Habits have the enormous power to make or break us in life.

Whether our days are primarily made up of good habits or bad ones, the evidence will show itself in our health, happiness and productivity.

Clearly negative habits are much easier to adopt than positive habits.

Positive habits require discipline and routine, but once we design a life that consists primarily of good habits we begin to move through our days with more ease and consistency.

There is less effort required once we have created systems that lead to positive results and outcomes.

Today I have put together a simple guide of positive habits that can have a dramatic effect on your life if put into practice.

12 Habits to Change your Life – Ultimate Guide!

Practice Mindfulness

When you put Mindfulness into practice your mind will declutter massively!

I can’t explain how much this practice has changed my life. When you’re mindful your life will transform.

By living in the present moment, you become at peace with your past thoughts and illusions made up in your mind.

Observe your thoughts, become at peace with them, take away the emotional attachment.

When you find your mind wandering, revert back to the present moment.

The more you live in the present moment, the mind quickly loses control over you. The mind is a tool that should be working for you, not controlling you.

This takes a lot of practice, as your mind has spent so many years in control. The mind has been projecting its illusions on you all your life.

Purchase a book, research it on YouTube. The Mindfulness practice is life changing when used consistently and persistently!

Get enough sleep

Sleep deprivation contributes to all forms of problems including irritability, anxiety, depression and weight gain. Prioritise enough sleep. According to experts, most adults need 7-9 hours a night. According to the National sleep foundation, the appropriate amount of sleep for adults may range from 6 to 10 hours of sleep.

With experts saying you need between 6 and 10 hours of sleep how do you know how many hours of sleep you need? Do you feel rested when you wake? Are you able to wake up without an alarm or easily get up when the alarm goes off?

These are signs you are getting enough sleep.

Feeling fatigued is a sign that you need more sleep. During times of emotional and physical stress, we often need extra sleep.

Early morning routine

Never underestimate the power of a solid morning routine.

A morning routine not only sets your day up for success, but if planned accordingly, it can create additional time in your day to work towards your goals.

This is the magic about mornings.

The time is yours, because it’s happening before the busyness of the day hits.

Beginning a morning routine is one of the most important habits to start right now.

Waking up early is tough (I’m not really a fan either), but it is so worth it.

Spend less time on social media/internet

With the advancement of technology this day, people tend to spend more time on social media than real people.

Social media has taken over the world, people tend to use it for different things. Social media and the internet have made so many people rich but let’s not forget the fact that it has made some not useful.

People spend hours on social media without doing anything. Spend less time on social media and you will see the result you get on a daily basis.

If you have something important to do, I will advise you to get rid of or delete the apps and focus on your business. Use social media in your spare time when you are not using it for business.

Practice gratitude

Gratitude helps you gain much needed perspective in times when you feel down. It helps you realise that life is not so bad and that there are still some very good things happening for you.

Most therapists recommend writing down a list of things you are grateful each day, you can do this in the morning or in the evening.

The list doesn’t have to be long it’s ok to write even 3 simple things that you are grateful for.

If you don’t know where to start, here are three things to start you off: I am grateful for the sunshine today. I am grateful for the meal I ate with my family and I am grateful for the wifi not playing up today!

You can be grateful for anything and everything and you are sure to feel a bit lighter, a bit happier once you have done this exercise.

Celebrate your wins

Make it a habit to celebrate your wins. High fives might seem cliché but there’s magic in the movement.

If you don’t believe me, check out one of the most popular TED talks of all time by Amy Cuddy.

Make a habit of saying the right thing to yourself and others with your body language.

Small tweaks can bring about big changes.

And, have a little fun, too. Life’s too short for anything less.

If you can, encourage celebrating wins in your workplace, too.

A change in office culture, to one of support and congratulations, will have an uplifting effect on the energy and mood of any workplace.

Mood is contagious so make sure the right one is catching. You won’t just be changing your life; you’ll be changing the lives of those around you.

