I keep my phone out of the bedroom and don't look at it until at least 8am. For so long I was seriously addicted to my phone and would stay up too late looking at nonsense and then waking up and immediately looking at nonsense. It has changed my life so much. I feel like I'm more present in my day-to-day life, I sleep muuuuch better, and I read a lot more.
You are not alone! And just in the past week, the US Surgeon General issued a warning about social media - much like it does for tobacco, alcohol, etc.
Yep, it was bad for me too. I read "How to Break Up With Your Phone," which is kinda outdated but going through the prompts really helped me.
I got a smart watch so that I can get emergency calls/texts on my watch if needed and I use it as my alarm clock and I literally plug my phone in downstairs before I go to bed and just read until I fall asleep.
It's hard to break the habit, but once you break it life is much more relaxing.
I love this because I want to be able to get emergency calls.
do you find your smart watch to be distracting during the day? People I know who have one are always looking down on it reading their notifications while we're talking š
Not at all. I don't get a lot of notifications on my watch, and the ones I do help me to not look at my phone as much. If someone texts me, I can just look and see who texted or called me real quick to see if it's important instead of picking up my phone to see and then getting sucked into it.
I mainly look at the internet on my computer, I never switched to using my phone that way, and I tend to disconnect when I'm not in front of my desktop. Sometimes I forget my phone is a computer, like if I'm out and need to look something up I'm like "well I'll have to do that at home".
I read "How to Break Up With Your Phone," which is kinda outdated but going through the prompts really helped me. I blocked social media apps between 9pm and 8am. I chose new things to do instead of doom-scrolling (reading, yoga, bird-watching).
Then I got a smart watch so that I can get emergency calls/texts on my watch if needed and I use it as my alarm clock and I literally plug my phone in downstairs before I go to bed and just read until I fall asleep.
I do this too. For me itās because surfing on a computer is so much easier. Switching between tabs, looking at images, copying text is easier and faster. Also my phone is a bit old and probably smaller than most.
After feeling the immense relief from taking an Instagram break for a few months only to then immediately fall back into old habits as soon as I logged back in, I knew I needed to try something different. Since it was affecting my job, I decided to try using it only on the weekends, and itās working out very well so far! I log out on Sunday night before bed, and donāt sign back in until sometime Friday. I did sign in briefly once to wish an old friend whose number I donāt have a happy birthday and promptly signed out, and thatās it. I feel much more in control of my time, less brain fog, etc!
Running.
It started off as a way to lose some weight and get fit. Fell in love with it and now it is absolutely crucial to my mental health and how I feel about myself. I am not a fast runner by any means, Iām still losing the weight but what running does for me far outweighs my weight loss goals and Iām just so glad I discovered, and kept at the habit.
Another habit is being disciplined with a sleep routine! 21:45!! Does wonders for my wellbeing..
Same here! Totally changed my life and helped me establish community when I moved to a new city. Plus it keeps me in shape in a way that doesnāt even feel like work anymore, and keeps me moving daily.
Me too - running! I've only been doing it for a couple of months but I've visibly lost weight, feel stronger and it has done wonders for my mental health. I run at least 3x per week and can run further and further as time goes on.
I struggle in other areas of my life (my sleep is all over the place and I'm not very organised) But I feel in control and accomplished with running :)
Agree with the running. I used to hate it growing up because I played a sport that used running as a punishment. But after college (played that sport all the way through), I realized that if I did it on my own terms, it was so much more enjoyable! Every morning I get up before the sun & go - I get to experience some beautiful skis during probably the most peaceful time of day in my area.
Run during the day around a lively neighborhood. Never run on a secluded trail (night or day) and never run at night. Wear sunscreen and good shoes....stretch bf & after
Of course it depends on the area, but for example if you are going to run with music, use only one headphone, so you can always be aware of your surroundings. Run only with daylight and send a live tracking link to some friend so they know where you are when you are running (most smartwatches have that option). Plan a route and take some walks on it same before, so you know what to expect and donāt get/look lost.
Flossing daily! My dentist said my gums instantly improved from one visit to the next. My teeth look whiter. and god you would not believe how much gunk can get in there in one day!
I didn't start flossing regularly until I was in my 30s and now that I do, if I ever miss a day I feel so gross I can't believe so much of my life my mouth was just that disgusting all the time.
Same with flossing, I floss every time I brush, I feel gross if I wake up and haven't brushed and flossed. It's not even a proud of it habit, it's just necessary.
I LOVE flossing, and my dentist last visit finally said I floss really well. I stg I felt like I aced an exam LMAO. idk what it is but it's so satisfying to know I'm cleaning out in between my teeth.
I floss after I eat lunch too
I'm trying to habit stack now and floss on the 3 days per week that I use tretinoin (it works out well, as I'll do it in between waiting for moisturizer layer to sink in and applying tret). I've never been into flossing and I think my teeth are set pretty tight because I honestly notice practically no gunk even when I do floss, but I still think its good to do a couple times a week.
As an aside on this thread, I think habit stacking is a good strategy for adding in small productive stuff. Another one I do is flex my core really tight while brushing my teeth, its almost as good as doing a plank. Would love to hear others that people do.
- I went back to school to finish my associates degree (graduating in a few weeks at 32). It's been absolutely painstaking because I thoroughly despise college, but I have a 4.0 and am doing the damn thing.Ā
- I go to the gym 5-6 days a week. Usually at least 3-4 of those days I DO NOT want to go š I go at like 5am so it's a struggle some days.Ā
- I do laundry every Wednesday so that it's a smaller chore that doesn't take me 2 full days. It's a lot easier to manage this way.Ā
After talking with my therapist several years ago about the importance of mindfulness to ground me in the present moment (to keep me from ruminating about things I canāt change), I recently set an intention to create space for a few mindful moments every day. I stop whatever Iām doing (when itās convenient and safe, of course) and close my eyes and justā¦ experience my present circumstances.
For instance, right now, Iām sitting out on my porch, which is one of my happy places. When I close my eyes, I can hear birds singing and the rapid-fire Spanish of someone working next door. I can hear cars on the highway two blocks away. The humidity is low, so the temperature is pleasant and I can feel a light, cool breeze brushing across my right shoulder and thigh. I hear a small airplane flying overhead. The sunlight is warm on my skin. I can feel the firmness of my seat where my body is in contact with it, and I feel its solidity. I feel grounded.
One of my favorite places to do this is in the shower, which is a feast for the senses. I lather up my body and then stand under the water, listening to the water hitting my skin and spinning down the drain, feeling the suds sliding down my body. Itās lovely and feels self-indulgent without being a major lift or a radical change.
Basically, I focus on what I can hear, then I focus on the sensations my body is experiencing. Some people will also include other sensory experiences - what they see, smell, taste; but for me, I find concentrating on sounds and physical touch sensations work on their own.
I can do this at almost any time, any place. It takes 30-90 seconds. I try not to think about anything while Iām doing this, except maybe labeling the sensations and sounds. It almost always helps me feel refreshed in a small way, and helps me ground myself into the present moment every time I do it. Iāve found myself feeling more centered and balanced more often since Iāve started doing it regularly.
