Warren Buffett, also known as the Oracle of Omaha, is famous for his investing tips and patient demeanour. One of the oldest billionaires in the world, Buffett made his first investment during his teen years. Part of the 1% club, he has pledged 99% of his income to charities and continues with his philanthropic efforts.
The Buffett formula for leading an insightful life often includes simple habits that overworked individuals forget to follow. He believes in reading every day, going to bed early, and most importantly, thinking before following trends. In fact, Warren Buffett spends nearly 80% of his working day thinking and reading, devoting nearly 6 hours, if he can. After stepping down from Berkshire Hathaway, the Buffett advocacy continues to go strong.
Warren Buffett’s on habit making
In a resurfaced video from social media, Warren Buffett explains the invisible advantage of absorbing habits. Addressing a group of young minds, Buffett gave simple advice to them. He suggested that the students identify two people in the cohort they admire and the other, “you can stand the least in the group.” Taking a humorous note, he warned that the person you admire must not be yourself.
Warren Buffet on habits: Your invisible advantage. pic.twitter.com/CJzaO8LA3U
— hinata (@HinataMotivates) October 16, 2025
After selecting the individuals, Buffett told them to “write down why you admire them and put down a list of their qualities.” Referring to the person you found repulsive, he advised his audience to list their qualities that are a “turn off.”
“The qualities of the first one that you admire are qualities you, with a little practice, can make your own. And which, if practised, will become habit-forming,” remarked Warren Buffett. Giving more insight into the importance of forming your habits early, at an age you can adapt and change, he said, “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they’re too heavy to be broken.”
Speaking to the young minds, he shrugged and said that he can’t change habits at his age. “But, at your age, you will have the habits 20 years from now that you decide to put in practice today.” In fact, he overtly advised that in case one admires a trait or habit in someone, they can make it their own. Warren Buffett then referenced a similar practice, former US President Benjamin Franklin used to do, “a few hundred years ago, and it still works today.”
How to build positive habits?
To build positive habits, Harvard psychologists have emphasised the importance of making small, manageable changes that can be sustained over time. Thus, breaking your goals into tiny, achievable steps helps you complete them faster. As per Charles Duhigg, in his research, The Power of Habit, routines are often built around a cue or trigger. To further strengthen these habits, you can identify and optimise these triggers to set a routine in your life.
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine even suggests quantifying these habits, such as the 10,000-step goal, which helps increase motivation, accountability, and positive habit formation. Linking this with routine triggers, it is important to understand that your physical environment will equally impact your habits.
Once a habit is formed, or you fall into a routine, psychology journals emphasise self-monitoring, reinforcement, and immediate feedback. It will not only create a mental note for your body, but also help improve consistency. The European Journal of Social Psychology advises using the ‘habit stacking’ method. It is when you add habits to your existing routine. It can be as simple as, “After brushing my teeth, I will meditate for one minute.” Technology can always be your habit tracker buddy, as you can download productivity apps, or as simple as setting alarms to kick start a new routine. It will not only remind your brain to mentally prepare for a new task, but also notify you to change your best-suited physical surroundings.
