Simple Daily Habits for Better Health

Changing your life for the better is not as easy or simple as people make it out to be.

If you’re anything like me, you tend to take three steps forward, five steps back. 

However, I finally stopped going backward and started making progress once I changed my approach.

They key is to actually take one step at a time.

In this post, I am going to discuss 10 simple habits that you can introduce one at a time and will have a positive impact on your life as a whole.

These are not overnight changes that you implement all at once and within a few days, your life is changed.

No, these are small habits that you get a hang of individually. Then one day, in the not-too-distant future, you look up and realize that you are a happier and healthier person.

Suddenly you feel ready to take on the world instead of being slightly overwhelmed by it.

The approach of introducing bite-sized habits or changes into your daily routine can make a big difference. It sets you on a positive trajectory towards a better life in general.

These habits are easy and very achievable. You feel a sense of accomplishment and start to notice bigger changes as you move through the list.

Let’s not waste any more time and dive into it!

Here are some healthy habits that I found to be life changing

1. Hydration

I thought I’d kick off the list with something extra simple: Increase your water intake.

I know this may be a dreaded one for those people who hate water (I can only sympathize with you), but this increase does not need to be drastic. The saying, be better than the person you were yesterday, really applies here.

If you don’t drink water at all, start. Add another glass if you only drink 1 liter of water daily. And if you think you can go from 4 glasses a day to 8, more power to you!

When I was at one of the lowest points in my life, changing my diet and exercising 5 days a week felt completely overwhelming and impossible. But I could drink more water. And just like that, I took the first step towards turning my life around. You can do it too 😊.

2. Sleep

Sleep has a bigger impact on your health than you might think. There are many reasons why you should get better sleep.

These include maintaining a healthy weight, improving your concentration and productivity, mental health and overall mood. It provides you with the much-needed energy to get through your day.

Sleep is essential. We need it to survive, so do not underestimate its importance.

The recommended hours of sleep per night is 7-9 hours. If you are currently sleeping less than that and find it hard to suddenly switch to 7 hours, you should gradually work your way up to your desired number.

Remember, the key is to take small, meaningful steps consistently until you reach your desired goal. This is the same for everything on this list, including my next recommended habit.

3. Exercise and Physical Activity

I started off small, really small.

I simply increased my step count. At the time, I was working from home and so down in the dumps (I literally got dumped) that I did under 3000 steps a day. So, that was my first goal.

What is one easy thing you can start today that will increase your physical activity?

Exercising regularly encouraged me to change my diet. As I’m sure you’ve heard, weight loss (if that is your goal) is 20% exercise and 80% diet. I was motivated to change my eating habits when I realized how important it was.

But exercise is not just about the physical. It is also mentally rewarding. I’m not a scientist, but I know that it releases all those good chemicals that our brain needs, making us feel happier and more energized. It’s also pretty great when you start to see results in the mirror too.

Not to mention, consistent exercise develops a habit of self-discipline. A valuable trait if you want to turn your life around and achieve your goals. It’s a win, win, win.

4. Diet and Nutrition

Okay, so diet and nutrition can be kinda complicated. I have struggled with this for many years. However, there are a few changes that are quite simple and easy to implement, that can make all the difference.

Start by adding good, clean ingredients to your meals making them more balanced. Speaking of balance, I would also try adding more protein and fiber to your meals as well. Building meals around a decent amount of protein and vegetables is a game changer. This leaves less room for the foods that you would like to limit.

Everyone has specific dietary requirements and I am not a professional in this regard. So, I’m not going to delve too deeply into this. However, we all know that processed and sugary food isn’t too good for us. Limiting our intake by eating whole and healthy foods that make you feel good, is a great place to start in turning your diet around.

Also note that food should be enjoyable, otherwise, any changes you make won’t be sustainable in the long run. Make healthy food that you love.

5. Practice Gratitude

The first 4 habits I’ve listed so far relate to, for the most part, your physical well-being. Now let’s move on to mental and spiritual well-being.