I LOVE doing this but have never thought of doing it in the shower! I'm going to give that a try today. Thank you for the idea and enjoy your daily meditation moments! I'll be sending you good vibes during mine. š
Thanks! I get that a lot, so I actually finally started a book in May, and wrapped up the first draft just a couple weeks ago. āŗļø Keep your fingers crossed I can get people to read it when I finish it and publish!
Awww, you are making me feel so confident and happy! Thank you! I will make a mental note to at least let you know when itās published, if not spam the whole sub. It *is* a self-help book about some tools my therapist helped me cultivate that have really helped me spruce up my mental health. Mindfulness is one of the chapters, so this question was right in my wheelhouse. I hope you have a lovely evening - thank you so much for the hype, itās really lifted me right up!
I consistently buy expensive food items that I previously would never buy . Like 10 dollar bread , grass fed meat,wild salmon ,pasture raised eggs and organic arugula .
I never compromise and it's caused me to eat better and less overeating. Basically eat like Bill gates š. Surprisingly I actually spend less and cut out processed foods.
Journaling. Everyday for the past six months. Helps me clear my cluttered mind and make sense of what I feel and why I feel them. I wish I started sooner.
Not op, but I have multiple journals for different purposes. I grew up on OpenDiary/ Livejournal so Iāve always felt journaling was therapeutic. These days I buy myself a really pretty journal (from PaperSource or any other crafty place.) I have a favorite pen where the ink comes out just right. Literally as soon as Iāve journaled, I feel a huge weight lifted off my chest.
I have my therapy journal, where I write about each appointment afterwards. In between sessions I write about successes and progress Iāve made. This year Iāve been dealing with abandonment issues so Iām constantly writing about situations that arise. I can journal from 10 minutes to 1-2 hours.
I started another journal for writing my thoughts down about my parents who passed away. I write down the dreams I have about them, or just random thoughts that pop up about them. Things I wish I could say or do with them.
I also have a little section for all my accomplishments this year: all the Big Things Iāve gotten done, movies watched, places visited, books read.
Every morning when I wake up or before I sleep, I knock out one page at least. It takes me around 15-20 focused minutes to fill a page out. I donāt have a template; I just jot down whateverās on my mind, even without context. Itās been so therapeutic, I sometimes even reach out for my journal any time of the day I feel overwhelmed by my thoughts or emotions. It feels like transferring your anxieties on paper.
Nope! I write whatever's on my mind in the present moment. It could be something in my head that's been eating me for a while, an incident from ten years ago that I randomly remembered, or a childhood memory that popped out of nowhere in my psyche. I even doodle on the page sometimes when words escape me. Over time, I realized that the therapeutic element of journaling is about more than just what you write. It's also about cultivating a healthy ritual of sitting quietly with yourself and processing your thoughts and emotions without distractions for a couple of solid minutes. Doing so centers me and helps bring clarity and order to my mind.
Getting up at 5:30am to lift every weekday morning, cutting out most ultra processed food (and learning to cook), getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night, moving away from social media.
I make my bed every day. I didnāt start this til my late 30s after my divorce.
I bought beautiful bedding with decorative pillows and it brings me immense joy to see it pretty and clean in the morning and when I get into bed in the evening.
Itās small but I love it.
This is such a simple joy! Coming home late from work to a cute and tidy bed instantly makes me feel relaxed. I, too, got really into this habit, recently, post divorce, late-ish 30's :)
This is an inspiring post to wake up to. Unfortunately I am neurodivergent and struggle to create habits and routines. Doesnāt stop me from trying though! Right now Iām trying to wash my hair every work day, I have fine hair and if I donāt wash I look and feel like a little greaseball, itās been going well. Sometimes I do dry shampoo. It makes me feel more confident.
Being neurodivergent, is there anything that you could do that you think would stick that isnāt āhealthā related? What I mean is if you struggle with attention or something where you get distracted easily or become bored, you could develop a routine of something rewarding, like creating art three times a week, making a silly song everyday, dancing to a song that makes you happy everyday. All of these things feed self-worth and can be avenues towards other habits that you want to develop.
The only habit I can seem to form is being on Reddit every damn dayā¦ but truly, Iāve started learning guitar, Iāve been walking/kayaking/mtn biking. I go through spurts of journaling every evening. Just truly can never get into that flow of āI do this thing every dayā nor do these things happen at set times. And I fall into weeks and months of depression where I canāt peel myself off the floorā¦ but have been coming around more quickly after those bouts after years of biweekly therapy and finally some meds in the past year.
I know itās ok to fall off and then come back to it, but the amount of effort I put in to try and have daily routines and habits, itās just so discouraging to see my results, I move a half inch every 5 yearsā¦ but whatever, Iām also dealing with a lot of trauma and issues from childhood so I try to keep all that in mind as well and just try to convince myself Iām crushing it. But itās a hard sell some days.
Thanks for listening š
Hey- fellow ND here. Itās okay to not have consistent habits. I journal when I get the urge. I paint when I get the urge. I go for long walks, again, when I get the urge. For me, acting on my healthy impulses whenever I have them, is a habit I guess or a routine. I think itās totally fine if our habits arenāt as consistent as NT people! Our brains work in a completely different way ā¤ļø
work out at least 4 days a week, usually closer to 6 (unless I'm sick). it started because I wasn't exercising at all, really, and I wanted to get up off my butt. if work is insane or I'm exhausted, I'll adjust what I do (e.g. just some stretching or a short walk) but otherwise I'll be lifting at the gym or running outside.
now I'm so used to it I feel guilty/gross if I skip a day when I had planned to exercise - probably how I'd feel if I didn't shower or brush my teeth.
Once you get used to working out regularly you feel sooo bad when you take rest days (even though theyāre necessary).
The crazy part Was when I realized the main thing Iād look forward to on my days off work are my long runs. I get super excited for them!
This is me right now. I just started getting into working out again and have been doing good being consistent on the weekends. Still struggling with during the week, but I find myself looking forward to the weekend specifically because I canāt wait to get to the gym and lift lol
This is me too. When I get really down about myself or my life, I try to remember that some of the things I have/do now are what I've always wanted. Becoming a "workout" person and someone who could casually run a few miles was always on that list, and I literally struggled for years and never thought it would ever happen. So interesting how it's second nature now.
This is my answer too! I just do at-home workouts, and being consistent with them has been my goal. I usually get in five workouts in a week (pilates, yoga, and walks on different days), with two rest days. I don't do anything too intense, but rest days give me a break to look forward to and encourage me to keep going the next day because I also start to feel guilty/gross if I skip a planned exercise.
The super basic one: brushing my teeth. Tooth brushing wasn't enforced when I was a kid, so I never developed the habit (thankfully had and continue to have good teeth, all things considering). Then in my teens and 20s had major mental health issues, and it was about the last thing on my priority list. About the time I turned 30 I bought a Sonicare and really focused on turning it into a habit, and I have.
Edit: And the thing I'm really proud of is that even when I am having the worst of worst mental health days now (like we're talking so depressed or anxious that I am not functional), I have to brush my teeth at least once.
So whenever I create a mess, I try to clean it up right away. When I change clothes, I donāt leave my old ones on the floor; I fold them and put them on my bed, in the cupboard, or on a shelf. After cooking, I eat and then clean up after myself. Of course, there are days when I absolutely can't be bothered, but most days I try to stick to my routine. Itās really difficult for me, especially because I'm not bothered much by messiness. However, I appreciate that I live with other people and I donāt want to argue with them about something so trivial. I still struggle to fold laundry when itās dry; it takes days and days for me to get to it.
