A Good Life Starts With Good Habits
Humans are creatures of habit and we develop good and bad habits that impact our day-to-day lives. Today, we'll only focus on the good. Whether you're here to change your life around or have goals you want to reach, these are 20 daily habits that can help get you where you want to be.
1. Daily Gratitude
It's not news anymore–– expressing gratitude every day is the easiest motivation booster. We often get trapped in a negative spiral but with daily practice, we can create a positive habit instead. There are several ways you can show gratitude daily. You could try writing down something you're grateful for each morning, sending someone a thank-you note, or looking at photos of memories that make you happy.
2. Read
Make a habit out of reading every day. You might not think you have time but even a few pages will do. Set yourself a manageable goal that you can always increase later. Start with 15 minutes or 5 pages a day and notice how much more you'll read in a week then you think. Consistent reading helps us relax and train our brains.
3. Unplug
Get off your phone! Switch off, unplug, and stop staring at screens. Create a good habit by turning your phone off or leaving it in another room when you're doing something else that doesn't require it. Social media and phone games are incredibly addictive and masters of sucking all of our attention. It's a healthy habit to change focus and place our full attention on something else like playing with the kids or making dinner.
4. Socialize
Socializing daily can do wonders for our mental health and someone else's too. It doesn't mean you need to make plans every night, especially if you have little kids, but even a quick phone call to a friend is beneficial. We often get caught up in our work or tasks and forget how good we feel after a friendly social interaction.
5. Exercise
If you move your body every day, future you will thank you for it. You'll have more energy, you'll feel better, and you'll look better too. Set yourself up with a realistic target to get yourself in a daily exercise routine. For some people that's going for a jog but others prefer to join a fitness class or a sports team. Even 20-minutes of weight lifting at home will do wonders for your body and your mind.
6. Eat All The Food Groups
From breakfast to dinner, make sure you cover all the food groups and eat well-balanced meals. Nutrition is essential for a healthy life and can make noticeable affects on how we feel each day. Developing healthy eating habits can increase your mood, energy, and health overall for the long-run.
7. Me Time
Everyone needs a little "me time". Make it a habit to embrace self-care and treat yourself at least once a day. For some people that might be having a bath or pampering their skin. Someone else might like to listen to a podcast or play a few songs on guitar or meditate for a few minutes alone. Whatever it is, try to do something every day that gives you pleasure.
8. Visualize
It's called manifestation! Visualizing your goals and dreams can make them a reachable reality. Visualize what you want in your life and make it a daily practice. For some folks, it helps to look at something physical, like a mood board that displays their life goals in images they can focus on.
9. Stretch
If anything, we often focus on strength building and cardio and we tend to neglect stretching. Stretching every day is more valuable than we realize and helps prevent injury. Flexibility and mobility only gets more difficult with age but we can ease the troubles by preparing our bodies with simple stretches. Even a ten minute routine stretching from head to toe will have future you thanking you for it.
10. Mindfulness
You might be skeptical of the current mindfulness trend, but the reason it's becoming more recognized in Western society is because it truly works. A lot of us get stuck in our heads, thinking of the past and the future instead of living in the present. By purposely incorporating a mindfulness practice in your life each day, you'll start to notice improvements in your focus, mood, and reactions. With time, it'll become more natural too.
11. Walk Or Take The Stairs
Whenever you get the choice, walk or take the stairs. Adding any effortless exercise to your day will greatly support your health and physical endurance, making mobility easier as you age and preventing injuries. Walking and climbing stairs is obviously good for your physical health but it's also very good for your heart and brain health too.
12. Drink Water
Drinking water seems so simple but for some of us, drinking eight glasses a day is a challenge. It's crucial to stay hydrated and water is the best thing for us. Try using a reusable water bottle that you can take with you wherever you go or keep one handy in the car and at your desk. Flavor your water every once and a while if you find it too boring.
13. Be Nice!
Kindness breeds kindness, it's a fact. Make a simple act of kindness a daily habit. Whether you complement a stranger or help someone open the door, each day can be different. If you consciously go out of your way for someone else every day, not only will you be helping them, you'll start to notice all the love you get in return. At the very least, it never hurts to be nice.
14. Morning Routine
Set yourself up for success with a morning routine that motivates you to get out of bed. Starting your morning on the right track will help you with the rest of your day. Everyone is different so choose a routine that suits you. Maybe it's coffee first thing, or a morning stretch before you make your bed. Whatever time you have before you start your work day or responsibilities is a good time for a habitual routine.
15. Take Breaks
Multiple breaks throughout your day is beneficial to your life in so many ways. You will actually improve your productivity if you give yourself breaks from your tasks. Breaks don't look the same for everyone and they can differ for you too. Take an afternoon power nap to recharge, stretch or walk around every hour if you sit at a desk, or take a tea break. Breaks are little rewards that will motivate you and help you refresh which will add to your quality of life.
16. Make A To-Do List
If you're overwhelmed with work, homework, or life in general, an organized list is a handy habit. If you prioritize your daily tasks and write them down, your mind can focus on one thing at a time without spinning out of control. Start your week by creating a weekly plan or start each day by writing a to-do list. This will help ease your mind and keep you on track to stay productive.
17. Tidy Up
For many people, a tidy space helps clear their mind as well. Daily habits like making your bed each morning or emptying the dishwasher before you leave the house are good examples to reduce anxiety. Have a weekly cleaning routine or make time in your daily routine to tidy up after yourself and you'll notice the positive affects.
18. Learn Something
Every day's a school day!–– learn something new a day at it could change your life. There are a gazillion apps you could download with daily bites of knowledge or you could read snippets from various books or watch a video or documentary. Learning helps train your brain, keeps you sharp, and opens your mind to more possibilities.
19. Reflect
If you spend a few minutes every day to reflect, you'll notice how it affects your gratitude and mindfulness practices as well as keeping track of your goals and productivity. Reflect on your emotions throughout your day and become aware of your stress levels. This will help you learn about yourself and how to cope with life's obstacles.
20. Get Outside
Make it a habit to get some fresh air every day! Your climate may affect your motivation to do this but if you can get outside at least once, it'll benefit you more than you know. Connecting with nature and breathing in fresh air is healthy for you inside and out. It helps you recharge, reduce anxiety, and increase well-being and appreciation.