You cannot be grateful and anxious at the same time.

Read that again.

It’s either one or the other. They cannot coexist. Training your brain to think about positive things, like what you are grateful for, releases negative emotions which reduces anxiety and depression.

Get a mental health boost with gratitude.

This is one that does not need a lot of time or energy, just some intentionality. Think about some things that you are grateful for. Write them down (highly recommended). Do this first thing in the morning, before bed, or whenever you have the time, but do it daily.

You could even do this as a calming exercise when the anxiety is getting a bit much and you find yourself starting to panic a little bit. This was by far the most effective exercise for me when I got panic attacks in the past.

6. Pray Regularly and Read the Bible

I cannot stress how much this has improved my life.

Even if you aren’t a Christian, you should investigate this. Imagine starting your day with guidance and direction from the God who made the universe. That is what starting your day with prayer and reading the Bible is. It will take not just your day, but your life, down the most rewarding path.

Gratitude and prayer go hand in hand. Similarly, they both combat anxiety and stress. Give it all to God and watch how He changes your situation for you.

Obviously, not all your problems are going to disappear. However, you will be better equipped to handle them and thrive in spite of them.

Give it a try. What have you got to lose?

7. Write It Down (From Journaling to To-Do Lists)

Where would I be if I did not write it down? Writing has changed my life and it can change yours too! There are three main forms of writing that can positively impact your life.

To-do-lists get things done. As a forgetful person, writing things down, helped me feel like I was capable. Because if you can’t remember to wash your underwear, it’s hard to believe you can succeed in life.

Journaling is just a welcomed release of some of the things building up in our minds. It doesn’t need to look pretty. In fact, I found that aesthetics kinda hinder the process a bit.

Pro-tip: Sometimes staring at a blank page feels overwhelming, like you don’t know where to start. So, I always begin by adding the date at the top of the page. It breaks that oh-no-where-do-I-start? feeling when staring at a blank page. It’s also cool to look back and see where you were this time last year.

Last but not least: Goals. If you don’t write them down, how will you achieve them?

Writing your goals down gives you a plan to work towards. It’s almost like a blueprint for your life. And blueprints cannot exist only in your head. They need to be recorded so that they can be followed.

8. Clean and Organized Space

Ugh, I know, right? I do not like cleaning. But it’s one of those things that, once it’s done, you feel amazing. Sometimes I think that if I can clean the house, I can do anything!

I know that cleaning is probably the last thing you want to do, especially if you are feeling down and unmotivated, but I promise that it will make you feel so much better.

Especially if you have been procrastinating for a while. Your space tends to get worse as time goes on and it becomes even harder to motivate yourself to clean. And believe me, I understand how difficult it can be to get going on this one. I used to procrastinate all the time and sometimes I still procrastinate.

Decluttering your space feels like decluttering your mind too. Focus on the benefits; the motivation will come once you get started.

9. Social Connections and Relationships

Humans need connection. Healthy relationships lead to personal growth and emotional well-being. Socializing also increases your quality of life.

You can work as hard and as much as you want, but living in a bubble can only get you so far. Hanging out with friends and family is not just a great way to have fun to let off some steam. You can also learn so much from others.

That being said, choose your social circle wisely. Build on relationships that make you feel good and encourage you to become a better person, not ones that distract you from growing.

10. Saving (and Investing) Regularly

Building wealth sets you up for a good future and it can open up more opportunities for you. This includes paying off debt, saving for a rainy day, and investing like you’re gonna live forever.

Money can be a huge stressor, so taking the worry out of your finances can really improve your life. I recommend looking into Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps. He explains how you can take control of your finances one step at a time with short and long-term goals.

Final Thoughts: Change Your Life and Make It Sustainable

Through small changes (preferably one at a time) you can improve your life significantly. It’s achievable and can be done in a fairly short period of time. Living a good, balanced, and generally happy life is possible and doesn’t need to be overwhelming.

Enjoy the journey.

Another life-changing practice is setting goals! Read my post on Christian Goal Setting.