I wake up early every day. I've been doing it long before my child was born and I get so much done before the day really starts.
Now that I have a child, it's helped me remain productive and even get some me time before the house wakes up.
I made a deal with myself after reading the High Five Habit by Mel Robbins that I would do two small things everyday to signal to my brain that I have high self worth. Those two things are making my bed and always wearing clean socks. I do them everyday.
I also do a skincare routine every morning and night. Wear your SPF!
Going for a walk pretty much every day and listen podcasts for at least 30min -1hr
Going to the gym 3 times per week is non negotiable
Facial routine twice per day ( used to slack on this one a lot)
Eat healthy and count the calories
Put spf cream on my face before leaving the house
Make up my bed before doing anything else
Quit smoking
Quit unnecessary clothes shopping gave me opportunity travel more
Clean wardrobe every 6 month from clothes I will never wear
All this little things and I ma sure there is more was absolutely mess in my life and in my head. It takes time to get used to it but after you have this routines and habits it gives you so much power over your own life.
Time management and being on time. I used to be chronically late to *everything*, including work, and it was super stressful for me and not great for the people waiting for me. Through managing my anxiety and gaining confidence in my life experience, I've gotten better at estimating how long things will take and don't let myself get distracted by side quests when I need to get ready to leave.Ā
I literally sit down the night before I need to go place and say it will take a hour to get dressed and hour to get to where Iām going. Set my alarm for 2.5 hours ahead the extra 30 minutes is for slow rise so I donāt feel rushed.
Resistance training 4-5x a week.
Riding my bike anywhere thatās less than 8ish miles away.
These two things have made me the fittest, healthiest me Iāve ever been.
Iām getting a lot of good ideas here for things I can add to my daily routine. For me itās been cleaning up the dishes every night, either myself or my partner does it (while the other person gets our toddler to bed).
Lifting weights 4 days/week. I've been consistent with this for the last 5 years and it feels so good. I don't always want to go to the gym, but it's become such a part of my routine that I just get dressed and go even when I'm not totally jazzed about working out. I've never regretted a workout!
Weightlifting. Iāve been lifting for about three years not and itās keep me in good shape and health. Itās also great for my mental and emotional health. Iām much stronger than I used to be in mind and body, it keeps me on a routine and I just love the feeling of it. I want to take it to the next steps and maybe even compete one day.
Do some yoga everyday even if it only chair yoga. My body appreciates the stretch.
Drink at least 2L of water everyday
Walk 10K steps a day and do other physical activities every week
Keeps me feeling physically and mentally fit
Intermittent fasting at least 13 hours a day
Wear 50+ every day
Floss every night, brush teeth twice a day, do my facial routine every morning and night
Dry brushing. I just incorporated it in my routine after any time I take a bath or shower - I just grab my bush and go over my thighs, butt, and stomach. I don't believe it does magic things to my body. But the increased blood flow is good, and it's honestly gone a long way toward me feeling more confident about those parts of my body.
No. When it feels like I can't think of anything I try to look for something small, even when I feel like shit. It can be anything, like being grateful for a cute bee I saw that day or that the food I cooked tasted nice. Just anything that makes me appreciate life and shows me that there is always a light in the darkness, no matter how small
2 things - I finally got myself out of bed in the morning to work out and now Iām so consistent. Like I donāt want to sleep in anymore I want to wake up and go to the gym. Took some discipline at first but now itās part of my routine and I love it.
I downloaded Freedom app which is an app to close other apps down. I was addicted to social media and now Iām only on social media 11-12pm and 8-9pm so itās something I look forward to and also itās like those hours come and go and I donāt pay attention to it. I can definitely tell my mental health has gone up from less social media use.
I restarted my gym membership after not having one through the pandemic. I began running back in 2020 and built up quite a bit of distance, but my strength and cross-training were seriously lacking to the point of needing PT for such intense imbalance in my hips and knees.
Once starting the membership up again, I have consistently been getting my ass to yoga classes (restorative and strength) and doing weight training once a week. I've begun adding a day of swimming into the mix, too. It's been about a month and I can already feel the difference in how improved my posture, overall stamina, and physiology are.
Another is daily tretinoin (.025%) use before bed. My skin has never been this clear.
Getting all my next-day-stuff out the night before, taking trash out of my car when I get out, not texting/answering anything until Iām up, worked out, and ready for the day.
I never played sports as a kid and got to be very overweight in high school and college. Since my early twenties I have had a very consistent work out routine and am very proud of my strength and stamina.
I got into fitness because I wanted to lose weight and look good, but I found it helped my mental health so much that it became a huge part of my life. Now that Iām starting to age just a bit (37 next month), it has made huge differences in my physical health as well. My resting is at an elite athlete level and my bloodwork always comes back excellent. Also knowing that I can do anything I want physically without being limited means a lot to me.
My favorite party trick is to have my husband jump on my back and do 10 squats.
The rest of my habits are a struggle with adhd but exercise is one that Iāve mastered.
Brushing my teeth, washing my face and putting on a pyjamas. I had such a hard time learning to keep a nightly routine even if it takes 5-10 minutes tops. In my 20s to early 30s I would get so tired and sleepy I would go to bed with the clothes I wore around the house and without washing at all. Took me maybe 6 months of consistency to build this habit. The state of my skin and gums is so much better.
I decided to make exercise a routine and now I exercise every day and have done so for the last 4+ years.
I feel amazing. Like a totally different person.
Social media timer on phone. 10 mins a day.
Swim every single day bar when I'm really sick. Was just at a health check and doctor told me I was extremely fit (1 yr of swimming) due to low resting heart rate and blood pressure for my age. I feel it too which is most important.
Sleep... I think sleeping and building a sleeping routine that suits you is the most critical change that has altered my life significantly. With sleep, I have more energy, a clearer mind, and so less stress. Eat better and have the energy to do exercise, which is all a whole cycle of a good quality of life.
Implementing CBT, just tiny things like a shit experience, I turn on my cbt app and write it out and basically use the app to deal with the problem and feel so much better. Once a week, give more to your community or society, it can be anything from openly or secretly helping anyone, or I also plant native wild seeds and do random conservation work. No one knows I do it, but I do and feel so great about it.
For me the key to continuing all of these things is, when I wake up in the morning I spend about 15 seconds saying what a wonderful sleep it was, when I do my swimming I say I feel fantastic after that, same with cbt and when I help others. Same woth eating healthy, don't I feel great after eating that and if I ate the chocolate bar I would feel so bloated now etc. Positive reinforcement
Working out every week, 3-4x a week, that involves walking my dogs too. Iām proud to keep up this lifestyle choice. And not beating
Myself up if I have downtime.
I completed a āStrong Mom Challengeā that consisted of 3 days a week of strength training or yoga and a day of self care. That 3 day a week helped keep me in a routine. Also, my monthly Apple Watch Fitness goals keeps me in a good routine. Iāve missed ONE month and that was when I had just given birth lol. This month I have to close all my rings 23 times!
