Habits are those things that we do automatically. We have repeated them so many times in our life that doing them each day does not require much effort.
Sometimes though, our habits are limiting us to reach our full potential.
We do however try to improve ourselves by changing our bad habits with good ones. But sometimes our good intentions become just that, intentions.
Because after our initial outburst of good intention, we then encounter difficulties in setting up the habit. For the fact that the habit we want to develop is just too big for us.
The end result is forgetting about the habit altogether.
However, if we want to change our lives, it doesn’t have to start with a mind-boggling action.
It pays to start small. And to be consistent.
When you start small, it will not require you to exert so much effort. With this, you will not encounter that much resistance from yourself in doing a new activity.
And with consistency in doing the action, you’re all set to develop good habits that will improve your life.
Here are some small and easy habits you can develop that will change your life.
Smile at yourself in the mirror
When you wake up each morning and see yourself in the mirror, SMILE😃.
Even when there is nothing for you to smile about, go ahead and curve that pretty mouth upwards.
Giving yourself a warm smile will instantly make you feel better and give off positive vibes for the day ahead.
Drink water
We all know that water is an important component for our body to function normally. So it is one thing that we should not neglect.
But drinking water first thing in the morning, instead of coffee will have a much more beneficial effect for us.
For one, drinking water first thing in the morning flushes out the stomach. This balances the lymphatic system that helps build a strong immune system.
A strong immune system equals a strong body that can fight off diseases.
Rehydrating first thing in the morning is also a good habit that builds a healthier routine of drinking enough water that the body needs throughout the day.
Take a walk
Walking is a low-impact exercise that provides the most physical and mental benefits. Here are some of the obvious benefits of starting a walking habit.
- Improves mood,
- Increases energy,
- Improves creative thinking,
- Boosts immune function,
- Strengthens heart,
- Burns calories,
- Lowers blood sugar,
- Helps lubricate joints,
- Tones legs, and
- Heps with longevity.
Undoubtedly, walking is an activity that anyone with legs, regardless of age or fitness level, can truly appreciate.
What’s more, a walk does not require any special equipment.
So, based on the benefits listed above, we can conclude that walking is a simple yet easy habit that you can start right now.
Stretch your body
Another simple habit that can help you improve your flexibility, which is an important aspect of fitness, is stretching.
Taking a few minutes each day to stretch your body can help relieve stress, calm your mind, and relieve headache tension.
A stretching routine also improves your posture, reduces muscle tightness and pain, increases blood flow to your muscles, and expands your range of motion.
Overall, stretching on a regular basis can help you improve your physical performance while also relieving stress and calming your mind.
Declutter one item a day
Decluttering at least one item a day is another simple habit that can change your life.
Take a few minutes each day, say 5-10 minutes, to clear out some physical or digital clutter in your space.
From clothing that no longer fits, game boards with missing pieces, toys that have already been outgrown, or items that have not been used for a year or more. Throw them away or donate them.
You can also declutter digital clutter that’s taking up digital space such as apps or games that you no longer use or play. Remove or uninstall them as needed.
You feel calmer and less stressed when you have fewer items to clean and maintain, store, and tidy up. You avoid decision fatigue as well. And will have more time to devote to more beneficial tasks or projects.
2-minute rule
Another simple habit you can develop that will have a big impact on your life is to practice the two-minute rule. That is, if an activity or task takes less than a minute to complete, go right ahead and do it soonest.
This habit is based on the book about productivity by David Allen titled Getting Things Done.
This 2-minute rule trains your brain to act as soon as a task or action, which will not take much time, presents itself. For instance, returning an item to its proper location, responding quickly to a text message, cleaning up your kitchen counter, and so on.
This habit avoids the common tendency to consider the process required to complete an action and then find a reason to postpone it.
When you take action as soon as something occurs, you can significantly reduce the accumulation of clutter in your home or office, as well as the overall stress of being pressed for time.
Therefore, by adopting this simple habit, you can eliminate procrastination and boost your productivity.
