more respect you start to have for yourself.

4) Prioritize tasks one by one

One of the most effective strategies I learned on my journey to success was the art of prioritizing tasks. 

It sounds simple, but it’s astonishing how often we can get sidetracked by tasks that aren’t actually important. “I’ll sit down and write my book, but first let me get these dishes out of the way… and organize my spice drawer… and sort my email inbox.”

It took a lot of courses and painful trial and error, but eventually I learned how to prioritize.

Various successful people have their own methods, but my personal one is this: do a brain dump of all the tasks you’d like to do.

Then think: if you can’t do any of them except for one, which one will propel you the most towards success?

Now focus all your time and attention on getting that task done. Do not move onto the next task until you do.

The only exception is if there’s a waiting period involved — like documents getting processed, or waiting for someone to call you back — in which case move onto the next most important task.

The hardest thing about this, you’ll find, isn’t even picking out the top priority tasks — it’s not getting distracted by the other tasks in order to get them done. 

5) Learn from experts

Let’s be real — the climb to the top is grueling, no matter where you’re trying to get. So why not take the proverbial chairlift — and get help from people already at the top?

It’s basically like getting a map to the terrain so you know which paths to take, what rocks to watch out for, and where you can get the best resources to help you up. 

In less metaphorical terms, you learn from others’ mistakes without having to make them yourself, and gain the most valuable tips and insights without spending hours looking for them.

No matter what it is you’d like to be successful at, there are dozens of courses out there with successful people who have done it already and are willing to teach you how to do it too.

And you don’t have to limit yourself just to structured courses. I’ve learned so much just from listening to podcasts, reading books, and even following people I admire on social media.

But I personally love courses because the knowledge is presented in a structured way that makes learning practically effortless. All you have to do is show up, and put the knowledge to work. 

6) Practice gratitude

The practice of gratitude may seem more like a personal virtue than a strategy for success, but in my experience, it’s been a powerful tool in shaping a successful mindset. 

When I started to actively practice gratitude, I noticed a significant shift in my perspective and, consequently, in my life’s trajectory.

Each morning, I began to spend a few minutes reflecting on what I was grateful for. It could be as simple as a sunny day, a supportive friend, or a recent achievement. 

This practice helped me start my day with positivity and an open heart. It grounded me in what was going well, rather than what was lacking.

But gratitude isn’t just for the good times. During tough periods, it helped me see the learning opportunities in failures and the strength I gained from overcoming obstacles. This mindset turned challenges into stepping stones rather than roadblocks.

Beyond personal benefits, gratitude also improves relationships. Expressing appreciation to colleagues, friends, and family strengthens connections and fosters a supportive network – an invaluable asset on the road to success.

And as you embark on this journey of gratitude, you may find that success isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about appreciating the journey itself.

Unlocking your potential with simple steps

Success isn’t reserved for a chosen few with extraordinary capabilities or resources. It’s accessible to everyone, including you, through simple yet effective strategies. 

By setting clear goals, establishing routines, learning to say no, prioritizing tasks, learning from experts, and practicing gratitude, you can make significant strides toward your aspirations. 

These steps are more than just practical advice; they are the building blocks of a mindset geared toward personal growth and achievement. 

And remember, the journey to success is as important as the destination. Each step you take is a testament to your commitment to growth and a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. 

Start small, stay consistent, and watch as these low-effort ways pave your path to a successful and satisfying life.