7 Simple Daily Habits to Improve your Life

I don’t know about you but the power of simple daily habits never fails to surprise me. It’s the way I’ve approached making changes in my life for well over a decade now and I’ve used it to make changes in everything from the food I eat to my personal and spiritual growth...it always works. 

The action itself can seem insignificant at first - remember that I started meditation habit with just two minutes a day - but as the days go by and the positive effects compound you’ll love just how easy it feels.

With that in mind, I wanted to share a few daily habits that can empower you to begin making important changes in your life…     

CONSCIOUSLY UNPLUG
Spending just 25 minutes a day scrolling through your phone can waste up to 2 years of your life! And, yet having more time is the number one wish that most of us have. I’m sure that you can see my point already...simply turning off your devices daily can give you the time that you need to pursue any change in your life. And, it has a positive impact on your wellbeing; leave your phone in the draw during the evening, stop checking emails before bed and turn the TV off a little earlier at night - these all help you get a better night’s sleep too. 

Don’t worry if you have to start small. Reduce the time slowly by 5-10 minutes every day and you’ll soon notice the difference.  

SLEEP WELL
Sleep deprivation impacts everything from our mood, productivity, weight and our ability to focus - among many other things. But one or two daily habits can help improve the quality of our sleep. Start with the simple things like switching off all devices before bed - ideally an hour but work up to it slowly. Create a quiet evening routine; light a natural aromatherapy candle and read for a while. Try a short meditation or get to bed a few minutes earlier than usual. It all helps especially if you make it a daily habit to sleep well. 

CLEAN UP YOUR DIET
I believe that this is one of the most powerful habits that you can change in your life. Having made the transition to a gluten-free diet myself a couple of years ago, I understand what a challenge it can be to start cooking and eating differently. Whether you want to simply cut down on portion sizes or target a particular area in your diet like sugar, refined ingredients or processed food the first place to start is your mind.

Be clear about your reasons behind the change, look for the positives and celebrate the changes as they happen. I’m over the moon to have so many new gluten-free recipes to wander through and a host of new ingredients to explore - simply reframe the changes and they become much easier, I promise.         

SET A DAILY INTENTION
If you have a goal in mind that you’d love to achieve this year then commit to making a step towards it every day. Maybe you want to improve your physical health? Start by dancing to your favourite feel-good playlist for 5 minutes every day. Or, maybe you want to build on your spiritual connection; try 2 minutes of meditation every day - it worked for me and now I have a daily practice that I love.

Never think that a few minutes doesn’t make a difference, because it does and it’s the key to creating lasting change...Commit to something for the next 30 days and use my FREE Wellness Habit Tracker to chart your progress - don’t forget to celebrate on day 30.       
 

 

LEARN TO PAUSE
Use the natural pauses in your day to ground your emotions and reaffirm your purpose. It’s as simple as taking a few deep breaths while the kettle boils or you queue in line. Try looking for these pauses for the rest of your day, you’ll be amazed at how many you find. Start by consciously using at least one or two of them every day and it’ll soon become much more natural to pause.     

DECLUTTER
If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts then you’ll know that I have a love of decluttering. It’s a habit that can be life-changing and in today’s world, there are so many places to keep clutter-free; digital files, phone contacts, wardrobes - even relationships! If something (or someone) doesn’t bring joy and happiness into your life then why do you need it? Start with a plan and create a ritual from it, being sure to donate and recycle everything that you can because things can very often go on to create happiness for others. 

Making this a daily habit can help to keep clutter to a minimum; delete emails, recycle documents, declutter a kitchen drawer or two after dinner - you get the idea.  Read more about how decluttering can help clear your mind.

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
Last but not least, build a daily habit into your life that helps you to focus on the positive and then you’ll have light, even on the most challenging days! Take the time to read something inspiring, practice gratitude, take a few breaths while repeating your favourite mantra...experiment and see what works for you.   

I told you that they were all simple, didn’t I? But, please don’t underestimate the power of small daily habits. Carried out consistently they help us to make the changes that we desire and keep us on course for the life that we want to create.
Now it’s your turn, choose something that you can commit to - either from the list above or something that you know will have an impact on your life and then print yourself a  copy of my 30 day FREE Wellness Habit Tracker  to track your progress...take a step forward today - you won’t regret it.    

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.