You don’t require one huge gesture or change to improve your life. Instead, it’s those small, consistent adjustments you make daily that contribute to your overall health and mental well-being. When you think about having a more balanced and active lifestyle, you often focus on massive lifestyle changes, but that may not always be effective. A US study has proposed that more than half the population admits to an unhealthy work-life balance, a trend adversely affecting their quality of life. If you’re looking to improve your life for the better, here are some simple habits you should develop in 2021.
- Rise and shine
Aside from the enormous benefits of having a sufficient good night’s sleep, waking up early is great for having a fulfilling day. Waking up early, at least half an hour before every member of your family does, gives you a fresh and early start and helps to put your day into perspective. If you have a family with young children, your day most likely takes full flight when they get out of bed. Having to prepare them for school, getting breakfast ready, and trying to figure out your schedule in between and plan for the day can be quite hectic. Waking up early gives you ample time to have some quiet time, plan your day and what you seek to accomplish, and have a relaxing coffee before your busy day kicks in.
- Practice mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is a simple and practical way to get yourself into a mood of meditation and awareness. Interestingly you don’t need a yoga mat or many years of practice to master it. All you require is thirty minutes or even less, at any place you choose, whether it’s behind your desk, in your garden or even before you get out of bed. You’ll be amazed about the immense impact of this habit on your productivity level.
- Create a consistent morning routine
Some individuals prefer to start their day with yoga, and others like to go for a run, while many others look forward to a healthy breakfast. What are the one or two things that get you supercharged to start your day? Build yourself a meaningful morning routine around these habits for a positive and proactive daily start. It’s best to structure how you start your day rather than getting caught up in haste to make up for the lost time. Anything less, and you’ll find yourself fatigued and mentally stressed, which is the last thing you need for a productive day.
- Develop a daily gratitude practice
Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s so much going on when you turn on the TV, go online or visit social media. This can easily cause you to feel overwhelmed with everything happening around you. Situations such as job losses, spending less time with your distant family, etc., can easily get you down. But instead of focusing on fallouts from this challenging period, why not spend time practicing daily gratitude instead? You’ll be surprised by the number of positives you’ve overlooked.
The human brain is somewhat programmed to spot dangers and negativity quickly. However, including a daily gratitude practice will expose you to the many unnoticeable positives around. Take note of one or two good things you notice each day, and your mind will begin to search for the good things in your life consistently. This will fill you with a sense of joy and contentment each day. However, to prevent your daily gratitude practice from feeling routine, be very intentional and specific with every item you record.
- Learn something new every day
Have you learned something new today? If not, now is the best time to start. The need to learn something new every passing day will offer you a sense of purpose and likely prompt you to read extensively. If your morning is already packed, and you have a tight work schedule, then give yourself some time every evening to wind down by reading a book. If reading isn’t really your thing, you can try podcasts, videos, or audiobooks instead. Pick a topic or subject that interests you the most, and you’ll eventually find yourself looking forward to this time of learning. Additionally, you’ll gain more knowledge and improve yourself.
- Eat healthily
You can’t seek to improve your health and lifestyle without considering what you eat every day. A healthy diet is crucial for living a long and exciting life. You’ll also worry less about illnesses and certain conditions associated with aging. You can get started by adding more fruits, veggies, and edible plants to your meals, as they’re a great source of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Eating healthily has also been shown to do wonders for one’s oral health, which is an integral part of your overall well being. However, this doesn’t mean you can skip your regular check in with a Quality Cosmetic Dentistry service, but it definitely does lessen the chances of anything comprising your pearly white smile! Just add oral hygiene to the already long list of benefits associated with getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies in. If that isn’t a good enough reason to eat more healthily, then what is?
Get creative by trying some veggie-based soups, some noodle stir-fry, or adding them to your sauces. If you want to take your fruits and veggies to the next level, blend them as smoothies for a refreshing snack using milk, water, and ice. Remember to drink lots of water as well.
- Get active
Being physically active has numerous benefits that you can’t overlook. It remains one of the best things you can do for your health and overall life quality. If signing up for the gym seems too much for you, check online for some videos on equipment-free home workout routines to improve your appearance and physique. You can likewise walk your dog or play with your kids. This gives you some quality time with them as well. If you find yourself spending more time behind your computer at work, set a 30-minute timer and walk around for at least five minutes. Look for what works for you and add more physical activity to your routine every day.
- Connect with old friends or a new colleague
Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, remote working has been the new trend. This means spending time apart from the office and colleagues. However, social distancing and remote working isn’t an excuse to keep away from your friends and colleagues, as you can still find ways to stay in touch with them. If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet a new colleague from your workplace or meet with an old buddy, schedule a FaceTime or video call to catch up on what you’ve missed all these while. Additionally, improving your relationships is a great way of building and expanding your network.
7. Start a side hustle
If there’s one major lesson from last year, it’s the importance of having an emergency fund or extra income to fall back on. Having multiple skill sets and income streams is crucial to boosting your financial self-reliance, and that’s why it’s vital to start a side hustle. With the present digital evolution and opportunities, you can easily turn your hobby into a money-making venture or even a full-time business.
Consider starting a YouTube channel, a blog, affiliate marketing, or selling your handcrafted products online. If you need to sort out some immigration issues before you can establish your business, such as partnering with a loved one who is now entering the US, especially due to the current unemployment challenges, you can seek support from Amistad Bail Bonds to help you through any necessary procedures.
8. View yourself in a positive light
It takes a lot of effort to visualize yourself in the right image and cause people to do the same. Several studies have established that the way you perceive yourself and engage with others is crucial for your self-worth. Having a negative view of yourself affects how you function in personal and career settings. Highlight the positive things about you, and you’ll see others do the same too.
Seeing yourself in a positive light is vital to improving your life since you learn more about your strengths and weaknesses and enhance your ideal self. If you’re wondering where to start, follow these guidelines to help you build a stronger and positive self-image.
- Always give yourself credit, and don’t be too hard on yourself
- Get the past behind you and focus on the present
- Maintain control over your emotions
- Avoid comparing yourself to others – everybody is running their own race.
- Be kind and forgive yourself
- Don’t skip vacations
Taking time off to relax is very crucial to your well-being. It’s easier to sacrifice your vacation to get ahead with more work or secure a promotion, but it’s more effective to take some days off and return refreshed and more productive. Do you want to boost your creativity and renew your enthusiasm? Unplug from work while away and see your performance (and your happiness) shoot through the roof. Anytime you feel mentally worn-out or stressed, you might want to find out the last time you took a break or vacation for yourself. This will help you plan towards one and start looking for some budget-friendly but memorable spots to make your vacation worthwhile.
Several studies have proved that taking the time to break away from work physically or mentally has significant health benefits to offer an improved life outlook.