Habits are built from the baby steps and actions we consciously take to better ourselves. The fact that you are reading this article means that you deeply care about yourself and your well-being. You deserve a healthier and happier life, and these simple routine changes will guarantee transformative growth. Remember, creating habits takes an increased amount of time, repetition, and patience. Here are eight of my best recommendations of small simple habits that will truly change your life!
- Make Your Bed
Making your bed first thing in the morning guarantees you start your day off right. Not only does it begin your day with structure, but it creates a calming and clutter-free space. Once you start the habit of making your bed, you’ll be surprised at how soon you’ll be picking up the pile of clothes off your floor or decluttering your nightstand. Also, reduced stress and increased productivity are both benefits of making your bed. An added bonus of a tidy bed is the visual effect of a cleanliness that establishes a sense of accomplishment as soon as you wake up.
- Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is not the action of merely saying thank you, but it’s taking the time to recognize and appreciate things around you. Whether it’s your friends, family, or simply the coffee you drink in the morning, there’s always something to be thankful for. It doesn’t even have to be in the form of words. Taking a five-minute walk around the neighborhood and spending time in the fresh air is an act of gratitude in itself. In simple terms, gratitude clears cognitive clutter and gives your life meaning and purpose.
Try This: Every morning, think of one thing you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude doesn’t have to be complex, it can be as simple as saying, “I’m grateful for my blanket that kept me warm all night,” or something deeper, like, “I’m grateful my mom always supports my passions.” When you start your day off reminding yourself of all the goodness in your life, you are actively rewiring your brain to be more positive. As soon as you open your eyes, make your first thought one specific thing you want to appreciate that day.
- Drink Your Morning Cup Of H20
Drink a full cup of water right after you wake up. Your body needs to rehydrate if you’ve slept for 6 to 8 hours. In my own experience, after I started drinking a cup of water every morning, I noticed an increase in my daily focus, clearer skin, and a spike in my energy levels.
Try This: In the evening, set out a glass of water on your nightstand to make it easier to remember to drink water in the morning. Set yourself up for victory by helping the future-you accomplish their goals!
- Sweep Your Mind
Grab a pen and notebook, and get ready to practice what I like to call a “brain dump.” In today’s society, it’s impossible to not feel overwhelmed by external stressors like the news, social media, and our personal relationships. Throughout our fast-paced lives, it can feel impossible to navigate our existence and feel relaxed in our own heads. I recommend practicing a mind sweep before bed to clean out the day, or simply whenever you start to feel overwhelmed.
Try This: Set a timer for three minutes and fill the page with whatever comes to mind. Some of my mind sweeps have been combinations of grocery lists, homework deadlines, and lyrics from the one song I couldn’t seem to get out of my head. In this activity, the most important thing is that you don’t stop writing. After three minutes, you will be able to better visualize whatever’s been clogging your mind. To be honest, it doesn’t matter if you read what you wrote—all that matters is that you devoted the time to let go of what was taking up unnecessary space in your head. Once it’s on the paper, you’re free to feel mentally relaxed.
- Follow The 10-Second Rule
Only allow yourself 10-seconds to get out of bed after your first alarm goes off. Snoozing is tempting, but you’ll be surprised at the urgency you’ll feel once you start counting down the seconds. When I heard about this hack, I didn’t think that it would work, but then I started practicing counting down each morning. I was shocked when I sprung out of bed before I reached five seconds! The 10-second rule is like a game that you’ll always want to win, and that is what makes it so effective.
Try This: Give yourself 10 seconds to get out bed in the morning. Practice counting down from 10-seconds to get out of the warm shower you’ve been standing in for too long, or to push yourself to go on the walk you’ve been pushing off all day.
- Make Your Bed Your Sanctuary
Make your bed a safe space for relaxation, sleep, and overall comfort. After you make your bed in the morning, do your best not to go back inside of it until the night. During the day, avoid doom scrolling, doing homework, and spending too much leisure time in your bed.
Treat your bed as a special oasis only for sleep! When you start associating your bed with sleep, you’ll be amazed at how easy it will be to fall asleep at night. Personally, I noticed an increase in both my productivity and relaxation when I stopped doing homework in my bed during the day. I began utilizing other spaces to be productive like my living room, coffee shops, and campus study spaces. Stepping away from my bed allowed me to create meaningful experiences that I would have never discovered if I had stayed under the covers.
- Reassure Your Reflection
Mirrors are everywhere these days, which makes it impossible not to constantly look at ourselves. Scientifically, we were not made to see our reflection at this large of a scale. Think about all the reflective surfaces you interact with on a day-to-day basis like car windows, building fronts, or phone screens.
Try This: Instead of tunnel visioning on your imperfections when you see your reflection, redirect yourself to give yourself a compliment. Try the High 5 Habit created by Mel Robbins, Golden Globe nominee for Best Podcaster, and high five your reflection in the mirror every morning. Robbins highlights her high five method’s impact on positive neurological changes and confidence growth. Repetition of positive affirmations go a long way!
- Apply SPF
Never skip a day applying sunscreen and moisturizing to your face and neck. Also, applying sunscreen on your hands before driving is a great way to combat sneaky sun damage. You can incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine through SPF-infused moisturizers and makeup. Some of my favorite SPF brands are Supergoop, Elta MD, and Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 .