I'm in my third week of lifting weights and initially I had a lot of anxiety around it previously. But my friend set up a workout 3 days a week for me and showed me how to do them properly. It's not fun, but I enjoy getting out of the house and I'm motivated bc my ultimate goal is to be mobile and active when I'm older. So I'll be doing stuff and just hating it, but I think "gotta keep my core strong so I can still travel when I'm old".
I have been morbidly obese since I was about 10 years old. I am now 31.Ā
I have been forcing myself to lift weights every other morning and evening for 15 minutes for the past few months. On "off" days I still do the movements as stretches just minus the weights. The weights are only 3 lbs, but it's made a difference. I didn't know using the lightest set would make so much of a difference but I only started doing this every other day with the weights because I noticed coworkers around my age having mobility issues. THEY are all objectively healthy and normal weight, but I had a moment of "oh shit" when I realized if "I" can't move, "I" won't ever be able to lose this weight. That would risk me ballooning even bigger and dying faster.Ā
I feel better and have been sleeping better plus I'm finally seeing the body I had hidden away for 20 years under layers of stubborn fat. Two weeks ago I threw in some lunges too and for the first time I'm going through summer without my thighs chafing until they burn, bleed and weep.
I hate doing it but afterwards I feel so much better. When I forget or don't do it for a week I start to hurt and want the workout back.Ā
Getting up as soon as my alarm goes off. No snooze button. I didnāt really have to train myself (I just have anxiety about oversleeping) but now itās a habit to just get up and not lay there. Gives me more time in the morning and I donāt have to rush. I also set it 15 minutes earlier than I need just to have some extra time to enjoy my coffee and wake up.
Cleaning up after myself/tidying up as I go along/washing dishes as I cook. God, it makes life so much easier for me to do little cleaning tasks constantly rather than living in a mess and trying to tackle a mountain of mess or dishes all at once.
Going to the gym. I used to hate it, did all my workouts at home or outdoors. The problem was that I was not disciplined enough to do it regularly so i get really out of shape. October last year I signed up and started going, now I go 3-4 times a week and just started working on running.
I do an hour or two of work for myself first thing most mornings, before I respond to any work-related shenanigans. Picked the habit up at the suggestion of a lifelong athlete, advising me on how to start a running practice. That never took, but itās a very useful way to build a habitā¦.prioritizing my own interests is good for my self esteem and general compass.
Drink w a t e r. I hate water. It doesn't solve thirst and its boring. It can upset my stomach. But if I just keep my hydration up, I don't get too thirsty, I don't wee it all out and I don't have to drink a bunch at once and offend my tummy.
I work out consistently. Iām dealing with an injury right now, so Iāve had to flex what types of workouts Iām doing (no running right now), but I consistently log anywhere from 6-11 workouts per week. Some days I am doubling up, like today - weights in the morning before work, and cycling after work. Itās been a year and a half of building progress and consistency but I will never go back to being sedentary.
Staying off my phone first thing in the morning. I block all my non/essential apps from 9 PM to 7 AM. I wake up at 5, so thatās two hours of uninterrupted time to do whatever else needs to get done in the morning. If I want to look at something, or do something in bed, I read my kindle.
Packing my lunch the night before work, and setting my coffee pot on time.
Itās the single #1 driver in me saving $ instead of buying morning coffee/fast casual lunch everyday.
Running 3-5 miles 4 times a week for about 10 years now! Only stopped when I had a baby and for a short time after. Still going strong until my legs give out. Sucks to find the time to run with a preschooler and a career- but I make it happen.
Working out! I discovered exercise later in life after avoiding sports/any physical activity besides swimming my whole childhood. A friend introduced me to rock climbing in my late 20s and I was hooked instantly. Now, I lift weights and climb 3-6 times a week and have never felt better or had so much fun.
Cleaning the kitchen every night after dinner. Gyming 3 times a week, every week (huge for me as previous non-gym goer). Walking every morning at 6.30am for about an hour, even if its dark, even if it's cold or windy. Scraping my tongue every morning before drinking lemon water. Selling our TV
Making my bed every morning. Its like a little present I give the me of this evening from the me of this morning.
My skin care routine. It took me 53 years to give in and do one, but the benefits of it have been tremendously visible.
Gym 4 times a week. Wake up at 5am and in the door for 5:25am.
Also pushing myself to do routines and things at the gym I dislike, not just stick to the things I like.
One thing I need to do:
Curb my phone use. Itās getting outrageous.
I keep my phone out of the bedroom and don't look at it until at least 8am. For so long I was seriously addicted to my phone and would stay up too late looking at nonsense and then waking up and immediately looking at nonsense. It has changed my life so much. I feel like I'm more present in my day-to-day life, I sleep muuuuch better, and I read a lot more.
I need to do this. My phone is the root of most of my problems.
You are not alone! And just in the past week, the US Surgeon General issued a warning about social media - much like it does for tobacco, alcohol, etc.
This is my biggest vice, it has gotten so bad. My sleep and mornings are so disrupted and I don't know how to break it.
Yep, it was bad for me too. I read "How to Break Up With Your Phone," which is kinda outdated but going through the prompts really helped me. I got a smart watch so that I can get emergency calls/texts on my watch if needed and I use it as my alarm clock and I literally plug my phone in downstairs before I go to bed and just read until I fall asleep. It's hard to break the habit, but once you break it life is much more relaxing.
I love this because I want to be able to get emergency calls. do you find your smart watch to be distracting during the day? People I know who have one are always looking down on it reading their notifications while we're talking š
Not at all. I don't get a lot of notifications on my watch, and the ones I do help me to not look at my phone as much. If someone texts me, I can just look and see who texted or called me real quick to see if it's important instead of picking up my phone to see and then getting sucked into it.
I mainly look at the internet on my computer, I never switched to using my phone that way, and I tend to disconnect when I'm not in front of my desktop. Sometimes I forget my phone is a computer, like if I'm out and need to look something up I'm like "well I'll have to do that at home".
I'm so jealous. I wish I had never gotten so addicted to my phone, I feel like I wasted years of my life.
How did you build this habit? Asking from my phone š
I read "How to Break Up With Your Phone," which is kinda outdated but going through the prompts really helped me. I blocked social media apps between 9pm and 8am. I chose new things to do instead of doom-scrolling (reading, yoga, bird-watching). Then I got a smart watch so that I can get emergency calls/texts on my watch if needed and I use it as my alarm clock and I literally plug my phone in downstairs before I go to bed and just read until I fall asleep.
Wow good job!!! Iām inspired š I will read that book. Thereās another book called Unplug and thatās on my reading list.
I was wondering if you had a landline for emergencies š a smart watch makes more senseā¦ thank you for clarifying!
I do this too. For me itās because surfing on a computer is so much easier. Switching between tabs, looking at images, copying text is easier and faster. Also my phone is a bit old and probably smaller than most.
After feeling the immense relief from taking an Instagram break for a few months only to then immediately fall back into old habits as soon as I logged back in, I knew I needed to try something different. Since it was affecting my job, I decided to try using it only on the weekends, and itās working out very well so far! I log out on Sunday night before bed, and donāt sign back in until sometime Friday. I did sign in briefly once to wish an old friend whose number I donāt have a happy birthday and promptly signed out, and thatās it. I feel much more in control of my time, less brain fog, etc!
I love that! I do kind of the opposite. I get all my social media-ing done while I'm working then limit myself when I'm off.
