Published September 20, 2022
As they say, every day is a chance to be a better person. But between the fast-paced lifestyle and the never-ending bills to pay, each day has become more about survival than actually living.
How then, can you strive to be better, when every single day, you have to fight to survive?
You see, Rome wasn’t built in a single day. If you want to achieve something great, you need to work for it day in and day out. The same is true if you want to become a better person. It takes constant effort to change your life and transform yourself into the person you want to be.
In short, if you want your life to change, you need to start making changes to your daily habits.
The Things You Should Do Everyday
If you want to be better than you were yesterday, here are some things you should do every day:
1. Be grateful for the things you have
When you maintain an attitude of gratitude, you start to see life as half-full rather than half-empty.
2. Smile
Smiling is contagious. When you smile, it cheers up other people too. So start your day with a smile. You never know who’s day you brighten up with it.
3. Make someone smile
Smiling is not enough. You need to give others a reason to smile too. Whether it’s giving your colleagues a tap on the back or handing out a care package for that homeless man around the corner, putting a smile on someone’s face is a great way to get the day going.
4. Spend some time doing the things that make you happy
Life shouldn’t be all about working and paying bills. Make time for your hobbies too.
5. Exercise
Physical activity stimulates the release of dopamine, endorphin, and serotonin – the famous “happy hormones”. These hormones promote positive feelings which, in turn, make you feel good.
6. Eat at least one healthy meal
Eating well makes you feel good. So make it a point to eat a balanced meal, with less sugar and fats, at least once a day.
7. List down (or make a mental note) of your goals for the day
Planning your day helps you stay focused and motivated. You don’t really need to sit down to do this. You can list down your daily tasks while commuting to work, brushing your teeth, or even while in the shower.
8. Drink enough water
Drinking water has lots of health benefits such as aiding digestion and carrying oxygen and nutrients to your cells. These, in turn, make you feel refreshed and invigorated.
9. Spend at least a few minutes outdoors
While it’s tempting to stay indoors with all the conveniences your home has to offer, you should go out once in a while too. Go for a walk around the neighborhood or walk your dog to the dog park. Spending time outdoors is not only good for our physical well-being, but it can do wonders for our mental health too.
10. Get enough sleep
We all know how important sleep is for our bodies. When you’re well-rested, you wake up less cranky and with more energy. This creates a domino effect of positivity for the people around you too.
11. Have a good laugh
More and more studies are now proving what we’ve known all along:laughing is good for your health. So seize every opportunity to laugh and be merry.
12. Say positive things to yourself in the mirror
When you feel good about yourself, you treat others kindly too. So start your day by changing mirror mantras to fill yourself with positive thoughts.
13. Look for the silver linings
There are always silver linings to every situation no matter how bleak it might seem. It is only when we learn to see those silver linings that we’ll learn to appreciate life to the fullest.
14. Consider each day as a fresh start
Every morning is a blessing and a new opportunity to make life better. Don’t waste it.
15. Help someone
Every day, there’s always something we can do to help others. Whether it’s helping an old person cross the street or mowing your disabled neighbor’s lawn, you’ll never run out of opportunities to help someone.
16. Learn something new
As author Kenneth Blanchard said, “when you stop learning, you stop growing”. So strive to learn something new every single day.
17. Wake up earlier than you need to
Make it a point to wake up before your alarm clock tells you to. It will give you more time to meditate or do a quick workout before starting your day.
18. Meditate for a few minutes
Meditation helps you clear your mind, focus on the present, and gain a new perspective on difficult situations. Even 15 minutes of meditation is enough to help reduce stress and boost productivity.
19. Do random acts of kindness
It goes without saying that kindness makes the world a better place. So if you want to be a better person, start by being kind to others.
20. Make your bed
Many people don’t really bother making their bed in the morning. But seeing your bedroom neat and tidy after a long day at work can take all your stress away.
21. Tidy up your work desk
Just like a clean bedroom, a tidy work desk is also a great stress reliever.
