We are creatures of habit. Everything we think, say and do is a result of deep-seated habits etched into our minds through years and years of repetitive behavior. Developing good habits can help you transform your life for the better. Bad habits can lead you away from your own goals or worse – your happiness. However, by fostering good habits, you can inch closer to success, happiness, and the life you want.
By taking the time to invest in your personal development, you can become a better version of yourself. Focus on these habits, consistently making efforts to instill them into your daily routine for meaningful and happy life:
Smile more.
Studies have confirmed that people who smile a genuine smile are happier in life. This is one of the best habits for allowing you to find emotional, mental and spiritual peace-of-mind over time – simply by placing a smile on your face.
The physiology of our bodies dictates the psychology of our minds. When we frown or slouch or do any number of other things that convey a sense of depression and unhappiness, our mind takes those cues and runs with them. However, once we shift our outward appearance by consciously adjusting ourselves, our inward feelings follow.
Spend some time outdoors.
There’s one vitamin that many people in colder climates are always low in but it’s essential to good health. That’s Vitamin D. And you get it naturally from the sun. While going for a walk on a cold day may be less than ideal, spending time outdoors is crucial for good health.
And it’s not just the sun. The fresh air you breath in and the ground your feet touch can help boost your mood and health. On warmer days, be sure to spend some time gardening or going for jogs around your neighborhood. Developing this good habit can help you live a long life.
Practice gratitude.
One of the good habits you can build to increase your happiness is expressing gratitude each day. Practice thinking about the things you have to be thankful about. Compile a gratitude list each morning/evening to reflect on what you have and to reap the benefits of gratitude.
It is so easy to get in the bad habit of envying what others have. But there’s no need to be envious of what others have. It’s okay to be temporarily frustrated, sad, or angry when things don’t go according to our plan. But it’s important to remember that bad moments lead to good moments and this can be true of even the darkest periods in our lives. Develop the good habit of listing all the things you’re grateful for each day. This will give you hope on tough days.
Pause before you answer or respond to people.
Train yourself to listen well, by giving yourself time to think up your response in that pause, not while the other person is talking. This not only shows that you value what the other person is saying (which communicates acceptance and respect) but it also gives you time to weigh your attitude and words.
In a high-tension situation or stressful conversation, a simple five-second pause might be what keeps you from blowing up and ruining a relationship you value.
Recite positive affirmations.
Good habits like reciting positive affirmations can help you maintain a positive attitude. Studies show that optimistic people live longer, are more social, and achieve greater careers. While pessimism may be a genetic trait, it is possible to rewire the brain to become more optimistic.
You can do this by reciting positive affirmations, doing right brain activities, practicing meditation, and doing other calming activities. Objecting to negative or toxic thoughts by replacing them with positive thoughts is a healthy way to help challenge thoughts that don’t uplift you.
Relax and breathe.
Sit in silence for a few minutes every day. We don’t have to call this meditation, because that might be a little too intimidating. You don’t have to sit cross-legged. You don’t have to close your eyes. You don’t have to be Zen-like in anyway.
Your brain can be flying a hundred miles an hour, but don’t say or do anything. Just sit, comfortably, and breathe for a few minutes. Relax and unwind in your own way.
Tidy everything.
Physical clutter results in a loss of focus. When our lives are disorganized and in a state of disarray, it’s hard to stay focused on our goals.
Take the time to organize your home and office, and do just a little each day to enforce this habit. Take a single drawer and organize it, or organize a solitary corner of your home or even a cabinet in your office.
Give yourself a time out.
Life happens. You’re going to hit points when you feel stressed, frustrated, angry, or impatient. That’s okay, because if you can give yourself a time-out, then you can keep things in perspective.
You can’t expect yourself to be a non-emotional robot, but you can train yourself to take a five-minute break from humanity when things are getting to you. Walk around the block, lock yourself in the bathroom, take a quick drive with the windows down and the music blaring. Find the “time-out chair” that works for you, and use it.