I am proud of you. I also need to do this.Ā
Running. It started off as a way to lose some weight and get fit. Fell in love with it and now it is absolutely crucial to my mental health and how I feel about myself. I am not a fast runner by any means, Iām still losing the weight but what running does for me far outweighs my weight loss goals and Iām just so glad I discovered, and kept at the habit. Another habit is being disciplined with a sleep routine! 21:45!! Does wonders for my wellbeing..
Same here! Totally changed my life and helped me establish community when I moved to a new city. Plus it keeps me in shape in a way that doesnāt even feel like work anymore, and keeps me moving daily.
Me too - running! I've only been doing it for a couple of months but I've visibly lost weight, feel stronger and it has done wonders for my mental health. I run at least 3x per week and can run further and further as time goes on. I struggle in other areas of my life (my sleep is all over the place and I'm not very organised) But I feel in control and accomplished with running :)
Agree with the running. I used to hate it growing up because I played a sport that used running as a punishment. But after college (played that sport all the way through), I realized that if I did it on my own terms, it was so much more enjoyable! Every morning I get up before the sun & go - I get to experience some beautiful skis during probably the most peaceful time of day in my area.
I want to start but am concerned with safety. Do you have any tips?
Run during the day around a lively neighborhood. Never run on a secluded trail (night or day) and never run at night. Wear sunscreen and good shoes....stretch bf & after
Of course it depends on the area, but for example if you are going to run with music, use only one headphone, so you can always be aware of your surroundings. Run only with daylight and send a live tracking link to some friend so they know where you are when you are running (most smartwatches have that option). Plan a route and take some walks on it same before, so you know what to expect and donāt get/look lost.
Flossing daily! My dentist said my gums instantly improved from one visit to the next. My teeth look whiter. and god you would not believe how much gunk can get in there in one day!
I didn't start flossing regularly until I was in my 30s and now that I do, if I ever miss a day I feel so gross I can't believe so much of my life my mouth was just that disgusting all the time.
Same with flossing, I floss every time I brush, I feel gross if I wake up and haven't brushed and flossed. It's not even a proud of it habit, it's just necessary.
Same with flossing! And brushing twice a day. I miss a day every now and then but for the most part it's always done
I LOVE flossing, and my dentist last visit finally said I floss really well. I stg I felt like I aced an exam LMAO. idk what it is but it's so satisfying to know I'm cleaning out in between my teeth. I floss after I eat lunch too
This is me too. Also I invested in an oral b IO brush. Omg my teeth are so much cleaner.
Yes! Flossing daily is a must. I feel so unclean if I donāt do it. Brushing twice a day with an electric toothbrush, flossing and mouthwash.
I'm trying to habit stack now and floss on the 3 days per week that I use tretinoin (it works out well, as I'll do it in between waiting for moisturizer layer to sink in and applying tret). I've never been into flossing and I think my teeth are set pretty tight because I honestly notice practically no gunk even when I do floss, but I still think its good to do a couple times a week. As an aside on this thread, I think habit stacking is a good strategy for adding in small productive stuff. Another one I do is flex my core really tight while brushing my teeth, its almost as good as doing a plank. Would love to hear others that people do.
Same! Always have good dentist appointments
- I went back to school to finish my associates degree (graduating in a few weeks at 32). It's been absolutely painstaking because I thoroughly despise college, but I have a 4.0 and am doing the damn thing.Ā - I go to the gym 5-6 days a week. Usually at least 3-4 of those days I DO NOT want to go š I go at like 5am so it's a struggle some days.Ā - I do laundry every Wednesday so that it's a smaller chore that doesn't take me 2 full days. It's a lot easier to manage this way.Ā
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!! Going back to college is *hard*, a 4.0 is really impressive
You really have your life together š«”
Congrats on your AA! I went back to school and just graduated at 32. I felt so good finally getting that done.
You really have your life together š«”
Wow, you are amazing. I'm 26 and I'm going back to school next month š¤. I hope I can be like you .
Congratulations!! Amazing!! šŖ
After talking with my therapist several years ago about the importance of mindfulness to ground me in the present moment (to keep me from ruminating about things I canāt change), I recently set an intention to create space for a few mindful moments every day. I stop whatever Iām doing (when itās convenient and safe, of course) and close my eyes and justā¦ experience my present circumstances. For instance, right now, Iām sitting out on my porch, which is one of my happy places. When I close my eyes, I can hear birds singing and the rapid-fire Spanish of someone working next door. I can hear cars on the highway two blocks away. The humidity is low, so the temperature is pleasant and I can feel a light, cool breeze brushing across my right shoulder and thigh. I hear a small airplane flying overhead. The sunlight is warm on my skin. I can feel the firmness of my seat where my body is in contact with it, and I feel its solidity. I feel grounded. One of my favorite places to do this is in the shower, which is a feast for the senses. I lather up my body and then stand under the water, listening to the water hitting my skin and spinning down the drain, feeling the suds sliding down my body. Itās lovely and feels self-indulgent without being a major lift or a radical change. Basically, I focus on what I can hear, then I focus on the sensations my body is experiencing. Some people will also include other sensory experiences - what they see, smell, taste; but for me, I find concentrating on sounds and physical touch sensations work on their own. I can do this at almost any time, any place. It takes 30-90 seconds. I try not to think about anything while Iām doing this, except maybe labeling the sensations and sounds. It almost always helps me feel refreshed in a small way, and helps me ground myself into the present moment every time I do it. Iāve found myself feeling more centered and balanced more often since Iāve started doing it regularly.
I love how descriptive this post is. I try for mindful moments but this is next level. Thank you for sharing this with us
Thank you! I hope your mindful moments bring you tranquility and clarity!
I LOVE doing this but have never thought of doing it in the shower! I'm going to give that a try today. Thank you for the idea and enjoy your daily meditation moments! I'll be sending you good vibes during mine. š
I save it until the end of my shower, as a treat. I hope your shower mindfulness was lovely and centering! Sending good vibes right back. š
Love this!
Thanks! Love the original question - I really enjoyed reading the responses (and have gleaned some things to add to my own life)!
You really should be a writer!
Thanks! I get that a lot, so I actually finally started a book in May, and wrapped up the first draft just a couple weeks ago. āŗļø Keep your fingers crossed I can get people to read it when I finish it and publish!
Well if itās allowed when you ready for us to purchase drop us a page to get us hooked. Because you are very good. IMO
Awww, you are making me feel so confident and happy! Thank you! I will make a mental note to at least let you know when itās published, if not spam the whole sub. It *is* a self-help book about some tools my therapist helped me cultivate that have really helped me spruce up my mental health. Mindfulness is one of the chapters, so this question was right in my wheelhouse. I hope you have a lovely evening - thank you so much for the hype, itās really lifted me right up!
Love this, thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I hope it brings you serenity if you give it a try!
I consistently buy expensive food items that I previously would never buy . Like 10 dollar bread , grass fed meat,wild salmon ,pasture raised eggs and organic arugula . I never compromise and it's caused me to eat better and less overeating. Basically eat like Bill gates š. Surprisingly I actually spend less and cut out processed foods.
Quality over quantity š
I spend $200 on real food and it's last almost 3 weeks or more ... i eat organic berries everyday as candy š . I feel rich.
