When a new year or new season arrives, we often resolve to make changes in our lives.
Sometimes we struggle because we try to change too many things at once.
If the arrival of spring or summer or the school year or the new year has got you thinking about making some improvements, this list is a great place to start.
Check out the following ten habits, and then pick ONE:
1. Get more sleep.
You know your kids are a disaster when they are overtired.
That doesn’t disappear when you get older. When you are not getting enough sleep you are cranky, short tempered, less able to focus, inefficient, less productive, and you are making it way harder for yourself to lose weight.
Plus, the less you sleep, the worse your quality of sleep is.
If you aren’t getting at least seven hours a night, change that, now!
2. Exercise.
Exercise isn’t something you do to lose weight. Sure, that helps.
But exercise allows you to maintain weight loss. It relieves stress. It helps you sleep better. It allows you to maintain a quality of life when you are older. So you can do cool stuff like boogie board with your grandchildren when you are in your 70’s.
It’s the best anti-depressant there is, and it sets a great example for your kids.
If you aren’t moving your butt now on a regular basis, START. NOW.
If you could use help in that department, click here.
3. Drink more water.
Water is what your body needs most. It keeps your skin hydrated and it helps you with weight loss by helping you feel full and suppressing your appetite.
It’s also necessary to help your body burn fat. A dehydrated body cannot metabolize fat as efficiently as one that is well hydrated. So the more water you drink, the more efficiently your body can burn that sh*t up.
Plus, if you have decent tap water, it’s FREE and it takes like zero time!
Drink more water!!!
4. Remove phones and tablets from your bedroom.
Electronics in the bedroom can keep you up later and disrupt your quality of sleep. They affect your relationships, and when your phone is right there by the bed when you wake up, you are often sucked into the black hole of Facebook and Instagram, and is a major timesucker.
Keep the phone out of the bedroom at night!
5. Eat your meals seated at a table (and without distractions).
This sets a healthy example for your kids. It also allows you to be present and enjoy your meals. You are more aware of how much you are eating when you sit at a table without distraction.
Families who eat together encourage and develop stronger connections, and kids who eat dinners with their families are less likely to use drugs and their grades tend to be better.
Whether you are eating alone or with your family, sit down at a table and be present!
6. Practice Gratitude.
Practicing gratitude shifts your attitude. It creates happiness!
It is one of the most powerful tools you have to change your mindset and help you focus on the things you have rather than the things you don’t have.
People who regularly practice gratitude are less stressed, more likely to exercise, less judgmental, and are generally more optimistic.
Get yourself a journal and start writing down three things you are grateful for every day. It takes just a minute, and it shifts your focus and eventually, your life.
7. Compliment people.
We know how good we feel when we give to other people.
Hence the saying, Tis better to give than to receive.
It’s the same with compliments.
Giving other people compliments increases your level of happiness.
This is another habit that takes just a minute of your day but gives you a big return on your investment.
Consider making this a part of your daily routine and you will see the quality of your life and the level of your happiness improve!
8. Set your intentions.
When you set your intention for the day, you remind yourself of what you want to accomplish and how you want your day to go.
If your intention is to fill your body with healthy food, setting that intention in the morning can help you later on in the day when you are about to chow down on a bag of chips from the vending machine at work.
Will that bag of chips align you with your intention for the day?
Probably not.
Reminding yourself throughout the day of your intentions will help you stay on the path you want to follow.
9. Start planning.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Whether it’s planning your meals for the week or the day, planning your workouts, planning quality time with your kids or your spouse, when you don’t have a plan, those things often fall by the wayside.
Having a plan sets you up for success.
Successful people plan!
10. Write things down.
You don’t need anything fancy. A fifty cent composition book will do.
Keeping some sort of journal helps you in so many areas of your life!
It helps you with direction and focus.
It helps you look back and reflect on your day, your week and your year.
Self-reflection is one of the biggest tools you have for growth.
Writing things down helps you to see patterns and track progress.
It is also the perfect place to set intentions, plan, and write down gratitude lists!
Top athletes use journals to write about their performances/workouts/practices in order to see patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. They are a great way to assess and revise plans and goals.
If you want to make changes in your life, any of these ten areas are a great place to start.
Pick one, start small, stay consistent. When you do those three things, you will begin to see positive changes in your life!
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Hi Susie,
I love these habits listed here and I’m going to incorporate it to our daily habits.
Thank you for this post. They are very practical and definitely something that I can relate too as a Mom.