20 Simple Habits for a Better Life
Have you tried to create new habits for a better life but seem to slowly stop them and fall back into old habits pretty quickly?
I’ve been there and honestly, I think most people have.
It always starts out with your excitement to create these habits for a better life but something always comes up- could be a holiday, birthday party, or stressful day at work…
… and you are right back to where you started.
These habits you started for a better life slowly start to become far and few in between until BAM you are right back to your old habits.
Sometimes I think this happens for 2 reasons:
Number 1: We are starting habits that are too complex and difficult to keep up with.
Habits like “I’m going to start this 5 step skin care regime, oil my hair 2x a week, and do a face mask 3x a week” are going to set you up for failure if your starting point is washing your face with a bar of soap.
And number 2: We dive all in, adding 5 new habits to our day instead of slowly incorporating them.
Today we are doing to talk all about habits for a better life but not just any regular healthy habit, we are going to be talking about simple habits for a better life.
These habits I chose are honestly just good habits to have! They will help you feel your best. And it’s important to keep in mind, though these are great habits to have, some might not be done everyday and that’s ok! Consistency over time is what matters most.
My hope is that you find a few of these good habits to have that you can incorporate into your daily life in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.
30 Simple Healthy Habits For a Better Life
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Drink more water with electrolytes
Not only do I recommend drinking more water, but drinking electrolytes is crucial! If you don’t know much about Electrolytes and why they’re important, I recommend checking out LMNT. These are the electrolytes me and my family drink (my husband, parents, sister, and in-laws!).
Click here to learn more about the importance of electrolytes and if you choose to purchase, you will get a free sample pack with your first order by using my link my above!
Move your body for at least 20-30 minutes
Notice how I didn’t say exercise for 20-30 minutes, I said move your body! This can be as simple as cleaning your house or taking a walk outside.
Though exercise is important and I do recommend it, sometimes that is overwhelming for people to think they have to exercise every single day.
Reframe the narrative in your head to just moving your body every day! Stretch, walk, clean, stand, march in place.
Do something to move your body. Our bodies were designed to move and it’s a good habit to have!
Eat less processed foods
If you don’t know where to start on eating more whole foods (and maybe you’re wondering why processed foods are an issue), I highly recommend checking out Shawn Stevenson at The Model Health Show.
I’ve learned so much by listening to him and I know you’ll learn a lot, too! He has experts on his podcast frequently that share the latest in research and explain everything you need to understand about true health.
Get 7-9 hours of sleep
If you’re trying to lose weight or have more energy each day, a reason you might not be reaching your goals could be due to lack of sleep.
Try turning off your screens an hour before you’re ready to lay down, drink a warm glass of tea, or read a book to slow your mind down and get sleepy!
Practice gratitude
Not just in the morning but all throughout the day! If you need help understanding the importance of gratitude, learning how to overcome obstacles that are holding you back from showing gratitude, or just how to show gratitude, check out my blog post: How Gratitude and Intentional Living Can Change Your Life.
Pray and read the Bible
Pray, meditate, read the Bible. These 3 things have absolutely changed my life and can impact yours as well.
This is the bible I’ve used for the last 2 years and love!
Practice deep breathing
Deep breathing helps ground you, can reduce feelings of anxiety, and put you in a more calm state.
Declutter your space
I’ve always believed that a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. If there are things you have that you don’t use and won’t be using, give them away or throw them away!
Reduce your screen time
Now it’d be unrealistic and absolutely hypocritical for me to tell you to get off screens completely.
It’s just not realistic these days. But something you can do is reduce the screen time you currently consume. And replace it with…. Maybe a book!
Read more
Reading is a great way to embrace creativity, relax, and let your mind wander! Whether you are reading for pleasure or for education, but are extremely valuable. Reading is a great habit for a better life!
Set realistic goals
Instead of writing down a to-do list of 10 things you want to get done (knowing it would absolutely never get done), try writing the 5 most important.
Setting realistic goals is the most important part of goal setting because without them being realistic, you are just going to continue to fall short and probably give up.
I worked for a company that wanted to raise a company statistic from 180 to 250 in 3 months, even though we’d been hanging around 170-190 for over 1.5 years.
Setting unrealistic goals will not help you “strive for more” it will keep you continuing to fall short.
Show appreciate for your loved ones
Though this seems like something small, showing your gratitude to those who mean the most to you is an excellent habit to get into.
Now this is absolutely not in scientific terms… but showing your appreciation for others really releases the happy chemicals in our bodies and brings us more joy!
Learn something new
This doesn’t have to be every single day, but spend time learning new things! Whether that be learning a new skill like knitting or crocheting or taking a course you’ve been wanting to take.
Just because we graduate from high school or college doesn’t mean we need to stop learning. Push yourself to find something new you can learn and challenge yourself to learn it!
Journaling
I know, this almost feels like a buzzword at this point. But journaling is so popular for a reason, it really can help you process emotions, situations, and feelings.
It doesn’t have to be done at a specific time to get the benefits. Try to fit it in and see how it feels. This truly is a healthy habit for a better life.
Practice affirmations
To me, the best way to fight off negative thoughts is through affirmations. Sometimes we need to actually tell ourselves the truth because our minds like to wonder and believe lies.
I sell a few different products on Etsy with affirmations involved. Here are a few:
50 Printable Affirmation Cards
365 Daily Devotional + Affirmation Cards
Daily Devotional and Affirmations Jar
Serve your community/Volunteer
Find ways to give back to your community whether that be at church or another local organization. Not only is it great to get back, you are becoming part of a community!
Find your people and love them
Which leads me to mentioning to find your people/your community. Finding friendships that you can foster and making time for the relationships is so important. We weren’t created to live life alone- we were created to be in community with friends and family. Find a group of people you can trust and foster it.
Meditate
You can do a guided meditation (there are plenty on Youtube!) or just sit and quiet your mind. If you don’t know where to start with meditation, try downloading the Calm app.
Exercise
Though moving your body might be a better option for some people, exercise is incredibly impactful when talking about habits for a better life.
Exercise can impact your physical and mental health which is a double bonus! Try finding exercise that you enjoy- brisk walking, biking, spin class, basketball, swimming, strength training, group fitness classes… There are truly so many options!
You also don’t have to pay to exercise, it’s possible to exercise completely for free. Check out YouTube or even Google “free workout.”
Spend time outside (probably the best habit for a better life!)
Spend more time outside in the sunlight and breathing in fresh air. We weren’t meant to be sitting inside all day – we need fresh air to help our circadian rhythm! Being in nature is so refreshing and that doesn’t mean you need to go take a hike up a mountain. Finding beauty in your own backyard is just as important!
Those are the 20 simple healthy habits for a better life I wanted to share! I hope you take away a few you want to implement.
Are there any great habits you would add to this list? Comment below!
