23 Daily Habits That Can Improve Your Life
Looking for a mindset shift and daily habits that can improve your life? These are a few daily habits I’ve invested in lately that have helped me feel more confident and productive.
With all the ups and downs that came with 2020, I believe it was safe to say that focusing on myself and my mindset wasn’t a top priority. Or a priority at all. However, the lack of taking care of myself has made me realize that I wasn’t using my time wisely. I also lacked positive mindset shifts to help me live the life I wanted.
Best Daily Habits
Here is a list of daily habits I’ve become accustomed to because I think they are critical to developing to experience of abundance, confidence, peace, productivity, and happiness.
1. Social media detox
What is your daily consumption like? I was surprised when Apple introduced its screen time feature, which revealed that I spent around 5 hours daily on my phone without including laptop or Netflix usage. It seemed absurd.
You could try removing social media applications from your phone, stopping consumption, and using social media for direct messaging and sharing your content.
Related: 21 Fun Things to do on a Sunday for a Perfect Weekend
2. Read a book before bedtime
Daily reading can help you build a positive mindset and give you a sense of calmness. It also helps reduce stress levels. Reading for at least 20 minutes before bedtime provides an opportunity to escape from reality, which can provide mental clarity and peace of mind the next day.
Try to steer away from your phone or laptop screens in order to get the full benefits of this daily habit.
3. Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is essential for physical and mental health. It helps your body function correctly, boosts your mood, improves concentration, reduces stress, and enhances overall well-being.
Try setting a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at the same time every night, avoiding screens before bedtime, and getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily if possible.
4. Breathe, journal, and practice gratitude
Take the time to be mindful and present in your thoughts. Journaling helps clear your head and can help you stay organized with goals and progress. Practicing gratitude is incredibly important for feeling contentment in life, especially during difficult times. Allowing yourself to recognize everything you are grateful for can help bring a sense of peace and fulfillment.
5. Enjoy the environment around you
Sit outside, look at the trees, or listen to the water streaming through a creek. Talk to your pet or to the little kids in your life.
6. Exercise
Regular physical activity can improve your physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Whether it’s going for a walk, hitting the gym, or practicing yoga, incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help you maintain a healthy body and mind.
Dance in your living room to some 2000s goodies. If you’re like me, you might even enjoy doing some chores. Any kind of movement is good for your body and your mind!
7. Make your bed
Research has found that making your bed helps make people happier! Making your bed daily can set the tone for an organized and productive day. Plus, it’s a simple task that can help you build momentum to tackle more significant tasks.
It can also help you have a successful day because it is a small win before even having coffee. Doing this one thing can lead to bigger wins throughout the day.
8. Practice gratitude
Taking time each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for can shift your focus towards the positive aspects of your life. This can help increase your overall happiness and well-being.
Set aside a few minutes each day to write down three things you are grateful for. They can be big or small, ranging from the people in your life to the little moments of joy or blessings you’ve experienced. Reflecting on the positives in your life can shift your focus towards gratitude and appreciation.
9. Take deep breaths
It’s so easy to forget to stop everything and BREATHE. Focus on your breathing during 5-minute intervals throughout the day. Inhale for five seconds, hold it for five seconds, and exhale for five seconds. It helps you to clear your mind and reset for the next task or challenge.
10. Remove anything that feels toxic to you
Don’t consume things that make you feel sick or slow you down. I’ve drastically lowered my sugar consumption, and I don’t eat red meat.
11. Drink plenty of water
Water is essential for maintaining proper bodily functions, including regulating body temperature, aiding digestion, transporting nutrients, and supporting healthy organ function. Staying hydrated can help promote optimal physical health, positively impacting your overall well-being.
Proper hydration is crucial for optimal brain function. Dehydration can impair cognitive function, leading to difficulties with concentration, memory, and mental performance. Drinking enough water can support cognitive health, improve mental clarity, and enhance productivity.
12. Get dressed every day
I don’t care if you’re working from home or don’t have plans to go anywhere. Wear your favorite shirt! Put on a pair of jeans!
13. Practice Self Care
Self-care is an essential practice that involves taking deliberate actions to prioritize and nurture your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Incorporating self-care into your daily routine can have numerous benefits for your overall health and happiness.
14. Moisturize your skin
Skin cells come and go. Moisturing my skin every day is a confidence booster for my body image, but it’s also a long-term investment. The best advice I ever heard was, “Ladies, moisturize your necks!”
15. Enjoy yourself when lacking motivation
If you’re not motivated, spend the day or a few hours having fun. Don’t force yourself to work if you’re not feeling creative or motivated. Trust me; you won’t be satisfied with the work you put out there.
16. Avoid negativity
Do NOT allow anything negative to enter your subconscious mind. This includes TV, music and links people love to send you.
17. Create a vision board
Create and update your vision board regularly. Place it somewhere you can see it all the time. Do not let the world distract you from your dreams.
18. Learn to singletask
It is said that only 2% of people in the world can successfully multitask. Although occasional multitasking is not a problem, constantly switching between tasks can reduce your focus and add to mental overload, making it harder for your brain to ignore irrelevant information.
Stanford University conducted a study highlighting how multitasking can decrease efficiency and harm cognitive control. The suggested approach to achieve higher productivity is to focus on one task at a time. To do so, you can create a daily list of to-dos and rank them by importance. Then, complete them one at a time in the order of their rank.
Related: 7 Benefits of Doing Things Alone
19. Invest in your spirituality
Speak to God daily. The answers to your questions and uncertainty are sometimes found in a conversation with yourself and your higher being.
20. Learn something new
Learning stimulates the brain and promotes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and grow. Engaging in daily learning activities, such as reading, solving puzzles, or learning a new skill, can help keep your brain active, sharp, and healthy, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and improving cognitive function.
Incorporating daily learning into your routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming or overwhelming. It can be as simple as reading a book, watching a documentary, taking an online course, or practicing a new skill for a few minutes each day.
The key is to make learning a continuous and intentional habit that aligns with your interests, goals, and values, and supports your personal growth and well-being.
21. Declutter your home
Decluttering your home creates a healthier environment for your mind. It’s also a great way to reduce physical and mental stress. Please use the timer on your phone to spend 15 minutes decluttering a specific area of one room, such as your closet or a disorganized drawer. Ensure everything is in its designated spot and dispose of any unnecessary items that no longer serve you.
You can perform this trick as often as once a week, once a day, or whenever you feel like your space is becoming unorganized.
22. Spend time in nature
Whether it’s a walk around your local park or taking a hike in the woods, spending time outdoors is an essential part of maintaining balance in life. Nature can provide us with clarity and help reduce stress levels by grounding us in the present moment.
23. Reflect on your day
Take a few moments at the end of each day to reflect on your thoughts, feelings and experiences. Reflecting on the day can help you gain insight about yourself and identify areas for improvement. This is also a great way to process any concerns that may be bothering you or keep track of how far you’ve come in certain areas.
Bottom Line
Remember, developing new habits takes time and consistency. Start with small, achievable changes and gradually build them into your daily routine. With commitment and persistence, these daily habits can improve your life and help you lead a more fulfilling and healthier lifestyle.
By incorporating these activities into your daily life, you can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. You’ll feel more energetic and empowered to take on each day. Start small and add a few of these habits into your routine until they become second nature. Enjoy the journey!
