Some people are very religious, while others like to focus on their overall mental health. Regardless of what you “believe,” you can develop a number of habits that can make you feel energized and in touch with the world around you. The following are a few small changes you can add to a habit stacking routine.
#61. Speak Words of Affirmation
If you start your day right, it can do wonders for your general attitude as the day goes by. Start the day by speaking words of affirmation in the mirror each morning to boost your confidence and leave you feeling empowered. Just a few good thoughts can change the entire course of your day for the better.
I’ll admit that some people find this habit to be a bit hokey. However, if you’re having problems with confidence, then this could be a simple solution for feeling happier about the upcoming day.
Action:
Make eye contact with the mirror as soon as you wake up in the morning. Repeat mantras or positive sentences out loud.
For example:
“I am in control of my life.”
“People love and adore me.”
“I can make a change in this world.”
“I am a generous person.”
“I will accomplish my goals today.”
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#62. Compile a Gratitude List
Our actions are derived from our thoughts, so it is only natural to act on the things you think. Writing down the things you are grateful for or what makes you happy is known to be highly beneficial. Your list will serve as a visual affirmation of the positive things in your life, leading to positive thoughts and actions.
Action:
Practice this habit by keeping a gratitude journal next to your bed. Every day, write down three things you are grateful for or three things that make you happy.
Here are some examples:
“I’m grateful that I’m healthy.”
“I’m happy that I could spend time with my friend.”
“I’m lucky to have paid off my credit card.”
Time required:
Three minutes.
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#63. Listen to Your Favorite Song
It’s amazing what listening to your favorite songs can do for your mind and body. Not only will the upbeat music stimulate the release of happy hormones, but the recollection of happy times will influence your mood. Without realizing it, you will be dancing around and singing along, which will leave you feeling happy and ready to take on the day.
Action:
Download or purchase a few of your favorite songs that always put you in a good mood. If you have a good Internet connection, you could also stream these songs from online radio stations or iTunes radio. As soon as you wake up, start playing these songs while performing some of your other daily habits or chores.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#64. Get in Touch with Nature
Nature as a whole has tremendous healing and calming effects on the body and mind. As an added bonus, sunlight also gives you some much-needed Vitamin D. Getting up a bit earlier each morning to get in touch with nature would be advised if you want to give a boost to your general well-being.
Action:
If you don’t have enough time to go for a morning walk, have your tea or breakfast outside if possible.
You could prepare your teapot the night before so all you have to do in the morning is boil water. You don’t have to be a tea lover to get some fresh air, either. If you have an herb garden, this would be the perfect time to water your plants or take your dog outside for a quick sniff around. Take in the sounds, smells and sights around you.
Time required:
Five minutes. This is one of those actions where you could add time and turn it into an exercise routine, but you can still get a lot of mental benefits by taking a quick walk around the block.
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#65. Drink a Calming Beverage (Like Tea)
Having a warm cup of tea could boost your feelings of positivity and improve your general mindset.
A cup of green tea has a detoxing effect on the body and helps to keep your body hydrated, which is also crucial to your wellness. Taking a break to enjoy a beverage will give you the chance to plan your day ahead and reflect on things you want to do differently.
Action:
Boil the water right after you wake up and then prepare a cup of tea or coffee to your liking. Enjoy!
Time required:
Two minutes.
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#66. Perform Stretches Every Morning
After a long night’s sleep your body will benefit greatly from performing stretches each morning.
Stretching your muscles leads to improved blood circulation, less muscle tension, better coordination and an increase in energy levels. All of these things will give you a positive start to the day.
Action:
If you shower in the morning, perform your stretches afterward. Your muscles will be warm and flexible after a hot shower. Start by performing basic stretches such as touching your toes and
stretching to each side with your arms extended over your head. Stretching comes naturally; your body will alert you as to which areas need attention. Don’t rush the process and make sure that you “enter”
and ‘exit’ these stretches in a natural manner.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#67. Practice Mantra Chanting
Even though this might seem a bit too controversial for some, mantra just refers to chanting or
“voicing” your positive thoughts aloud. Repeating certain positive phrases and words of encouragement will lead to a feeling of empowerment.
All sounds have an effect on the human body and psyche, so if you condition your mind and body to become accustomed to positive sounds and noises, you will relate those words and sentences to a feeling of calm. When practiced properly, mantra chanting will lead to reduced stress, anxiety and depression levels.
Action:
Even though it might feel silly at first, the core of mantra chanting lies in actually chanting these words and quotes aloud. Find a list of quotes or mantras that invoke the feelings you want to
experience. See them as affirmative sentences that will influence your life, attitude and actions. Write each mantra on a small piece of paper and put all of the papers in a box. Start each day by drawing a mantra from the box and reading the words aloud.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#68. Take Time to Play
Remember as a kid how you would wake up in the mood to play and think up ways to stay creative and active? This doesn’t have to change just because you’ve matured. Playing will lower stress levels and most likely lead to laughter.
