Eight simple daily habits that make you feel 8X better about yourself
I know what it’s like to feel uninspired and just plain icky.
Often, it’s because I skip vital yet simple habits that maintain my self-respect and enthusiasm for life.
Here are some quick habits that boost my self-confidence and keep me excited about life and work:
1. Learn something for at least 20 minutes and take notes.
Note-taking has been shown to better internalise the focus of study.
Whether via books, apps, videos, or courses, daily study shouldn’t end at University.
It’s a practice that can lead to exponential growth, especially when you go deep on a topic to develop mastery in something specific and helpful to the world.
2. Go for a ‘pointless’ walk.
We can avoid walks when our days are busy because they seem low-priority.
But what if walking without a specific aim was one of the most valuable things you could do?
You could also take a new route to work.
When we understand the need for daily motion and reflection to fuel our creativity and raise our frequency, walks become ‘non-negotiable.’
3. Do one worthwhile thing.
Ask yourself this:
‘Of all the stuff I could do today, what’s one thing I can do next that would make this day worthwhile?’
The nature of the task would depend on your mental and physical capacity, so if you’re really struggling, something like washing the dishes might be the thing.
Focus on one thing at a time, and prioritise the priorities. This is how to make significant progress quickly.
4. Fix one tiny problem.
We all have a list of to-do items that are growing thick.
Most of those items aren’t as important as we think.
Knock off one thing on that list right now that takes less than 15 minutes. This is a great way to give ourselves an identity boost.
Do one little thing, and now you’re a ‘doer’ in your mind.
Crucial. Nothing else will boost your mood and productivity than creating momentum, even if it’s a tiny task.
5. Write a ‘holy shit’ list.
Write down everything you can think of about your life, experiences and the world that make you say ‘holy shit.’
You’ll find many things, and you may find you come up with fresh ideas that drive new creative projects.
This activity trains your brain to focus on what’s exciting and beautiful.
That’s the skill you need.
6. Do a ‘social-stretch’ task.
We all have our own versions of an activity that makes us a little nervous in the social context.
Maybe it’s talking to a cashier.
Maybe it’s just writing a message to a family member. Perhaps it’s going out to a club alone.
We can go through days wrapped up in self-absorption and wonder why we feel depressed.
Put the attention on others, especially if it’s a bit of a stretch outside your comfort zone, and watch your mood lift.
7. Meditate.
Yeah, I know.
Everyone’s talking about meditation.
I’ve often questioned the need to do this because it feels like nothing is happening in the moment.
But meditation is one of the best ways to not only train the mind and body to center itself and relax, but it also acts as a window to solutions when you are intentional about solving a problem.
Why deny your own ability to access wisdom when it’s there for you daily?
8. Take a freezing cold shower.
Oh no, Alex! You went there.
You got suckered in by the bro science. I did. But it genuinely helps me.
Beyond the long list of health benefits, cold showers trains one key thing: your ability to handle what Julien Smith calls the ‘flinch.’
This is that moment we face before doing hard things.
When we get better at leaning into challenges and pushing through this ‘flinch,’ we become increasingly fearless.
We can handle and do more.
This is power.
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