7 Foundational Habits to Boost Your Daily Life Simple Practices for a Healthier, Happier, and More Intentional Life
by T.L. Farris
Habits. They can be powerful, having both a positive or negative impact. Habits are simple: they are “a settled or regular practice, especially one that is hard to give up.” Habits are little tasks or practices that we do regularly, they can be things we’ve chosen to do or that have become habits unknowingly. Some habits help us achieve our goals, others keep us from reaching them and the decision is up to us.
It is commonly believed that a habit takes anywhere from 21 to 30 days to form (though this is not necessarily accurate and the exact time it takes to form a habit is still widely debated) and even longer to break. So what positive habits do you have? Do you drink plenty of water? Make your bed every morning? Do you eat enough vegetables every day?
All of those are great habits to have and I encourage you to continue them. What I would like to share with you today are 7 habits I have worked to create that have made an impact in my life and I think can make a difference in yours as well..
#1 – Becoming an Early Riser
Waking up 2 hours before my necessary wake-up time does sound a bit extreme but it has worked well for me in the past. Now that may not work for you but you definitely should start waking at least 30 minutes earlier in the morning.
Allowing yourself a few extra minutes to take it slow and steady as you prepare for your day gives you the time and space needed to increase your focus.. You can utilize the extra time to read a book, do a workout, meditate or even write in your journal.
Your morning will set the tone for your entire day, using it wisely is the first choice you make each day to be the best version of yourself you can be. Creating a morning routine to maximize the effectiveness of your early rising habit will multiply the benefits, if you are looking for some inspiration or help with creating a morning routine check out my article on creating an optimized morning routine.
“Your morning will set the tone for your entire day; using it wisely is the first choice you make each day to be the best version of yourself.”
#2 – Becoming an Avid Journaler
As a kid, I tried and failed at so many journals and diaries. Somehow the idea of writing about my day seemed so much more enticing than the actual act. Now when I journal I do it from the understanding that a blank page is prime territory for my chaotic thoughts and feelings to find their way into peace and clarity. Journaling has become a processing habit for me, the pages of my journals helping me to make sense of confusing situations and unraveling complicated emotions.
A few things that have helped along the way are:
- Prompts: Using questions as a starting point for your daily journaling gives you a platform to build on. I have a list of about 10 questions I use when I have no idea where to start. I’ve taped them in my journal as a flip out reference card, I don’t need them everyday but when I do they are easily accessed.
- Environmental Design: Putting your journal next to your bed or on your pillow if you plan to journal at night or next to your coffee maker if you plan to journal in the mornings makes completing your habit easier especially if you make it an obstacle to a habit or task you are already completing.
- Good Supplies: This will be different for every one because everyone will have different preferences. Finding a journal, pens and any other supplies you will use while journaling that you love will make journaling more fun and make setting the habit easier. Some people like to use plain black pens and lined paper, some prefer sketchbooks and makers to doodle their journal entries. I typically use a black pen and lined paper but will frequently add doodles, tape in polaroid photos, press flowers, ticket stubs and other items that fit with the day’s events.
One of the best things you can do to improve your habits is to reduce friction. Minimize the amount of obstacles between you and completing your habit successfully. Optimizing your environmental design, keeping all of your supplies accessible and prompts on hand makes completing your journaling habit simple and therefore you’re more likely to create a lasting habit.
#3 – Increasing Book Consumption
As you may have already figured out, I love to read. Reading is so much more than just the information and knowledge you gain from a book, it’s about seeing through new eyes and expanding your perspective. Over the years I have prioritized reading personal development books and other non-fiction categories. I have read a lot of fabulous books and I’ve learned that reading is a slow paced habit that has big returns.
Making time to read a few times a week has helped me to slow down, unplug and learn something I may not have learned otherwise. I’ve taken this habit of reading to learn one step further by intentionally seeking out books that are just outside my norm. A perfect example of this is Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookie and Laugh Like a Hobbit.
I happened to find this book while browsing in a Barnes and Nobles and though it wasn’t my typical choice it has come to be a favorite. The goal of a reading habit isn’t to read the most, or to even read a certain amount, it’s to expand your mind as you encounter new stories and ideas.
#4 – Become a Planner
“Time is money” I’m sure you’re familiar with this phrase but it is very true. When I started planning how I would spend my time in advance, setting up routines, scheduling tasks and appointments my productivity skyrocketed. Knowing when things needed to get done and having dedicated time to complete those tasks meant I achieved more goals and felt more accomplished.
