How Rituals Can Increase Your Performance

In Harvard Professor Ben-Shahar’s highly popular course in Positive Psychology, he teaches students how to be happy. One of his eleven happiness tips is to create rituals. He notes that “The most creative individuals, whether artists, businesspeople or parents have rituals that they follow. This routine frees them up to be creative and spontaneous.

Rituals can not only help you bond with employees or fans but can also help your personal performance. Composer Ludwig van Beethoven had several rituals he performed each day, like getting up early and making his own coffee, where he meticulously counted exactly sixty beans for each cup. After dinner each day he would go for a long walk but always carried a pencil and some music sheets in case genius hit him while out.

I start each day with a 5k walk (listening to an audio book, usually a biography or business book) so I get a big jump on my 10,000 steps a day before breakfast, and learn something while I’m at it!

Bjorn Borg always started to grow a beard before Wimbledon each year and would not shave it off until the event was finished. A similar ritual is taken up by many NFL, FHL and NBA player on the road…