Small habits entwined together can produce significant, lasting, positive change.
Rather than seeking immense overnight changes, which are unlikely to be sustainable, try ingraining some small habits into your day to create positive changes that are easier to maintain.
Drink your water.
I know, this can be a hard one and I’ve struggled with it myself, but it’s extremely important for our health and wellbeing. Our bodies need this water to function at our best.
If you’re not drinking enough, then I’m sure you already know the downsides and since I like to keep things positive around here, we’re going to just look at the benefits of achieving your recommended intake.
- Improved mental focus
- Hydrated and healthy skin
- Reduced fatigue
- Aids in removing toxins
- Aids in weight loss
- Improved memory
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved mood
- Aids in digestion
- Improves kidney function
- Lubricates joints
If you have trouble meeting your daily intake because you don’t care for the taste then spruce it up by infusing it with some fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Cucumber water is one of my favorites for its fresh green taste and the fact that cucumbers are high in antioxidants. You can add slices of citrus, pineapple, berries, melon, ginger, and mint just to name a few, and create a flavorful infusion that also looks pretty.
If you find yourself forgetting to drink your water, then you may benefit from an app that reminds you throughout the day. Another great idea is a water bottle that lights up when it’s time for you to have a drink. There are a lot of water bottles on the market that have hourly drink quantities marked on them that help motivate and challenge you to meet your daily intake.
Brain dump or journal before bed.
How often do you lay in bed thinking about everything you need to do the next day? You probably even think about minor, petty things that have no business cutting into your slumber time, but it’s their favorite time to remind you. This is where a brain dump is your best friend.
A brain dump is writing out everything that nags at your mind, like tasks you need to complete, appointments you need to book, calls you need to make, or anything else that robs you of your peace. Jot these down in your journal or in a separate notebook that is dedicated to this purpose. You’ll want to write sections such as:
- To do tomorrow
- To do this week
- To do next week
- To email
- To text
- To call
- Other notes
It’s a good idea to also have a space to write out thoughts or feeling that are troubling you, so you can just stop thinking and worrying about it for now, because you know it’s written there for you to deal with tomorrow. This should clear your head and help you to put things into order. Putting everything in order on paper means you’re more likely to complete them since you can see it all laid out at a glance.
You will probably find after a while of doing this that you can cut it back to just a few times a week. Once you get some of these items completed, you will have less to muddle your mind and less to add to the lists.
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Wake-up and make-up.
When you wake up in the morning and get yourself ready for the day ahead regularly, then you are setting a routine for yourself. You’re telling yourself “I look good, I feel good and I’m ready to take on the day”. This single act has already made your day productive.
Getting yourself dressed and made up even if you’re just staying home can help motivate you to get things done. Firstly, you’re doing something nice for yourself and that makes you feel good. Secondly, you’re getting yourself ready to face anything that comes at you. You’re ready to go out if you feel like it, and you’re more likely to feel like it when you’re dressed to do so. You’ll also be alleviating worry since you’re presentable if anyone stops by.
Ever taken a shower and gotten yourself dressed and made up, then along comes a child or spouse asking where you’re going? We affiliate showering and dressing with having somewhere to go, or something to do and it’s an instant motivator.
Early to bed and early to rise.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
– Benjamin Franklin
Waking up earlier than the rest of the household will give you extra time that you can spend on self-care. You’ll have time to incorporate healthy habits into your morning like eating a nutritious breakfast, getting a workout in, or having some quiet time to just reflect on life.
You won’t have to rush to get to work or to get your day started, which is going to significantly lower your stress. Many successful people report that the wee hours of the morning are when they are most focused and productive, and having a productive morning will set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Naturally, getting enough sleep is just as important to have a productive and successful day, so going to bed early is a must if you want to make this a small habit. To ease in transitioning to an earlier bedtime you could opt to limit stimulants in the evening like caffeine or alcohol. Herbal teas and warm milk are a great replacement to soothe you and help you relax.
