We’ve all met that one coworker who seems to have a permanent “get out of jail free” card. They land the best projects, get the “random” shout-outs from leadership, and always happen to be in the kitchen right when fresh coffee is brewed. Is it cosmic favoritism? Not exactly. Science suggests that “luck” is actually a measurable byproduct of specific behaviors and psychological patterns.

Psychologist Richard Wiseman spent a decade studying “lucky” versus “unlucky” people, and his findings changed the game: luck isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build. It boils down to what you notice, how you respond to change, and why you keep trying when others quit. By shifting your mindset from “waiting for lightning to strike” to “building a lightning rod,” you can significantly increase the frequency of positive opportunities in your professional and personal life.

7 Science-Backed Ways to Get “Luckier”

Becoming a luck magnet is about increasing your “surface area” for good things to happen. Here is how you can start today:

1. Maximize Your “Chance Opportunities” 

Lucky people aren’t just fast; they are observant. In a work-from-home setting, this means staying active on non-essential Slack channels or attending “optional” coffee chats. The more people you interact with, the higher the mathematical probability of a “lucky” introduction or piece of information coming your way.

2. Listen to Your Hunches 

Neuroscience shows that our “gut feelings” are often the result of the brain detecting patterns we haven’t consciously processed yet. Lucky people act on these intuitive hits. If you have a weird feeling you should double-check a spreadsheet or reach out to a former colleague, do it.

3. Practice “Productive Paranoia” 

Expect good things, but prepare for the pivots. Lucky people tend to have a “Plan B” that allows them to move quickly when a “Plan A” fails. Because they aren’t devastated by a setback, they are free to spot the next opportunity immediately.

4. The “Lucky” Lens of Resilience 

When something goes wrong, lucky people use “counter-factual thinking” to see the bright side. Instead of thinking “I’m so unlucky I missed that promotion,” they think, “I’m lucky I didn’t get it because now I’m available for that new department opening.” This keeps their morale high enough to keep looking for the next win.

5. Be a “Super-Connector” 

The “Strength of Weak Ties” theory suggests that your most life-changing opportunities come from casual acquaintances, not close friends. Send a quick “thinking of you” email to an old client or a peer in a different industry once a week. You’re essentially planting seeds for future “random” luck.

6. Vary Your Routine 

Luck thrives on randomness. If you always take the same route to the office or start your Zoom calls with the same script, you’re closing doors. Change your environment or your workflow slightly to encounter new stimuli.

7. Visualize the Win 

This isn’t “The Secret”, it’s selective attention. When you tell your brain to look for opportunities, your reticular activating system (RAS) starts filtering for them. If you expect to find a solution, you’ll notice the small clue that everyone else walked right past.

Increasing your luck is really about increasing your openness. When you stop viewing life as a series of random attacks and start seeing it as a field of hidden gems, you naturally become more observant, more resilient, and more connected.

Two tips:

• The 5-Minute Favor: Do one small thing for someone else every day without expecting a return. It builds a massive “luck bank” of social capital.
• Keep a “Win Log”: Document small wins to train your brain to see yourself as a lucky person.

By applying these science-backed shifts, you aren’t just hoping for the best, you’re strategically positioning yourself to catch the next wave.

Got any tips to increase your luck? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp