15 Good Habits To Enhance Your Life This Holiday Season
Habits shape not only our daily routine but also our mindset. Waking up at the same time, exercising, and other daily rituals help improve our mental well-being and boost productivity.
With good habits, you won't waste hours on the couch, struggling with deadlines, procrastination, and self-criticism. You can live and enjoy the moment!
This article explores healthy habits that you can incorporate into your life to make it even better.
What Are Habits?
Many people define habits as certain carefully selected rituals like exercising, taking 10,000 steps a day, or meditating. However, most of our repetitive daily actions are habits.
Habits like making the bed in the morning a part of our daily routine. We usually do it automatically, and if we start debating whether it's worth the time each day, our bed would remain unmade most of the time.
Habits are actions we learn to perform automatically throughout our lives, rewarding us. For example, by making your bed in the morning, you free yourself from having to do it later, which the body reads as a reward for effort.
The Benefits of Small Daily Habits
In today’s culture of success and productivity, where influencers advocate waking up at 5 a.m. every day and eating chia seeds, the average person might feel overwhelmed by the idea of incorporating new habits into their schedule. But in reality, a well-structured routine contributes to our happiness.
Habits distract us from social media. The less time we spend scrolling through endless feeds, the better we feel. It’s more beneficial to live our own lives instead of consuming content. Constantly comparing our success, talents, and appearance with others can make us feel unhappy. Healthy, structured habits provide a break from this cycle.
Habits help us seize opportunities. Chaos in our daily schedule can lead to missing out on life. By forming the habit of starting tasks on time, we can succeed in areas where we previously only scratched the surface.
Habits bring people together with shared interests. Engaging in daily hobbies allows us to meet new people and support each other. A stranger playing on the same sports team could suddenly become a new best friend.
How to Incorporate New Habits
Packing your days with as many tasks as possible is not the best idea. The aim is to make your life happier, not to burn out after a week of a hectic schedule.
If waking up early, working out every morning, and listening to educational podcasts instead of your favorite music is overwhelming, ease that burden.
It's a mistake to believe that sheer willpower can help you adopt new habits. For lasting results, it's essential to find enjoyment in the process itself rather than forcing yourself to do something you dislike. Moreover, the reward for a completed action should be immediate; otherwise, the habit won’t stick. Stress and a bad mood are punishments, not rewards.
A helpful tip: have one day without a set schedule. Spend it as you please, deciding spontaneously what to do next. We recommend including a rest day from habits in your weekly plan because even professional athletes need downtime and "cheat meals." Without this, progress may stall.
Forming habits isn’t a matter of willpower but the right organization of your environment and choosing actions that bring joy and benefit. If your surroundings encourage repeating a needed action, the habit becomes ingrained, like brushing your teeth.
Factors Influencing Habit Formation
Several factors influence whether you’ll acquire a new habit.
Location. In a city without developed infrastructure, it’s challenging to engage in cycling, run regularly, or excel in marathons.
Government regulations. Quitting drinking or smoking is easier when the distribution of these goods is restricted at the state level.
Social connections. Habits often spread within a close circle. For instance, if friends lead a healthy lifestyle, it increases the likelihood of following their example.
Income level. Financial stability affects the availability of a personal trainer and quality equipment. A cheap bike won’t allow you to develop high-level cycling skills.
Health issues. Unaddressed stress and chronic conditions, as well as physical illnesses, can hinder new habit formation. In poor health, people find comfort in old routines.
15 Habits to Improve Your Life
Let's explore a few habits you might enjoy. Try each one to see if it becomes a part of your daily life.
Prepare Your Clothes and Lunch the Night Before
This helps you avoid morning rush, allowing your day to start more smoothly. Enjoying your tea and breakfast is better than ironing your shirt in a rush.
Engage in Creativity, Even if You Don't Have Skills
The creative process is more significant than the outcome. Creating something brings peace and generates positive thoughts. Find your way of self-expression and simply start.
Do Small Cleaning Sessions a Few Times a Week
Cleaning is a therapeutic process. Some find joy in tidying up, filling their home with comfort while getting rid of dirt. A clean environment makes work and hobbies more enjoyable, fostering a positive setting for other healthy habits.
Listen to Instrumental Music
This is an intriguing experience and healthy habit because:
- Music without lyrics conveys more emotions that you interpret on your own;
- It enhances concentration since song lyrics can be distracting, making instrumental music suitable for work or reading;
- Listening to wordless music piques interest in the artists' stories, enriching your understanding of global culture.
Share a Summary After Reading a Book
You'll find reading more engaging and comprehensive, ensuring you grasp the story's essence to convey it accurately to a friend or relative.
Be Aware of Product Ingredients Before Applying Them on Your Skin
Improperly chosen cosmetics can cause damage. With this beneficial habit, you can take care of your appearance without harm and improve your health.
Designate Spaces for Important but Easily Lost Items
Decide where to always keep money, hair ties, mints, and so on. Gradually, you’ll bring order to your belongings and avoid stress from losing your keys again.
Say No When You Want To
A useful habit that frees you from unnecessary commitments and the need to prioritize other people's agendas over your own.
Write Down Your Feelings
Processing emotions only mentally may lack objectivity. Write them down and analyze them as if from a distance. This helps you understand yourself better and reduces anxiety.
Sleep at a Temperature Up to 70°F
Research reviewed in an article on WebMD suggests maintaining bedroom temperatures between 59-65°F promotes better sleep. You can experiment within this range to find the most comfortable one.
Chew Your Food Slowly
You'll feel full sooner and appreciate all the subtle flavors of the dish. Plus, this beneficial habit can help you get in shape.
Smile at Yourself in the Mirror
Cultivate a positive view of your reflection and fall in love with your appearance if you haven't already. Modesty is admirable, but comparing yourself to others and feeling insecure is harmful.
Work with Regular Short Breaks
Taking a break for a snack or walk can spark new ideas for resolving both work and personal challenges, making your day more productive.
Take a Walk at Least Once a Day
This helps maintain your level of physical activity and relieve stress. Observing nature boosts happiness.
Wish Loved Ones Good Night Every Day
Regularly showing attention and affection ensures you remain connected with the people who matter. Even if time was short during the day, a simple ritual like wishing good dreams strengthens your bond.
Experiment with something unusual, try new things, and you’ll develop several beneficial new habits. To solidify them, consider the impact of your environment and try to modify it in your favor whenever possible.