22. Listen to inspiring music
If there’s one thing that’s sure to elevate your mood and take your worries away, it’s good music. Whether you’re into country songs or heart-wrenching ballads, listening to your favorite music can definitely transform your day.
23. Read a motivational quote
There’s a reason why people are hanging up wall decors of their favorite quotes. A good saying not only makes us think but also feel. So if you want to get your daily dose of motivation, an inspiring quote or two can do the trick.
24. Write a diary entry or a short journal
One of the reasons why we feel lonely and cranky is because we are taught to keep our thoughts and feelings bottled up. And when we can no longer hold it in, that’s when we tend to “explode”. Keeping a diary or journal gives you a channel to express those thoughts and emotions rather than bottling them up. This helps you “heal” mentally and emotionally.
25. Spend some time with your loved ones
Being with the people you love and care about is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Whether it’s helping your kids with their homework or having dinner together, make sure to spend some quality time with your loved ones. After all, you can lose all your material possessions but the memories you shared with them will stay with you forever.
26. Reduce your social media time
It’s not exactly a secret that too much social media is bad. Aside from the radiation from our phones, social media can also be very addicting. Studies have even proven that excessive social media can cause depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.
So, even for just an hour every day, resist the urge to check on your DMs and notifications. Or if you can, refrain from checking your social media altogether. It won’t only save you from the harmful effects of radiation, but it can also save you from the harmful toxicity of people on the internet.
27. Engage in meaningful conversations
Whether you’re at home or at work, make it a point to have meaningful conversations with people. Be open to other people’s perspectives. Life, after all, is a continuous learning opportunity. You can learn something from everyone if you just take the time to listen to what they have to say.
28. Read or listen to something that makes you think
Reading a book or listening to an educational podcast not only teaches you something new. It also hones your critical thinking skills and keeps your mind sharp.
29. Don’t put off the tasks you can do today
If you’re fond of putting off tasks for later, you’re not alone. We all have those moments where we just don’t want to do anything. But if you do this everyday, those tasks can pile up. Before you know it, you’re overrun with a mountain of tasks that you have no hope of ever finishing on time.
30. Take a shower
This is for hygiene purposes more than anything. If you feel clean, you feel good. Feeling good, in turn, improves your attitude towards life.
The Benefits of Keeping Daily Habits
Now that you know some of the things you should include in your daily habits, let’s talk about their importance. Why should you stick to a daily habit? What’s in it for you?
According to health experts, sticking to a daily routine have plenty of benefits such as:
1. Reduced stress levels
Studies have found that routines can help you better manage stress and anxiety. Scheduling your day helps you complete necessary tasks on time leaving you more time to do the things that you enjoy.
2. Increased productivity
Having a structure to your day helps you plan your tasks more effectively, prioritize tasks, and practice better time management.
Besides, completing the tasks we set for ourselves gives us a different kind of satisfaction. It makes us feel good about ourselves and reinforce our sense of self-efficacy. All these can boost our productivity levels.
3. Better sleep
You probably don’t think much about it but your routine affects your sleeping schedule. If you go to bed at a certain time every single day, soon enough that schedule will be embedded in your body clock. So wherever you are or how stressful your day is, you won’t have a hard time falling asleep.
4. Improved focus
Having a daily routine frees up your mind from thinking about the most mundane tasks. This allows you to focus your time and energy on more creative pursuits.
5. Better overall health
Having enough sleep and more time to pursue your passion will benefit your physical and mental health in more ways than you can imagine. For one, you wake up refreshed and ready to take on another day. Being able to do the things that make you happy also reduces your stress and anxiety. In short, you’ll be in a much better place health-wise.
Final Thoughts
Doing all of the above every single day is undeniably challenging. But when you feel like giving up, just remember the old saying: “constant dripping wears away the stone”. The only thing that separates successful people from the rest is persistence and it indeed does pay off.
[Related: 50+ Worthwhile Things To Do Before You Die]