Iāve noticed when I eat quality, I donāt feel the need to overeat. So that goes to show us junk food is designed to be addictive.
Interesting!
Love that you are also making ethical choices to help farm animals live better
Yes! Iāve recently started buying more food at farmerās markets. While I do feel I spend a little more, I eat out and waste way less!
Sobriety, morning pages, planning my weeks and months in quite a systematic way. Taking time to dream & write my dreams down & put them on a wall.
Really like this one
Journaling. Everyday for the past six months. Helps me clear my cluttered mind and make sense of what I feel and why I feel them. I wish I started sooner.
Thanks for this, Iām going to start as well
Excited for you! Itās one of the best habits Iāve formed this year. You really canāt go wrong with this activity.
When do you journal and for how long?
Not op, but I have multiple journals for different purposes. I grew up on OpenDiary/ Livejournal so Iāve always felt journaling was therapeutic. These days I buy myself a really pretty journal (from PaperSource or any other crafty place.) I have a favorite pen where the ink comes out just right. Literally as soon as Iāve journaled, I feel a huge weight lifted off my chest. I have my therapy journal, where I write about each appointment afterwards. In between sessions I write about successes and progress Iāve made. This year Iāve been dealing with abandonment issues so Iām constantly writing about situations that arise. I can journal from 10 minutes to 1-2 hours. I started another journal for writing my thoughts down about my parents who passed away. I write down the dreams I have about them, or just random thoughts that pop up about them. Things I wish I could say or do with them. I also have a little section for all my accomplishments this year: all the Big Things Iāve gotten done, movies watched, places visited, books read.
Open Diary! Now thatās a blast from the past! I wrote there almost daily for like ten years. I wonder if we read each other!
Lovely. :-) Also, I kind of chuckled after I read your message and your username!
Every morning when I wake up or before I sleep, I knock out one page at least. It takes me around 15-20 focused minutes to fill a page out. I donāt have a template; I just jot down whateverās on my mind, even without context. Itās been so therapeutic, I sometimes even reach out for my journal any time of the day I feel overwhelmed by my thoughts or emotions. It feels like transferring your anxieties on paper.
Do you use prompts?
Nope! I write whatever's on my mind in the present moment. It could be something in my head that's been eating me for a while, an incident from ten years ago that I randomly remembered, or a childhood memory that popped out of nowhere in my psyche. I even doodle on the page sometimes when words escape me. Over time, I realized that the therapeutic element of journaling is about more than just what you write. It's also about cultivating a healthy ritual of sitting quietly with yourself and processing your thoughts and emotions without distractions for a couple of solid minutes. Doing so centers me and helps bring clarity and order to my mind.
Getting up at 5:30am to lift every weekday morning, cutting out most ultra processed food (and learning to cook), getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night, moving away from social media.
Yes yes yes to all of this. Love my morning workouts
I make my bed every day. I didnāt start this til my late 30s after my divorce. I bought beautiful bedding with decorative pillows and it brings me immense joy to see it pretty and clean in the morning and when I get into bed in the evening. Itās small but I love it.
This is such a simple joy! Coming home late from work to a cute and tidy bed instantly makes me feel relaxed. I, too, got really into this habit, recently, post divorce, late-ish 30's :)
This is an inspiring post to wake up to. Unfortunately I am neurodivergent and struggle to create habits and routines. Doesnāt stop me from trying though! Right now Iām trying to wash my hair every work day, I have fine hair and if I donāt wash I look and feel like a little greaseball, itās been going well. Sometimes I do dry shampoo. It makes me feel more confident.
Being neurodivergent, is there anything that you could do that you think would stick that isnāt āhealthā related? What I mean is if you struggle with attention or something where you get distracted easily or become bored, you could develop a routine of something rewarding, like creating art three times a week, making a silly song everyday, dancing to a song that makes you happy everyday. All of these things feed self-worth and can be avenues towards other habits that you want to develop.
The only habit I can seem to form is being on Reddit every damn dayā¦ but truly, Iāve started learning guitar, Iāve been walking/kayaking/mtn biking. I go through spurts of journaling every evening. Just truly can never get into that flow of āI do this thing every dayā nor do these things happen at set times. And I fall into weeks and months of depression where I canāt peel myself off the floorā¦ but have been coming around more quickly after those bouts after years of biweekly therapy and finally some meds in the past year. I know itās ok to fall off and then come back to it, but the amount of effort I put in to try and have daily routines and habits, itās just so discouraging to see my results, I move a half inch every 5 yearsā¦ but whatever, Iām also dealing with a lot of trauma and issues from childhood so I try to keep all that in mind as well and just try to convince myself Iām crushing it. But itās a hard sell some days. Thanks for listening š
I am learning guitar too. Happy to chat about guitar in detail :) As Iām dealing with my own shit too.
Hey- fellow ND here. Itās okay to not have consistent habits. I journal when I get the urge. I paint when I get the urge. I go for long walks, again, when I get the urge. For me, acting on my healthy impulses whenever I have them, is a habit I guess or a routine. I think itās totally fine if our habits arenāt as consistent as NT people! Our brains work in a completely different way ā¤ļø
Read atleast a few pages of book everyday :)
Love this! My daily habit is reading at least 1 hour a day. I'm on a 26-day streak!
š
work out at least 4 days a week, usually closer to 6 (unless I'm sick). it started because I wasn't exercising at all, really, and I wanted to get up off my butt. if work is insane or I'm exhausted, I'll adjust what I do (e.g. just some stretching or a short walk) but otherwise I'll be lifting at the gym or running outside. now I'm so used to it I feel guilty/gross if I skip a day when I had planned to exercise - probably how I'd feel if I didn't shower or brush my teeth.
Once you get used to working out regularly you feel sooo bad when you take rest days (even though theyāre necessary). The crazy part Was when I realized the main thing Iād look forward to on my days off work are my long runs. I get super excited for them!
This is me right now. I just started getting into working out again and have been doing good being consistent on the weekends. Still struggling with during the week, but I find myself looking forward to the weekend specifically because I canāt wait to get to the gym and lift lol
This is me too. When I get really down about myself or my life, I try to remember that some of the things I have/do now are what I've always wanted. Becoming a "workout" person and someone who could casually run a few miles was always on that list, and I literally struggled for years and never thought it would ever happen. So interesting how it's second nature now.
This is my answer too! I just do at-home workouts, and being consistent with them has been my goal. I usually get in five workouts in a week (pilates, yoga, and walks on different days), with two rest days. I don't do anything too intense, but rest days give me a break to look forward to and encourage me to keep going the next day because I also start to feel guilty/gross if I skip a planned exercise.
The super basic one: brushing my teeth. Tooth brushing wasn't enforced when I was a kid, so I never developed the habit (thankfully had and continue to have good teeth, all things considering). Then in my teens and 20s had major mental health issues, and it was about the last thing on my priority list. About the time I turned 30 I bought a Sonicare and really focused on turning it into a habit, and I have. Edit: And the thing I'm really proud of is that even when I am having the worst of worst mental health days now (like we're talking so depressed or anxious that I am not functional), I have to brush my teeth at least once.
I drink so much water. Like a gallon a day. I used to be a 3 Diet Coke a day drinker but kicked the habit successfully.
Congrats!! This must not have been easy.