Building planning as a habit takes intentionality, you have to decide not only that you will plan but when you will plan and how you will plan. You could plan daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, all of the above or any combination.
- Daily Planning: Daily planning allows you to make decisions in the moment. Setting your plans for the day the morning of or the night before.
- Weekly Planning: Weekly planning allows you to have a fuller picture and make most of your plans in advance without planning so far out that you frequently have to make changes and adjustments. Weekly planning could be done on any day of the week, I prefer to plan on Saturday’s so I am ready for the week ahead before it begins.
- Monthly Planning: Monthly planning is great for bigger picture planning. It doesn’t work well for task planning but is perfect for events and appointments. This type of planning could be done on the last day of the month for the upcoming month or on the first day of the month.
- Quarterly Planning: Quarterly planning is best for goal planning, setting short term goals to be achieved by the end of the quarter. Similar to monthly planning this type of planning is best for the bigger picture and could be done at the beginning of the quarter or the end.
- Annual Planning: Planning for the year as a whole is great in theory and perfect for things that don’t move or change such as birthdays or holidays but it’s rare that plans won’t change at some point between January and December making annual planning less effective than other methods.
I prefer a combination of planning as each method is best for different things. I plan annually so I can block out birthdays, holidays and major events. My quarterly planning is actually seasonal planning where I set goals, start projects and review my long term vision at the start of each new season. Each month I write out my plans from both my annual and season plans along with any events, appointments or other commitments. This is all trickled down to my weekly plan which is where my most tangible and actionable items such as tasks, appointments, and deadlines live.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that planning can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. At the end of the day if your planning habit isn’t making your life simpler or easier then it is not working. Your planning habit should help to keep you organized and improve your productivity, freeing up your time to do what you want to do.
#5 – Becoming a “We have that at home.” Girl
At the beginning of 2019, I decided I would quit fast food. As a fierce Taco Bell addict, I doubted my ability to accomplish this feat but I can proudly say that I succeeded! The results were incredible; not only was my wallet so much happier, the difference in my skin and overall health is amazing. Now, I haven’t continued to completely avoid all fast food but I have made it a point to consider food at home a first choice where it wasn’t before.
Cooking your own food allows you to have a better awareness of what you are putting into your body, it also gives you the opportunity to choose the best option for your health. This habit has also pushed me to experiment more with my cooking and find new foods that I love. It has evolved from just a health habit to also being a hobby habit.
#6 – Care About Care
Also in 2019 I threw away all of my makeup and skincare products and took a shopping trip to target. I replaced all my favorite products with all-natural products and the difference was evident. I eventually quit makeup all together and have not gone back to wearing makeup everyday since, in fact I wear it so rarely I’m sure everything in my makeup bag is expired by now. What I learned is that there is no magic skincare product that will make my skin perfect, natural or not.
My skin care routine now consists of daily oils, moisturizer when necessary and lots and lots of water. The more Iearned about the skin care industry the more I started to care about my internal health and realized that prioritizing my internal and overall health would improve my skin, hair, energy and so much more. So, this habit is to care about your care; whether that’s skin care, hair care, nutrition, you choose. Building habits around your health means building habits that have lifelong impact.
#7 – Building a Self-Care Routine
I have always had a challenging time handling stress but as I’ve worked to find ways to decompress and create peace I’ve discovered that part of the solution is to have a consistent self-care routine. A self-care routine can look different for everyone. For me, it looks like a comfy blanket, an iced chai tea latte, my journal, and a great book once a week. It also looks like taking a shower each day, eating well, drinking plenty of water, reading my Bible, and a list of other activities I do daily or weekly.
Building a self-care routine isn’t about taking one hour out of your week to have “me-time” it’s about making space for activities that fill your tank on a consistent and frequent basis. This means taking time to read each day, prioritizing healthy meals, scheduling a pedicure once a month etc.
In the past I minimized self-care to a weekly task, what I’ve discovered is that it should be a continued habit that has many forms. Find what fills your tank (energy, emotional, spiritual, etc.) and find ways to fit those things in as many times a week or day as you can. Ensure that you never have to run on empty again.
Build Habits Now
Each of these habits are a great place to start and the effects they will have on your overall health and happiness will be beyond worth it, but they are just the beginning. Personal growth and development is a lifelong journey, every day is an opportunity to make yourself better and today is the perfect day to start. If you are looking for more guidance or information on habits I highly recommend you check out the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, it is essential reading in my opinion for anyone looking to harness the power of habits and up-level their life.
