Several years ago, I was having a conversation with a mentor about productive habits. Specifically, he was talking about the power of daily rituals that he used to stay focused and on track. He was one of the most disciplined people I had ever been around. A legit high-performer who left nothing to chance. He had a laser focus and stayed committed to his daily plan.

During the conversation, he said, “Finish this statement, an apple a day…”

Of course, I responded with, “...keeps the doctor away.”

He said, “Exactly right.” Then he posed a question.

“What if that was true?”

I said, “I don’t understand.”

He asked again, “What if eating an apple a day really does keep the doctor away?”

“That would be great, I guess.”

Then he asked another question, “Is eating an apple a day hard to do?”

“No.”

And then he delivered the punchline.

“Kevin, it’s so simple to do and yet most people choose not to.”

Then he added something that I have never forgotten.

“If it’s easy TO DO, it’s easy NOT TO DO!”

Then he shared eight things he focused on every day. He said, “Master these things and you will supercharge your body, your mind, and your results.”

1. Rest: To perform at a high level your body needs to recharge. Some take power naps. Some just get quiet and let their mind be still. Some are committed to eight hours of sleep. Whatever you do to recharge and refresh is vital to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing and directly impacts performance.

2. Read: Feed your mind and you will never go hungry. You would be amazed what a chapter a day will do for you. Reading keeps you relevant, well-informed, and in touch. My mentor always said that leaders are readers and readers are leaders.

3. Eat Right: My dad was a Navy man. A ship’s cook on an aircraft carrier. He always said that the cook was the most important position on the boat. He would say, “If the team ain’t fed, the team can’t fight.” Eating right gives us energy, stamina, and keeps us mentally alert.

4. Exercise: Physical movement cures a lot of ills. I am a distance runner. Being outside in the fresh air and sunlight is good for my attitude. It’s a form of therapy for me. Run, bike, walk, hike. Whatever works for you, getting out and working up a sweat does a body good.

5. Play: Make time to have fun. Whatever that looks like for you. Do something every day that makes you happy and puts a smile on your face. It doesn’t have to be something big that requires a bunch of planning. Look for and embrace life’s simple moments of fun and laughter. Playfulness is a wonderful elixir to the stress and pressures of life.

6. Technology Fasting: My mentor was very intentional about technology. He was regimented and not glued to his devices. He used technology to serve him, not the other way around. Make time each day to “fast” from your devices. It helps to slow down the pace of life and keeps my anxiety levels in check.

7. Know Your Why: If you have a giant vision for your life and get up every day and chase it, you will find yourself staying on track and filtering every decision through the lens of making that vision a reality. It will help you keep your priorities straight and fill you with enthusiasm about where you are going.

8. Focus on High Pay-Off Activities: High performers understand where they get their biggest returns on time, money, and energy. They aren’t consumed with busy work and fake priorities. They guard their schedule, avoid procrastination, and time suckers. That’s how they have time to get so many things accomplished.

So, there you have it. Eight things that can supercharge your life and your results. But remember, while they are EASY TO DO, they are EASY NOT TO DO!

Want to read more from Kevin? His latest book, Unleashing Your Hero, is available for purchase online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.