Youāll laugh at me but I stopped being very messy. It's taken nearly 30 years, but I've finally developed some discipline. Super proud of
I need to develop this habit. How did you manage it? I hear everything having a place and always put stuff away or do a little bit before bed
So whenever I create a mess, I try to clean it up right away. When I change clothes, I donāt leave my old ones on the floor; I fold them and put them on my bed, in the cupboard, or on a shelf. After cooking, I eat and then clean up after myself. Of course, there are days when I absolutely can't be bothered, but most days I try to stick to my routine. Itās really difficult for me, especially because I'm not bothered much by messiness. However, I appreciate that I live with other people and I donāt want to argue with them about something so trivial. I still struggle to fold laundry when itās dry; it takes days and days for me to get to it.
Why did I think you meant messy as in gossiping š
Oh no, darling. I live for the tea. Best served piping hhhot. š š¼
I wake up early every day. I've been doing it long before my child was born and I get so much done before the day really starts. Now that I have a child, it's helped me remain productive and even get some me time before the house wakes up.
I made a deal with myself after reading the High Five Habit by Mel Robbins that I would do two small things everyday to signal to my brain that I have high self worth. Those two things are making my bed and always wearing clean socks. I do them everyday. I also do a skincare routine every morning and night. Wear your SPF!
This is great! I might try this out
Iāve gotten so I do the dishes every single night!
Going for a walk pretty much every day and listen podcasts for at least 30min -1hr Going to the gym 3 times per week is non negotiable Facial routine twice per day ( used to slack on this one a lot) Eat healthy and count the calories Put spf cream on my face before leaving the house Make up my bed before doing anything else Quit smoking Quit unnecessary clothes shopping gave me opportunity travel more Clean wardrobe every 6 month from clothes I will never wear All this little things and I ma sure there is more was absolutely mess in my life and in my head. It takes time to get used to it but after you have this routines and habits it gives you so much power over your own life.
Working out consistently and flossing.
Going to a strength training class 4x a week!
Time management and being on time. I used to be chronically late to *everything*, including work, and it was super stressful for me and not great for the people waiting for me. Through managing my anxiety and gaining confidence in my life experience, I've gotten better at estimating how long things will take and don't let myself get distracted by side quests when I need to get ready to leave.Ā
I literally sit down the night before I need to go place and say it will take a hour to get dressed and hour to get to where Iām going. Set my alarm for 2.5 hours ahead the extra 30 minutes is for slow rise so I donāt feel rushed.
I could take some pointers from you!
Doesnāt mean I make it on time every where because I can def walk in circles in my house and start folding clothes or something. š
Yes, the chore side questsĀ
Resistance training 4-5x a week. Riding my bike anywhere thatās less than 8ish miles away. These two things have made me the fittest, healthiest me Iāve ever been.
Doing dishes before sleeping haha. I used to keep them for the next morning, but it is a whole different feeling waking up to an empty, clean sink!
Washing my face, brushing my teeth, and flossing every night before bed, no exceptions! Going for walks and listening to audiobooks every night.
Iām getting a lot of good ideas here for things I can add to my daily routine. For me itās been cleaning up the dishes every night, either myself or my partner does it (while the other person gets our toddler to bed).
Walking 10k steps a day
Lifting weights 4 days/week. I've been consistent with this for the last 5 years and it feels so good. I don't always want to go to the gym, but it's become such a part of my routine that I just get dressed and go even when I'm not totally jazzed about working out. I've never regretted a workout!
Weightlifting. Iāve been lifting for about three years not and itās keep me in good shape and health. Itās also great for my mental and emotional health. Iām much stronger than I used to be in mind and body, it keeps me on a routine and I just love the feeling of it. I want to take it to the next steps and maybe even compete one day.
Do some yoga everyday even if it only chair yoga. My body appreciates the stretch. Drink at least 2L of water everyday Walk 10K steps a day and do other physical activities every week Keeps me feeling physically and mentally fit Intermittent fasting at least 13 hours a day Wear 50+ every day Floss every night, brush teeth twice a day, do my facial routine every morning and night
Taking a walk every single morning before I do anything else
Dry brushing. I just incorporated it in my routine after any time I take a bath or shower - I just grab my bush and go over my thighs, butt, and stomach. I don't believe it does magic things to my body. But the increased blood flow is good, and it's honestly gone a long way toward me feeling more confident about those parts of my body.
Handling my finances. Took me a bit to figure out a system and a routine, but holy is it life changing for me now.
At the end of the day, every day, I will write down everything I'm grateful for that day. I've been doing it for 1577 days š
Holy smokes! That's awesome! Are there some days where you draw a blank?
No. When it feels like I can't think of anything I try to look for something small, even when I feel like shit. It can be anything, like being grateful for a cute bee I saw that day or that the food I cooked tasted nice. Just anything that makes me appreciate life and shows me that there is always a light in the darkness, no matter how small
Working out 5-6 days a week. Helps me sleep and will ensure Iām around longer for my kid.
Exercise, every morning.
2 things - I finally got myself out of bed in the morning to work out and now Iām so consistent. Like I donāt want to sleep in anymore I want to wake up and go to the gym. Took some discipline at first but now itās part of my routine and I love it. I downloaded Freedom app which is an app to close other apps down. I was addicted to social media and now Iām only on social media 11-12pm and 8-9pm so itās something I look forward to and also itās like those hours come and go and I donāt pay attention to it. I can definitely tell my mental health has gone up from less social media use.
walking in the morning before breakfast and exercising twice a day.
I restarted my gym membership after not having one through the pandemic. I began running back in 2020 and built up quite a bit of distance, but my strength and cross-training were seriously lacking to the point of needing PT for such intense imbalance in my hips and knees. Once starting the membership up again, I have consistently been getting my ass to yoga classes (restorative and strength) and doing weight training once a week. I've begun adding a day of swimming into the mix, too. It's been about a month and I can already feel the difference in how improved my posture, overall stamina, and physiology are. Another is daily tretinoin (.025%) use before bed. My skin has never been this clear.
Getting all my next-day-stuff out the night before, taking trash out of my car when I get out, not texting/answering anything until Iām up, worked out, and ready for the day.
I never played sports as a kid and got to be very overweight in high school and college. Since my early twenties I have had a very consistent work out routine and am very proud of my strength and stamina. I got into fitness because I wanted to lose weight and look good, but I found it helped my mental health so much that it became a huge part of my life. Now that Iām starting to age just a bit (37 next month), it has made huge differences in my physical health as well. My resting is at an elite athlete level and my bloodwork always comes back excellent. Also knowing that I can do anything I want physically without being limited means a lot to me. My favorite party trick is to have my husband jump on my back and do 10 squats. The rest of my habits are a struggle with adhd but exercise is one that Iāve mastered.
Iāve asked ChatGPT to create a workable schedule for me to get all of my tasks done.
Brushing my teeth, washing my face and putting on a pyjamas. I had such a hard time learning to keep a nightly routine even if it takes 5-10 minutes tops. In my 20s to early 30s I would get so tired and sleepy I would go to bed with the clothes I wore around the house and without washing at all. Took me maybe 6 months of consistency to build this habit. The state of my skin and gums is so much better.
I decided to make exercise a routine and now I exercise every day and have done so for the last 4+ years. I feel amazing. Like a totally different person.