Keep surfaces clean and clear
Allowing an item to sit for an extended period of time on a flat surface in your home will result in that item multiplying and camping out in your space. This can certainly lead to distraction, stress, and inefficiency.
Flat surfaces, such as dining tables, kitchen counters, nightstands, or any other flat surface, appear to have the ability to collect a wide range of items. The end result? A cluttered and disorganized environment.
So, to keep your home clutter-free, make it a habit to keep your flat surfaces clean and clear.
How? Make sure that every item in your home has a designated location. And, each time these items are used, they must be returned immediately after use. Remember the 2-minute rule? It comes in handy in these situations.
Do not leave items on any flat surface with the intention of returning them later. Because you will undoubtedly forget about it. And will almost certainly result in clutter.
Have an MIT
A to-do list helps us to remember the tasks or projects that we need to do or complete. And for this reason, a to-do list is a good thing to have.
However, most of us tend to overestimate how much we can accomplish in a single day. This exaggeration results in an overly long list that, more often than not, does not get completed.
And having these unfinished projects keep us worried and distracted. As a result, we become unproductive and stressed, negatively impacting our physical and mental health.
So, what can be done? Of course, the most obvious approach is to reduce your to-do list by having only one MIT or Most Important Task. Three, at the most.
You can better organize your time if your list only contains 1-3 items. It also allows you to produce higher-quality results because you are more focused and attentive to your MIT.
Thus, developing the simple habit of only doing the tasks that have the greatest impact on your personal or professional goals will undoubtedly change your life.
Turn off notifications
Notifications send you reminders, messages from other people, and other timely information from your app. In turn, you can either tap the notification to open your app or take an action directly from it.
Although the intention is to alert you to something important or urgent, the end result is that you become distracted. And takes you away from what you are currently doing. Your MIT, probably?
At the very least, notifications can be inconvenient. At the most, they can disrupt your flow and waste your time.
The simplest and best thing you can do is disable these notifications.
Developing the habit of turning off your notifications while doing your most important task will almost certainly result in fewer distractions and greater productivity.
Practice gratitude
This habit can be as simple as saying thank you first thing in the morning or at night before going to bed.
The force, universe, or God will know your intention of being grateful- for another day, for a good day spent, for all the blessings received, and for everything else that happened to you during the day.
You can take it a step further by keeping a gratitude journal in which you write down everything you are thankful for. You can also meditate and focus on what you are grateful for. Finally, you can simply acknowledge and appreciate those around you.
Having a deep appreciation for what we have and continue to receive rewards us tenfold because of the following additional benefits:
- More joy and happiness
- Greater optimism and pleasure
- Higher levels of positive emotions
- Reduced stress
- More satisfaction with life
- Stronger immune system
- Lowered blood pressure
- Better sleep quality
- Greater resiliency
- Improved social connections
Summary
You have the best intentions in wanting to improve your life. However, the changes you implement are frequently in large chunks that are difficult to implement, let alone on a daily basis.
However, if these habits are small and simple, you are more likely to follow through and develop the habit quickly.
Here are some small and simple habits you can form that will have a life-changing impact.
- Smile at yourself in the mirror,
- Drink water,
- Take a walk,
- Stretch your body,
- Declutter one item a day,
- 2-minute rule,
- Keep surfaces clean and clear,
- Have an MIT,
- Turn off notifications, and
- Practice gratitude.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about Small And Easy Habits That Can Change Your Life in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
9 Simple Habits You Can Learn From Vampires
9 Effective Habits For A Happy Life
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
How To Break 9 Bad Habits That Keep You Down
7 Tips On How To Develop A Persistent Habit
5 Organizing Habits You Can Learn From Organized People
7 Good Habits To Develop (Inspired By Gardening)
10 Habits For A Simple Life
Outside reference/s:
WHY YOU SHOULD DRINK WATER AFTER WAKING UP: 7 LIFE-CHANGING FACTS
Why you should drink water first thing every day
What Are the Benefits of Walking?
Benefits of Gratitude Practice and How to Get Started