We lead busy lives in the 21st century – that’s hardly a surprise for anybody. Between juggling work, chores, hobbies, and social life, it can be a bit hard to remember that we should, above all else, take proper care of ourselves.
To me, practicing self-care, for the most part, fell out of the picture. I was simply too busy with everything else to pay my well-being the proper attention.
One burnout later was all it took for me to finally decide something had to be done about my routine and habits.
Of course, like every other person, I decided I would start grand and change overnight. Needless to say, it didn’t work out as I had planned.
I discovered that you don’t need to commit to changing fast and impressively. The reality is that the healthy habits you should practice daily aren’t something grand and unrealistic. All it takes is to try and be 1% better every day, which results in you being 365% better at the end of the year!
How amazing is that?
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Tiny Habits For Big Success
And if the idea for the 1% better every day sounds familiar, that is because it came from one of the bestsellers – Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Ever since I read his book (well, I listen to it with Audible), I cannot get rid of the feeling that it is so stupidly simple to just improve little by little, setting yourself up for success instead of going for the big overnight changes that end up with disappointment.
No more “Starting on Monday, I will drink eight glasses of water!” No more pushing yourself over your limits, thinking it is stepping out of your comfort zone, while, in reality, you’ve set unrealistic expectations for yourself.
Life can change in a second, but when we initiate that change, it will take some time to adjust to it. The smoother the transition, the longer we will stick to that change and turn it into a lifestyle.
The following post is dedicated to just that – giving you healthy habit ideas and bettering your life with a mere 1% so you can feel that positive impact in the long term. Which healthy habit of yours are you most proud of?
Healthy Habits To Follow Every Day
1. Fit in 30 minutes of walking per day
I bet you don’t need me to tell you exactly how important it is to stay active every day – you probably already know that yourself.
The American Heart Association recommends everyone to engage in moderate exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.
This translates to being physically active for at least 30 minutes per day, five days of the week. Remember that you shouldn’t do something you don’t like to – a simple stroll around the neighborhood is good enough to start with.
New healthy habits are hard to build, which is why I recommend picking a designated space in your daily agenda, where you can fit in a walk around the block or the nearby park. Stay consistent with your planning – it’s easier to turn something into a habit if you do it at precisely the same time every day.
Here are some things you could do for 30 minutes a day:
- walk;
- dance;
- zumba workout – Youtube is packed with those;
- building your own workout according to you needs, mood and energy level;
- walk your dog to the park;
- hula hoop;
- yoga.
2. Avoid screens right before bedtime
You probably also know that using devices right before hopping into bed is hardly healthy for you.
However, if you are anything like me, you probably disregarded this advice a long time ago. Who doesn’t have a habit of falling asleep right after scrolling through Tik Tok or their Instagram feed?
Well, as it turns out, the blue light that emits from your device is very harmful to your health. It makes it harder for you to sleep, it makes you more alert at night and less alert the following day, and your eyes are unnecessarily strained.
So, try to put your phone on the nightstand for good next time you are heading to bed.
Sure, it might be tempting to pick it up and start scrolling (I have been there many times myself), which is why I have a compromise for you. If you want to reach out for something, try a book instead – it has less harmful effects on your health and can still be equally entertaining.
Here is a great selection of books that are a much better choice than the dancing dogs on TikTok (I lied, nothing is better than the dogs on TikTok, but you got the point!).
3. Go out of your comfort zone
I know, getting outside your comfort zone is often a scary thing to do. It took me a while to take this leap of faith myself, but now that I look back on it, I can’t say I am sorry for that choice.
Going out of your comfort zone broadens your horizons and usually makes you surprised by your hidden strength. You are often more capable than you give yourself credit for, which you will never know unless you dare test your abilities.
Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be something grand like bungee jumping or quitting your daytime job to become a full-time freelancer (although that sounds awesome).
Sometimes even small steps can take you to places you never thought you could reach. If you need a little nudge in the right direction, you can refer to the simple guide I published here not so long ago.
And if you need more of a push to commit to getting out of your comfort zone more, you could try my 30-day comfort zone challenge.
Here are a few simple ways to step out of your comfort zone:
- Eat in a restaurant alone;
- Go to the cinema by yourself;
- Take a different route to work than the usual one;
- Start a new hobby;
- Learn a new skill you’ve always thought you won’t be good at;
- Overcome fear of something, or at least get one step closer to overcoming it;
- Have an honest conversation you’ve been avoiding for a while.
4. Read at least 10 pages of a book per day
Reading seems to be falling out of practice lately, but nevertheless, it’s a fantastic habit to get into and incorporate into your routine.
Tying nicely into what I previously mentioned about turning off screens before bedtime, a lovely book can be a good substitute for your phone.