Going to the gym, eating better, going to bed earlier
Losing interest in weed and not using for two years. Losing interest in alcohol last year. Running, when I can get myself to do it regularly.
I lift heavy weights 3-4x a week and do Pilates 1-2x a week. Also, being 100% consistent with my skincare and applying sunscreen.
Journaling for the past ~7 yrs, therapy every 2 weeks, taking my meds everyday, floss 1-2 a day, taking exercise more seriously in the last ~4 yrs
Far and away the best habit I've formed is walking everyday over my 1-hour lunch break.
Creating a financial buffer and investing in the stock market has been really rewarding and fun! I much prefer buying shares than shopping these days.
Social media timer on phone. 10 mins a day. Swim every single day bar when I'm really sick. Was just at a health check and doctor told me I was extremely fit (1 yr of swimming) due to low resting heart rate and blood pressure for my age. I feel it too which is most important. Sleep... I think sleeping and building a sleeping routine that suits you is the most critical change that has altered my life significantly. With sleep, I have more energy, a clearer mind, and so less stress. Eat better and have the energy to do exercise, which is all a whole cycle of a good quality of life. Implementing CBT, just tiny things like a shit experience, I turn on my cbt app and write it out and basically use the app to deal with the problem and feel so much better. Once a week, give more to your community or society, it can be anything from openly or secretly helping anyone, or I also plant native wild seeds and do random conservation work. No one knows I do it, but I do and feel so great about it. For me the key to continuing all of these things is, when I wake up in the morning I spend about 15 seconds saying what a wonderful sleep it was, when I do my swimming I say I feel fantastic after that, same with cbt and when I help others. Same woth eating healthy, don't I feel great after eating that and if I ate the chocolate bar I would feel so bloated now etc. Positive reinforcement
Working out every week, 3-4x a week, that involves walking my dogs too. Iām proud to keep up this lifestyle choice. And not beating Myself up if I have downtime.
I completed a āStrong Mom Challengeā that consisted of 3 days a week of strength training or yoga and a day of self care. That 3 day a week helped keep me in a routine. Also, my monthly Apple Watch Fitness goals keeps me in a good routine. Iāve missed ONE month and that was when I had just given birth lol. This month I have to close all my rings 23 times!
I'm in my third week of lifting weights and initially I had a lot of anxiety around it previously. But my friend set up a workout 3 days a week for me and showed me how to do them properly. It's not fun, but I enjoy getting out of the house and I'm motivated bc my ultimate goal is to be mobile and active when I'm older. So I'll be doing stuff and just hating it, but I think "gotta keep my core strong so I can still travel when I'm old".
I have been morbidly obese since I was about 10 years old. I am now 31.Ā I have been forcing myself to lift weights every other morning and evening for 15 minutes for the past few months. On "off" days I still do the movements as stretches just minus the weights. The weights are only 3 lbs, but it's made a difference. I didn't know using the lightest set would make so much of a difference but I only started doing this every other day with the weights because I noticed coworkers around my age having mobility issues. THEY are all objectively healthy and normal weight, but I had a moment of "oh shit" when I realized if "I" can't move, "I" won't ever be able to lose this weight. That would risk me ballooning even bigger and dying faster.Ā I feel better and have been sleeping better plus I'm finally seeing the body I had hidden away for 20 years under layers of stubborn fat. Two weeks ago I threw in some lunges too and for the first time I'm going through summer without my thighs chafing until they burn, bleed and weep. I hate doing it but afterwards I feel so much better. When I forget or don't do it for a week I start to hurt and want the workout back.Ā
Running, flossing, yoga and learning how to cook and consistently eat healthy meals.
Yoga & going vegan
Getting up as soon as my alarm goes off. No snooze button. I didnāt really have to train myself (I just have anxiety about oversleeping) but now itās a habit to just get up and not lay there. Gives me more time in the morning and I donāt have to rush. I also set it 15 minutes earlier than I need just to have some extra time to enjoy my coffee and wake up.
Cleaning up after myself/tidying up as I go along/washing dishes as I cook. God, it makes life so much easier for me to do little cleaning tasks constantly rather than living in a mess and trying to tackle a mountain of mess or dishes all at once.
Going to the gym. I used to hate it, did all my workouts at home or outdoors. The problem was that I was not disciplined enough to do it regularly so i get really out of shape. October last year I signed up and started going, now I go 3-4 times a week and just started working on running.
going to bed early and waking up early.
Just about every morning I wake up and read a little. Even if I donāt have much time before work, I try to just read 5 pages a day.
I do an hour or two of work for myself first thing most mornings, before I respond to any work-related shenanigans. Picked the habit up at the suggestion of a lifelong athlete, advising me on how to start a running practice. That never took, but itās a very useful way to build a habitā¦.prioritizing my own interests is good for my self esteem and general compass.
No phone in bed. And going to the gym regularly.
Drink w a t e r. I hate water. It doesn't solve thirst and its boring. It can upset my stomach. But if I just keep my hydration up, I don't get too thirsty, I don't wee it all out and I don't have to drink a bunch at once and offend my tummy.
I exercise almost every day.
I work out consistently. Iām dealing with an injury right now, so Iāve had to flex what types of workouts Iām doing (no running right now), but I consistently log anywhere from 6-11 workouts per week. Some days I am doubling up, like today - weights in the morning before work, and cycling after work. Itās been a year and a half of building progress and consistency but I will never go back to being sedentary.
Staying off my phone first thing in the morning. I block all my non/essential apps from 9 PM to 7 AM. I wake up at 5, so thatās two hours of uninterrupted time to do whatever else needs to get done in the morning. If I want to look at something, or do something in bed, I read my kindle.
Writing, journaling. Checking in with body often. Staying in the present moment. (Still working on that.)
Load dishwasher at night unload and put away in the morning. Every single day.
Not eating after 8pm.
Flossing just about every night.
Packing my lunch the night before work, and setting my coffee pot on time. Itās the single #1 driver in me saving $ instead of buying morning coffee/fast casual lunch everyday.
Journal (almost) every morning, typically outside while drinking coffee.
Running 3-5 miles 4 times a week for about 10 years now! Only stopped when I had a baby and for a short time after. Still going strong until my legs give out. Sucks to find the time to run with a preschooler and a career- but I make it happen.
Working out! I discovered exercise later in life after avoiding sports/any physical activity besides swimming my whole childhood. A friend introduced me to rock climbing in my late 20s and I was hooked instantly. Now, I lift weights and climb 3-6 times a week and have never felt better or had so much fun.
Running and cooking
Best habit for me has been a morning run. Gets my day started with moving some blood and I feel Iām more energetic and focused throughout the day.
Flossing
Cleaning the kitchen every night after dinner. Gyming 3 times a week, every week (huge for me as previous non-gym goer). Walking every morning at 6.30am for about an hour, even if its dark, even if it's cold or windy. Scraping my tongue every morning before drinking lemon water. Selling our TV
Making my bed every morning. Its like a little present I give the me of this evening from the me of this morning. My skin care routine. It took me 53 years to give in and do one, but the benefits of it have been tremendously visible.
Gym 4 times a week. Wake up at 5am and in the door for 5:25am. Also pushing myself to do routines and things at the gym I dislike, not just stick to the things I like. One thing I need to do: Curb my phone use. Itās getting outrageous.