Establish the small habit of a morning and evening routine.
A good morning routine will set you up for daily success. You will be starting your day with intention and motivation which will leave you wanting to accomplish even more throughout your day, to keep that momentum going. A morning routine aids in better organization with less chance of missing things that you planned to complete.
Your morning routine should include things that will help the rest of your day flow easily. Try getting the ball rolling on tasks that you’ll need to complete when you get home from work, like throwing in a load of laundry or prepping for dinner. Schedule your day in advance to keep you on track for all the projects you wish to complete.
Include healthy habits like eating breakfast, exercising, and self-care into your morning routine.
An evening routine sets you up for the success of your morning routine. Tasks such as laying out clothes for the following day, setting the coffee machine up, or preparing your lunch or breakfast will help make your morning routine flow easily.
Include healthy habits in your evening routine like reading, journaling, and self-care.
Read self-improvement books.
Whatever life skills you want to improve upon, reading about them will benefit you in more ways than one. According to an article on Healthline – Benefits of Reading Books: For Your Physical and Mental Health (healthline.com) this small habit can:
- Strengthen your brain
- Increase empathy
- Build vocabulary
- Prevent cognitive decline
- Reduce stress
- Aid in sleep
- Alleviate depression
- Lengthen lifespan
If all those benefits are not enough to have you picking up a good self-improvement book, then read on.
Anytime you engross yourself into reading you’re going to be transporting yourself out of your busy mind. You’ll be concentrating on what you’re reading, giving your mind a little break from things like worry, self-sabotage, and stress. Reading offers a distraction from the vast jumble of thoughts that you’re regularly coping with.
Just a half hour of reading before bed can calm your mind and promote relaxation. If what you’re reading is inspiring you to make positive changes, then you’ll be going to bed with positive thoughts in your mind. These positive thoughts give you hope and motivation for the coming day. Let us just say you will be promoting sweet dreams of successful days ahead.
Learning new life skills can empower you to steer through life’s challenges more effectively. You will be introducing yourself to new strategies that can contribute to your personal growth. Self-improvement books are going to encourage you to set goals with confidence and begin to think more positively about yourself and your future.
Meditate.
If you don’t already practice meditation, then you are truly missing out on a wealth of benefits. Meditation is backed by countless studies and endless accounts of transformation in physical and emotional well-being.
- Improved focus
- Anxiety control
- Increased self-awareness
- Positivity and gratitude
- Increased creativity
- Improved sleep patterns
- Increased level of patience
- Lowered resting heart rate/cardiovascular improvement
- Stress reduction
- Enhanced tolerance to pain
- Strengthened immune system
Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on our physical and emotional well-being, causing us to be more susceptible to illness and premature aging. In a 2021 study, Stress makes life’s clock tick faster — chilling out slows it down | YaleNews, Yale researchers found that stress can accelerate our biological clock. There is good news though because we can reverse that acceleration by strengthening emotion regulation and self-control. Thanks Yale! Since meditation greatly reduces stress and anxiety, plus the other multitude of benefits… it’s a no-brainer right?
It takes time and practice to be able to still your mind from that incessant chatter going on in there, but you’ll get better at it, I promise. You just have to be patient with yourself every time your mind wanders. The key is to observe the thought and then let it go. When you do this enough times with enough loving patience, then you eventually train the brain to be quiet.
Guided meditations are extremely helpful in structuring your experience by guiding you through breathing techniques and visualizations, making it easier for you to relax, and not worry whether you are doing it right or not. You can seek out guided meditations that target specific goals that align with your needs.
The more you practice meditating and can achieve deeper states of stillness the more astounding your experience can be. With dedication and perseverance, you can attain higher states of consciousness which can lead to heightened awareness and strong self-identity.
So there you have it friends, small habits that pack a big punch.
Watch how your life can transform as you implement and maintain these habits. 🖤
Inspired to make change?
Check out our Seasonal Glow-Up Journey at the FP Extraordinary Living Academy!