Declutter

Whether it’s your car, your closet or your bedroom, it’s time to clean things out.

We often overlook the fact that clutter is actually a form of mental and physical constraint.

There is a sense of harmony that comes from things being neat and orderly and this has psychological benefits.

You don’t have to be an “OCD” type all the time, but the mere act of cleaning and decluttering is extremely calming and liberating.

A lack of cleanliness and organisation often leads to elevated stress and depression.

It also suggests low self-worth as your outer world is a reflection of your inner world.

You’ve most likely heard the saying: out with the old, in with the new.

Make space for new opportunities to flow into your life by releasing items that keep you tied to the past and see if it doesn’t have a positive effect on your happiness.

Exercise

Exercise is one of those habits that everyone talks about. It makes you roll your eyes when you hear or read about it. Like what else is new? Exercise is good for you.

To me, exercise is a very important habit physically and mentally. I especially notice how much it impacts my life when I don’t do it. I become stressed, I’m also reactive and it shows in my relationships, in my work and in the decisions I make.

I can’t seem to stay clear and objective when I don’t do it. Plus, I just feel tired and ache all the time.

So, I try to make exercise a part of my day whether it would be by walking for at least an hour, going to the gym, stretching, running or doing an at home workout. It has become a part of my life and it fits naturally. If it’s still not a part of your daily routine, just try it.

Meditation

I can’t stress how life changing meditation truly is! You may have tried it and not liked it, or you may have not done it for longer enough to see the results.

I urge you to create a daily meditation practice if you want to create a calm mind, body and life.

There are numerous studies proving the benefits of meditation on stress, depression, anxiety and even physical health!

Set goals

We all tend to have a vision for our life. What does that look like for you? What do you dream of doing?

I know you have something in mind you’ve always wanted to try but have been too afraid to get started.

Is it starting an online business? Is it a career change? Give this one some thought.

It’s time to think about what you truly want out of life and go after it.

It’s never the perfect time, and waiting for the perfect time will keep you from ever starting.

Identify the goals you have for your life, figure out a huge list of actions needed to accomplish these goals, and GET STARTED.

Setting goals is a life improving habit you need start right now. Don’t keep putting it off.

Read books

Reading just 30 minutes a day over time will produce amazing benefits. I hear you – “What? I don’t have 30 minutes a day to read!”  Well, quite honestly, I think we spend at least that amount of time on other activities like social media or television each day.

Plus, I would add that we really cannot afford not to acquire this habit. Reading 30 minutes a day would mean that you could probably get through 2-3 books in a month and 24 to 36 books in a year!

That is amazing! Think of all you could learn in one year by cultivating a simple daily habit of reading.

Drink more water

A simple yet vital daily requirement, drinking water. This not only hydrates you but improves your bodily functions, preventing headaches, washes out toxins from the body, and helps with weight loss.

Drinking water can solve other problems such as clearing skin issues and providing mental clarity. One way to drink more water is to keep a water bottle with you at all times so you can hydrate yourself throughout the day.

I personally like to drink room temperature and hot water; this helps with digestion.

12 habits to change your life – Final thought

It’s worth it to note that we still have down days even if we’re the best at implementing these actions. It’s a part of life. However, these daily actions will help make those stormy days a little less dark, and make it so much easier to weather through.

Also, these habits don’t just create happiness, but also can be life changing in what you can achieve. With a brighter outlook, more energy and a positive mindset, the possibilities for our lives are endless!

What are you doing to live a better life?

I would love to hear your thoughts below on what you are doing to change your life in the coming days and years!

If you have any questions please reach out to me via adam@adam-lawrence.org. I would love to hear from you!

I really hope you found inspiration in this article.

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Adam

Hello! My name is Adam and welcome to my space on the internet. Here you can find me writing about subjects such as spiritual growth, self-discovery, wellbeing, addiction recovery and mental health. Please connect with me on my journey and join the community!