Most of what we do on any day is defined by our habits. Psychologists think that almost half of our everyday behavior is habitual. Most of these habits & routines are so automatic that you put no thought about them, like brushing your teeth at night or washing your face as soon as you get up in the morning. But there are some Habits That Can Change Your Life.
Changing our habits to eliminate unsupportive ones, such as staying up late to watch Netflix, & replacing them with healthy habits like exercising daily, is often more challenging than we initially think. This is established by the somewhat discouraging fact that 80% of people quit their New Year’s resolutions by the second week in February.
Habits That Can Change Your Life
1. Make Your Bed
This may sound like a small, irrelevant thing to do, but making your bed after you get up in the morning will prepare you for a more dynamic day. This is probably the easiest one to start immediately among all Habits That Can Change Your Life.
Some people even state that making your bed in the morning can develop your mental health by providing a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of tranquility that will stay with you for the rest of the day. Retired Navy admiral William H. McRaven trusted this bed-making ritual’s power so much that he even wrote a book titled Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life.
2. Create A Morning Ritual
After making your bed, you may like to go for a run. Or, you like to exercise, meditate or enjoy a healthy breakfast. Whatever it is that makes you feel energetic, kick starts your day with that habit.
Creating an effective morning ritual helps you to start your day on a positive & active note. Having an ordered start to your day instead of rushing to compensate for the lost time also helps to eradicate stress & mental fatigue & enhances your efficiency.
3. Cherish The Moment
Life is a collection of a series of moments, but often we need to notice them because we are too busy looking at our gadgets or focusing on the next task on our to-do list. Practicing mindfulness to be in the present moment is a proven way to relieve stress, lower blood pressure & diminish chronic pain.
It is not an easy skill to adapt but start small by trying to relish at least one moment every day. For example, when you make your first coffee of the day, focus entirely on pouring the hot water & milk, taking out the coffee & then drinking it without any disruptions while paying full attention to the smell, taste & feel of your morning drink.
4. Read A Lot
Reading is one of the Habits That Will Upgrade Your Life. Reading books is an excellent way to get knowledge & inspire creativity. Immersion reading also develops focus & provides a calming effect like meditation.
Additionally, reading before bedtime helps you to sleep better. Non-fiction books are an excellent tool to widen horizons, develop new perspectives & find motivation. They also provide actionable advice on conquering all types of difficult situations through real-life examples.
5. Limit Multitask
Only 2% of people in the world can multitask effectively. While there’s no harm in infrequent multitasking, the constant attempt to multitask limits your focus & causes mental clutter by making it hard for your brain to weed out inappropriate information.
Moreover, a recent study shows heavy multitaskers lack effectiveness & may suffer impaired cognitive control. This is why you must try to single-task. Make a list of things you need to do in a day. Start with the most vital & make your way down the list, carrying out one task at a time.
6. Create a Gratitude Journal
There are many advantages of practicing gratitude, counting better sleep, improved relationships, and even less stress & anxiety. Focusing on being thankful for what we have rather than clinging to what we don’t have can also boost our self-esteem by lessening the tendency of social comparisons.
One of the best ways of practicing gratitude is having a journal where you note down some things for which you feel thankful. Whether you write each day or once a week, the vital thing is to keep a regular time to journal. Try to be as particular as possible & take the time to relish the positive emotions & moments that come from noting details about the positive events, experiences & people in your life.
7. Place Your Family First
Remember Dominic Toretto from Fast & Furious Series? Always keeping his family first & protecting them? They also back up Dominic whenever he needs them. Strengthening family relationships & considering the needs of your loved ones is one of the most vital factors in any decision.
In the current world, we talk a lot about “the life we want” & the success of the “Me.” We also see a lot of unhappy marriages & divorces. These things are not always connected, of course, but placing another person’s needs before your own makes a difference.
It is not implied to be a doormat or to always cave to the demands of loved ones, but before taking any decision, make it a habit to consider, “Will this keep my family safe, happy & secure? Will this aid my family & strengthen our relationship?” If you make it a habit to ask these questions before making a decision, your whole family will benefit.
8. Think Before You Speak
This habit isn’t limited to verbal communication only. Frequently we feel the urge to reply to emails, texts & instant messages the minute we hear the notification ring. Not only does this habit divert us from our current activity, but it can also cause ill-thought-out responses in haste.
Instead of replying to messages the minute you receive them, save specific times during the day to reply to people. That way, you can focus completely on your current task & ensure that your replies are proper & well-considered, devoid of spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
Final Word On Habits
It is not suggested that you immediately incorporate all of these Habits That Can Change Your Life. The key to creating good habits is to start small & then increase as the new habits become automatic. Trying to adopt various habits simultaneously is like trying to carry a dozen packets with one hand – you will feel overloaded & chances are, you will drop them all very quickly.
While expert opinion on how long it takes to get used to a new habit varies from twenty days to more than two months, one little piece of advice is: Be patient, be kind to yourself, remain positive & celebrate every small accomplishment.
FAQs
Q: What is the key to building Habits That Can Change Your Life?
A: The key is persistence & the knowledge of why that one is vital.
Q: How many habits should be adopted?
A: There is actually no limit to that. Start with one & go ahead collecting them once you get accustomed to it.
Q: When should I get rid of a particular habit?
A: If a habit is positive, that is not needed. A negative habit should be discarded as soon as possible.