Maybe I am biased, but I was an avid reader when I was in high school. I often read until 2-3 in the morning, unable to put the book down until I read one “last” chapter.
When I started college, reading for fun kind of fell out of the picture at some point. Somehow I lost the habit I so dearly loved over the years. When I finished college, I decided I would get to reading again. And, boy, was it difficult.
Every page seemed more boring than the other – it was impossible to finish an entire book. But I kept trying – 4 pages, then five the next day, then 6 and 7… Now, I read a minimum of 30-40 pages before falling asleep, and truth be told, I have never slept better.
If you are searching for a great selection of books to read, here are my five favorite novels that I believe every woman should read at least once in her life.
5. Protect your eyes with the 20-20-20 rule
If you are anything like me, you probably can feel the fatigue in your eyes throughout the day. Most of us work behind a computer screen all day long, which is why it’s normal for our eyes to feel distressed.
However, the fact that it is normal doesn’t make it healthy.
Here’s a solution I have for you.
You probably have heard of the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, you should try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you and hold your gaze for 20 seconds. It’s that simple!
It might take you some time to incorporate this habit into your daily routine, which is why I recommend setting reminders on your phone to know when to look away.
If you don’t know what 20 feet look like, just focus on something far away from you – you don’t need to be exact. For example, look through the window at the people on the street or the trees outside. Try this method out – it’s one of the healthy habits that will change your life for the better.
Pro Tip: You could combine this healthy habit with a time management tool called Pomodoro for ultimate results. Pomodoro technique asks you to have 25 minutes of deep-focus work with 5 minutes break after that. You could use plenty of free tools to get reminded to take a break every 25 minutes. Most of them allow you to adjust the time to 20 minutes instead.
See more about how to incorporate this into your life by taking a look at my free guide on the five time management systems that get things done.
6. Write in your happiness journal
Have you ever heard of a happiness journal? No? Let me elaborate.
A happiness journal is a place where you can record all the things that contribute to your well-being and happy vibes. It’s a method that can help you take better care of yourself by taking small steps every day to transform your life for the better.
The journal itself doesn’t take long to fill out (you only need to dedicate 10 minutes to it each day) and can bring you tremendous satisfaction in the long run. You can look back on the pages and reflect on the things that made the biggest impact on you. Is there any trend you are noticing overall?
If you like this idea and want to start your journal but aren’t quite sure where to pick it up from, I have just the thing for you. A while back, I created my very own happiness journal that I shared with all of you here in this blog.
Since I put a lot of thought, effort, and genuine care into its creation, I would be delighted if you deem it worthy for taking the next step in your self-care regime.
Inside Of My Happiness Journal
Inside Of My Happiness | Journal for Living an Intentional Life
Scared of journaling?
Journaling has so many benefits, and you've always wanted to stick to it but never did. It looks and sounds complicated. You think that there are some rules you know nothing of and can't see the magic everyone talks of.
Inside of My Happiness is your go-to journal for the morning and the evening. Get inspired in the mornings, reflect on yourself in the evening. As simple as that.
7. Make a habit of having a glass of water near you
Everyone seems to be on and on about water these days. It’s enough for you to pop by any social media to see influencers blasting the message “Drink more water!” from everywhere you turn. But even so, why do you struggle to meet your daily requirements?
Well, it’s likely because you don’t have a habit of drinking water, for starters. I remember that I despised H2O so much that I only drank carbonated drinks in my youth.
Then, when I started high school, something clicked for me. This was when I started carrying around a huge water bottle everywhere I went. I even made a game out of it – the bottle should be empty by the time I return home from school.
Today, I find it helpful to just have a glass of water by my desk at all times.
Do you know how we tend to reach for the closest things to our vicinity? This is why I avoid keeping any sugary or unhealthy snacks and drinks near me. I know that I will indulge in them mindlessly and regret it later if I do.
So, keep it simple – if you have a glass (or a jug) of water near you at all times, you’ll notice how you start reaching out to hydrate on a subconscious level.
Final thoughts
These were seven healthy habits you should practice daily, but they aren’t the only habits you might want to consider.
The habits you need the most are the ones that pop into your head when you think of your health. What is it that you keep ignoring? What is it that you’ve tried a few times to incorporate into your life but keep failing? Making habits stick isn’t easy, but it’s self-rewarding. Just think of how proud you would be of yourself when you stick to a healthier lifestyle.
Share what healthy habits you are currently incorporating into your daily routine.
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7 Healthy Habits You Should Practice Daily
Blogger, dreamer, procrastinator, and lover of everything soul-touching. My mission is to make you laugh, provoke your thoughts, light up your day and inspire you to fall in love with life and yourself.
