The 5 Most Effective Daily Habits To Live A Better Life
Are you striving for a better life? Yes? Well, who doesn’t?
Chances are you’ve already read 50 books on that, listened to another 1000 podcasts, and even tried some meditation, but nothing stuck — leaving you feeling miserable for a while. Now, you came back and want to change things after all.
Great! Because 2024 can become your year. You only need to implement these 5 most effective daily habits to live a better life.
Cultivate a positive mindset
It all starts in your head.
A positive mindset isn’t the product of changes, it’s their base. You don’t need to become better first, you need to become more positive first.
“How?” you might ask.
By seeing the light in everyday things. Just like you’ve (unconsciously) trained yourself to see negative aspects, you can train yourself to see positive aspects.
I know it’s difficult.
Last year, my GF went to Finland for a semester abroad. I knew it’d come but I had a hard time maintaining a long-distance relationship. Also, my writing business declined and when I flew from Finland to Bali to get some rest, I lost my luggage and got dengue fever.
I had plenty of reasons to see the negative side of things.
And to be honest, up to the point where I got dengue fever, I did.
But then, lying sick in bed I realized: “If I fight all of that, I’ll lose.”
And this lesson helped me change my perspective.
Instead of seeing the negative aspects, I started seeing the positive ones:
- My job enabled me to visit my GF for long stretches at a time and to fly to Bali
- I had the chance to see polar lights
- Summer was coming, soon
- the semester abroad will be over, soon
And that’s how I changed my perception last year. It’s great, but not irreplicable.
You can do it, too.
Seeing things from a positive perspective doesn’t need to be a one-time thing. It can become a daily habit.
But for that, you need to practice it.
Practice mindful meditation
I know you’ve tried already.
But it doesn’t matter. Mindful meditation offers so many benefits that everybody should include it in his life. Everybody.
A couple of weeks ago, I spoke with a friend of my GF. Knowing that she is trying to live more mindful, I asked her if she meditates. She told me she tries to meditate. I asked her how. She told me she often tried guided meditation because she couldn’t sit still without silence.
And I get it. It seems to be easier. But it’s not.
In the beginning, sounds or voices are distractions.
Distractions from you being yourself.
It sounds crazy but nowadays we have to fight for undisturbed solitude. Not only because there are always so many people around, but because we are used to distracting ourselves by using our smartphones.
Mindfulness starts with focusing on a single moment.
And sure, there are always things to feel, see, hear, and observe.
But you need to understand that being alone with your thoughts is something good. Practice that.
Sit down in silence, close your eyes, and let yourself be. Observe which thoughts are coming and going. Become mindful of how you think. This enables you to change how you think.
Mindful meditation is key to shift your mindset to the positive.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is the physical base for everything.
If you don’t live healthy, you will be less:
- productive
- sexy
- creative
and of course, you will die earlier.
You want to avoid all of that, but you don’t know where to start?
Here’s what a healthy lifestyle consists of:
- sufficient sleep Most need between 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day. I could describe how important sleep is, but at this point, you probably know yourself.
- healthy meals Would you give your car bad oil and petrol? Probably not. Then why do you treat yourself worse than your car? Eat healthy. Rely mostly on whole foods. Focus on food with ingredients you can pronounce. Don’t overeat.
- regular workouts Working out isn’t only a great way to stay in shape. It’s a necessity for us. We’re physical beings, although we might have forgotten it over the last 40 years. Move your body a couple times per week. Have fun.
- breaks for relaxation Take your time to relax and unwind. Focus on solitude without any distractions and to-do’s.
- limited alcohol/nicotine consumption Yes, in the best case, you avoid it altogether. But sometimes, it’s just good to share a drink. If you do, don’t overdo it.
In essence, a healthy lifestyle isn’t difficult to understand. But you need to put in regular effort to reap the rewards. And that’s what makes it difficult.
Don’t worry too much.
Pursue continuous learning
Personal Growth is more than a cult of people trying to improve themselves.
It’s understanding that nowadays, we need to adapt faster than ever before. And it’s preparing ourselves for that.
In the past you studied, got your degree, started working, learned what you did there, and did it for the next 40 years.
Now, things are more complicated.
You might study and get your degree, but as soon as you start, some (if not all) of what you’ve learned is already water under the bridge.
Technology is fast.
We have to adapt. We need to change on a regular basis to keep up with technology. Because it’s such an essential part of life, we need to change our personal and professional lives.
This makes continuous learning a necessity and not an option.
Awaken the inner child, be curious. Ask questions, try new things, fall, and stand up again. Life’s meant to be fun.
Practice gratitude
It’s easy to feel ungrateful, seeing what others have achieved.
Chances are you aren’t on the Forbes 30 under 30. And you probably also do not just fly from Bali to Venice and then to the Seychelles. Only to fly to LA, Tokyo, and Cape Town afterward.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t be grateful.
Life gives everyone memories, people, and things to be grateful for. But most never learn to see them, making them long for more.
That’s why you need to practice gratitude.
You need to create a habit of appreciating what you have. Whatever it might be. And even if others don’t see anything in it.
This can be your body, talents, experiences, job, wife, recovery, car, food, and many more things.
I’m always grateful for simple things like a good espresso because I know how difficult it is to make one.
Gratitude is a simple way to a better life. But you have to practice it. Write down what you’re grateful for and why.
And then make it a habit.
A better life is within everyone’s reach, and it doesn’t require more money. Instead, it requires you to:
- cultivate a positive mindset
- practice mindful meditation
- maintain a healthy lifestyle
- pursue continuous learning
- practice gratitude
