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Summary

The web content outlines three beneficial habits to adopt in 2022: regular exercise, daily meditation, and financial planning.

Abstract

The article "Top 3 Habits to Start in 2022" encourages readers to embrace the new year as an opportunity for personal growth and habit formation. It emphasizes the importance of physical activity, suggesting simple workouts that can be integrated into daily routines for improved physical and mental health. The second habit, meditation, is recommended for its brain-strengthening and stress-relieving benefits, with an emphasis on the ease of starting without special equipment. Lastly, the article advocates for financial planning, advising consistent savings and referencing resources like "I Will Teach You To Be Rich" for guidance on responsible spending and saving habits. The overarching message is that consistent practice of these habits can lead to significant long-term improvements in one's life.

Opinions

  • Exercise is considered the most important habit for its comprehensive benefits, including enhanced mental health and cognitive performance.
  • Meditation is valued for its ability to provide mental clarity and alleviate stress in a fast-paced world.
  • Financial planning is presented as a crucial habit for future security, suggesting that even small, regular contributions to savings can have a substantial impact over time.
  • The article expresses that habit formation is not about the duration of practice but the frequency, advocating for daily repetition until the habits become second nature.
  • The author endorses specific resources, such as the books "Spark!" and "I Will Teach You To Be Rich," indicating a belief in their effectiveness for personal development.

Top 3 Habits to Start in 2022

Every day is a fresh start

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

New year, new you? That’s what we like to think. We’re always ready and willing to try new things — especially with the start of a new year — but for many of us, it’s too easy to let old habits take over once more. This list has three simple ideas that will help you get back on track with your good habits (and also remove some bad ones) so that you can have a happy and healthy 2022.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links for books I’ve personally read and recommend.

1. Exercise

This is probably the best and most important habit to start in 2022. I’m not saying you have to go from being a couch potato to training for a marathon, but if you can make even simple changes, it will make a big difference in your life.

Fitting in a quick workout during your work day is easy: all you need is your body and good sneakers. Find some stairs nearby that you can go up and down repeatedly, or find an elevator with a quick staircase inside of it. You don’t need any equipment to get started! If you prefer to work out at home, there are plenty of videos online that will show you how to get started with working out or how to do simple exercises without equipment.

Exercise goes beyond just making you physically healthier and better looking (although those are really nice benefits) but also extremely important for your mental health as well. Numerous studies have shown it to be more effective at treating and preventing things like depression, Alzheimer's and anxiety than medication. It’s also been shown to increase test scores and overall cognitive performance. You owe it to yourself to get out there and get your heart pumping

Source: Spark! by Dr John J. Ratey & Eric Hagerman

2. Meditation

Another good habit to start in 2022 is meditation. Not only does it strengthen your brain and make it more alert, but it can help you relieve stress and even prevent or eliminate depression. Some people may think that meditation is a bit of a waste of time, but with how fast pace our lives are now we need a few minutes each day to give our brains a break. You don’t need any special equipment to get started with meditation: all you really need is a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. If possible, find somewhere outside that can provide some fresh air and nature. There are plenty of online guides for meditating online as well as plenty of YouTube videos — so there’s no excuse not to start in 2022!

3. Financial Planning

Many people can’t quite manage to save money, but the start of a new year is a great time to start. It’s not too late to put some money away for your future and if you don’t, you might end up living in poverty when you’re a senior citizen. If saving is hard for you, try putting some of your paycheck into a savings or retirement account every month. The amount that goes in isn’t too important as long as it’s something — even if it’s just $10 — and over time, it will really start to add up!

If you want to know more about saving or financial planning, try doing some research online or reading popular books that are written about these topics. One I highly recommend is I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Seth. This book will change your way of thinking about money. You don’t have to be a penny pinching scrooge to be financially responsible, you only have to decide what is important to you and spend freely on those things!

Remember, it’s not the amount of time you practice habits but the number of times you do it. Practice these habits every day and eventually, they’ll be second nature. You won’t be dragging yourself out of bed to go for a run, it’ll just be part of your daily routine. Get out there and accomplish your goals this year!

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