5 Simple Habits That Changed My Life.
They can change yours, too.
We often fall into the trap of thinking our entire lives need to change before we change. That's not true.
My life began to transform little by little when I decided it was time to make healthy, lasting changes.
How did it all begin? By seeking professional help.
This journey started when I decided to invest in a counselor, and I'm glad I continued that investment because it led to the transformation I was looking for.
I've adopted much healthier habits that, over the past four years, have made a significant difference in my life.
I wanted to share some of them with you because, one, I want to help anyone who wants to help themselves, and two, these habits are much easier to adopt than we think.
I wish I'd come across a blog like this in the past because it would have inspired me to make different choices and shown the reality that healthy habits are simple to execute.
So, without further ado, here are five simple habits that can change your life.
Writing/Journaling.
This has helped me create the habits of self-reflection and awareness necessary to make lasting life changes.
Writing and journaling helped me dramatically improve my self-awareness skills, which has improved my self-esteem, my relationship with my partner, my relationship with my family, etc.
Becoming self-aware helped me decipher who I am, what I stand for, my beliefs and values, and what I want for my life.
Journaling is also the reason I started writing on Medium. I wanted to share my thoughts, and writing became the ideal way.
Medium was my first exposure to the world of freelancing, digital marketing, digital products, etc., and my world changed learning about the possibilities.
I now have different dreams and aspirations.
I had dreams, but I remember lacking the awareness to realize I wasn't working consistently enough to make anything happen.
I thought things just weren't working out for me.
Everything is different this time. I now have the awareness to know I need to work consistently, and I have been.
Thanks to that, I've written an e-book and amassed over 300 followers and counting!
Eating mostly whole-organic foods without the pressure to follow a 'perfect' diet.
Let's get one thing straight. There's no such thing as the perfect diet.
The diet that works, much like the exercise routine that works, is the one you can stick to.
I eat around 80% healthy, organic, whole foods, and the remaining 20% is whatever I want.
I don't count anything. I don't track anything. Sometimes, I write a food journal to ensure I don't go overboard with the 20%, and for my holistic doctor, that's it.
I used to do so many different and unhealthy diets to try and lose weight.
Eventually, that led to a terrible relationship with my self-image, and the constant dieting caused havoc for my body — I developed appendicitis and an array of digestion problems.
After dealing with that mess, I've learned that eating primarily whole foods is the only 'diet' guideline that works — I feel significantly better, both mentally and physically.
I still live life. I go out to eat with my significant other and attend functions and events like a 'normal' person, and I feel the best I've felt in a long time.
And I've also lost the weight I was so desperately trying to get rid of when I was younger.
Eating healthier and removing the stress and the pressure I was putting on myself to follow any diet perfectly had a significant positive effect on both my self-esteem and how my body responds to the food I eat.
Drinking filtered water.
Don't believe anyone who tells you there isn't a difference between tap and filtered water.
Also, don't believe anyone who tells you all water filters are the same.
If you go to the Environmental Working Group's website, you can plug in your zip code and find out exactly what's in your tap water.
When I researched mine, I found over 40 different chemicals and contaminants.
To say I was grossed out is an understatement.
Thankfully, I made it a point to research and found a water filter that works. It's on the pricey side, but it's worth it.
*I'm not affiliated with this company.
I've noticed a difference in my mental clarity, energy levels throughout the day, thirst levels throughout the day, bowel movements, etc.
Do your research, educate yourself about the risks of drinking tap water in your state or town, and switch to a water filter that works.
I promise, future you will thank you.
Following a budget/tracking my spending.
This has changed the game for my finances and, therefore, my life.
We all need money to survive. Being financially organized is one of the best things you can do for your present and future.
I've saved six months' worth of expenses in case of emergency. I paid off $60k worth of student loans in five years, and I've started saving and investing for my 'retirement.'
I say retirement in quotation marks because I'll never be able to just leisure in my golden years.
The point is that knowing exactly how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and where it's being spent will give you the power to make decisions over your money that can change the course of your financial life.
The only reason I was able to accomplish the milestones I mentioned is due to tracking my spending, changing some (not all) of my spending habits, and establishing savings goals for myself.
If you'd like to know exactly what I do, here's a blog explaining my simple and effective budgeting method:
*This is for informational purposes only. This is not to be taken as financial advice. If you need help, please consult with a financial services professional for your specific needs and situation.
Constantly remind myself that life is an unpredictable journey.
And all I can do is roll with the punches, adjust, and make the best of any situation.
I'm not saying any of the growth and changes in my life are by chance or luck, but many of the changes I've made are due to adjusting to circumstances and challenges.
For example, being laid off.
That was never part of the plan, but it was a challenge that I had to adjust to.
The opportunity in front of me at the time was to work as a bartender, and I accepted because there wasn't anything else available.
But I'm glad I did because I'm significantly less stressed and miserable.
It's not what I pictured myself doing at 28, but I'm thankful this happened because, regardless of my occupation, I'm living a lifestyle that I'm genuinely content with.
It's events like this that have taught me we need to take the pressure off ourselves and stop trying to control absolutely every aspect of life's journey.
We think we know what we want, but life shows us the reality of it, and many times, we realize we're pursuing an ideal that doesn't exist.
I thought I was going to love being a corporate ladder climber. I thought that was the only way I could achieve the lifestyle I wanted.
But alas, life happened, showing me that working for a corporation is terrible and giving me an alternate option that helped me create a lifestyle I'm genuinely happy with.
So take the pressure off yourself. Life is funny in that, somehow, it always takes us exactly where we need to go.
The key is adjusting to the challenges and pivoting when needed instead of fighting to return to where you were.
These simple five lessons have made a tremendous difference in my life, and they can make a difference in yours if you believe, remain consistent, and never give up on yourself.
You can do this!