If you have children of your own, playing with them early in the morning will stimulate your brain and get you moving. It will also give your kids the attention they need. If you have a pet, play with it
outside to get your blood flowing and create positive vibes.
Action:
Create a morning routine of play with your kids, friends or pets. If you don’t have someone with you, you can even play games on your tablet or cell phone. Some of these games can be rather addictive, so make sure you set a time limit. Playing games is also a good way to kill time while riding public transportation. Alternatively, you can play hide and seek with your kids or chase your dog around the house.
Time required:
Five minutes (or more if you have time).
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#69. Practice Simple Grooming
Taking time out of your morning routine to do a bit of grooming can really add to your general well-being. If you are feeling groomed and well-dressed for your work day, you will feel more respected and have more confidence. Pampering has internal as well as external benefits because taking the time to take care of yourself helps boost your self-image.
Action:
Before you leave for work, make sure your appearance is impeccable. Your last-minute pampering routine could include spraying perfume on your body, using scented lotion, plucking eyebrows that seem out of place or applying makeup. Men should groom their facial hair or apply cologne if desired.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#70. Look at Pictures
We all know that visual stimulation can have a direct effect on how we perceive things. Everyone has different emotions when they view photos or images. You can revisit these emotions every time you view the same picture.
Feed your mind with positive feelings by looking at images that leave you feeling grateful, in love,
happy, inspired and excited. Looking at photographs of friends, family members and loved ones will take you back to those happy moments in time and allow you to relive the love and warmth portrayed in the images.
Action:
Relive happy times by viewing images of your past that left you with a sense of happiness. Do this by browsing through the saved images on your phone, paging through a photo album or looking at
portraits in your home.
Alternatively, you can find these feelings of inspiration and happiness by viewing images on blogs and social media pages that interest you. Pinterest is full of visual stimulation—just find images related to your favorite topics.
Time required:
Three minutes.
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#71. Flex Your Muscles
Even though this might sound silly to some, flexing your muscles in the mirror can benefit your overall attitude. Of course, not everyone is in shape, but seeing your muscles in the mirror will serve as a reminder of your physical strength. This reminder will even help you improve your emotional strength.
As animalistic as the flex may seem, if you recognize those muscles and your physical ability, you will feel like you are in control. This feeling of being in control of your life and being able to protect yourself will benefit your well-being.
Action:
Stand in front of the mirror while contracting your main muscles one by one. Turn and view these shapes and lines from different angles. If you lead an active lifestyle, you might see an improvement in your muscle density. If you weren’t as active previously, this might be a good wake-up call. Being aware of your muscles will also lead to better posture during the day.
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#72. Keep a Journal
We should all take some time out to gather our thoughts and reflect on what is happening in our lives.
Keeping a journal keeps us in touch with our thoughts and emotions, which can determine our actions.
If you are having a bad day, you will be able to pin down the influences and reasons behind it by taking a look at your journal entries.
This is another way of feeling in control of what is happening in your life. Making sense of your thoughts and struggles will help you analyze your situation and accept the things you cannot change.
Action:
Find a diary or journal with a place to enter the date. Start or end your day by writing about your thoughts, mood and whatever is happening in your life. You could even include a list of foods you ate
to show you which emotions and events lead to emotional eating (more on this later). If you aren’t a big writer, you can just write the entry in “bullet” form—as long as it’s clear what you are referring to in each bullet point.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#73. Serve Others
If you are living with housemates or family members, add the habit of serving to the list. Helping others does wonders for our well-being, and even more so when they show their appreciation.
Serving others will also take the focus away from whatever negative thoughts are trying to change your mood. Counter these negative influences by doing something positive to boost your morale and add happiness to the lives of others.
Action:
Serving others can be as basic as allowing the person next to you to enter a room first. At home, you can practice this habit by offering to make everyone coffee in the morning, fetching the mail or
newspaper, and even driving a friend to class or work.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#74. Practice Spirituality
When practicing any form of spirituality, the body is centered and focused on what is good, pure and just in this world. Prayer and meditation both have the mind and body focused on a single task, which allows you to feel in balance with yourself, nature and a higher power. Find something that helps you create peace of mind while having these moments of silence.
Action:
Find a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted, and make sure you are in a comfortable position when practicing your spirituality. If you aren’t religious, you don’t have to pray, but you can light some candles and just sit in the stillness and try to focus on your breathing. Afterward, you will feel relaxed, calm and even tranquil.
Time required:
Five minutes.
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#75. Read an Inspirational Passage
Inspiration can come from the most interesting places, and we all have a few stories or passages that we hold close to our hearts. They can be religious or just enlightening, but they still carry a lot of weight.
Action:
Find a few websites (or books) that include a variety of inspirational sayings. (This page has a collection of great passages.) Read a single passage that provides a bit of motivation to face the day ahead of you. Don’t just rely on the regular quotes, though. Be sure to look around and see if you can find some new ones that move you and encourage you in new ways.
Time required:
Three minutes.