My Non-Negotiable Daily Habits
I’m been obsessed with self-improvement, and I love to ask the people around me about their daily habits, how they structure their days, and what they credit their happiness/ success/ peace of mind to. Over the last few years, I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, and tried out different habits that people suggest and finally found the combination that works for me.
Oftentimes, when people talk about habits, they focus on consistency, discipline, and structure for implementing habits and making them stick. In my opinion, I think the most impactful habits also have meaning behind them and offer something good in return - whether it’s bringing you closer to a goal, providing happiness, easing anxiety, or improving the quality of your life.
I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs over the last few years, and these are the habits that I credit with helping me get back on track, minimize my anxiety, and allow me to show up as my best self every day.
morning and nighttime routines
Having bookends for the day is a really good practice for peace of mind, which I think is more important than happiness. A morning routine sets me up for success, and I always look forward to my night routine, no matter how the day goes. I keep both really simple so that I can do them anywhere, anytime, no matter how tired I am.
my morning routine:
Wake up and think of 3ish things that i’m grateful for. Sometimes I’ll write them down, but it’s not a big deal if I don’t.
Read 5-15 minutes (or a chapter) of a non-fiction book. I know it’s better to get right out of bed, but I need a couple minutes, and reading something rooted in self-improvement is a better habit for me than scrolling through social media. Depending on how much time I have, I then like to think about what I learned from the chapter and how I can incorporate the teachings into my day.
Make my bed.
Drink a full glass of water. I’ve gotten used to room temperature and like to add a lemon slice to it when I can.
Skincare routine (you can learn more about that here) and brush my teeth.
Get dressed.
Go outside and get a few minutes of fresh air before I start working.
and for my night routine, my phone switches to night mode (yellow light) around 9 and then I will:
Go over tomorrow’s schedule and time block it as best as I can. I’ll also prep and set everything up that I can - tomorrow’s outfit, bag, laptop charged, organized desk, water cup filled etc.
Drink a cup of peppermint tea.
Shower.
Skincare routine and brush my teeth.
Get into bed and read until I get tired.
starting and ending my day with a glass of water
I used to drink soda with my breakfast, so I totally understand the appeal of coffee right when you wake up, but I noticed a big difference in my health when I started drinking a full glass of water before anything else in the morning. It minimizes anxiety and morning jitters, curbs any sugar or junk food cravings, and sometimes prevents headaches later in the day, so I never skip this. In order to make this easy, I fill my bottle before night and have it waiting on my nightstand. I also tend to drink at least a glass or two before bed as well.
daily movement
I currently work out about 5x a week, and right now it’s a combination of weight lifting, pilates, and yoga - it all just depends on my schedule and what feels best that day. I prefer to exercise later in the day as it’s a great transition from work mode to personal time, and helps slow my mind down since I’m not able to think about a million things. On the weekends, I’ll try to go for a walk, stretch, or do a quick video on YouTube if I can, but rest days are important, too.
fresh air
Rain or shine, I need at least 15 minutes outside every day. it’s really easy for me to put this off, but I notice that I’m in a better mood when I take the time to do this. If I can, I try to leave my phone outside unless I’m talking to someone - emails can wait, and it’s a great practice at being present and expressing gratitude for nature.
read
I’ve always loved reading, and aim to read for at least a half hour a day, but I don’t necessarily time it. Downloading the Kindle app on my phone has made this a lot more attainable since I will read during the akward spaces in the day as opposed to scrolling through social media. If you don’t like to read, I recommend making time for a hobby of some sort that doesn’t include a screen or social media, whether it’s coloring, doing a puzzle, or cooking/ baking. It will help you get out of your head and into the present moment, can nurture a bit of creativity, and is a great way to do something low-stakes that isn’t centered around work, money, or anything particularly stress-inducing.
reflection time
Journaling is something you hear a lot about, but it’s always sounded kind of labor-intensive or like another tedious task to add to my to do list, to be honest. Some days I like to write things down and other days I don’t, but no matter what, I make time every day for reflection. I wouldn’t call this meditation or anything structured; i just usually sit or walk and see where my mind goes and try to adjust it to something more positive. If someone comes to my mind during this time, I’ll reach out after.