8 Habits that Will Change Your Life
Posted on October 23, 2023
Video version of this post:
If you are a self-improvement junkie like me, you know the importance of solid habits.
The question is, what are good habits? After experimenting with myself during my 20s, I will distill the 8 routines I find the most important.
Without further ado, let's go with them:
1) Going to the gym (6 times per week)
The best way I found to start the day is by lifting weights. I tried in the past meditation, to fall asleep after 10 minutes. I also tried showering and having coffee, but my body wasn't 100%.
Once I started going to the gym first thing in the morning, it became a game changer. Besides, nobody likes crowded gyms. But the main benefit is my energy boost (and the pump). As a bonus, you look better in the mirror, so it's a no-brainer.
If you don't like to lift weights, you can try different forms of exercise, like yoga. The point is to let the body move.
2) Going to bed at ~10 pm and waking up at ~6 am
I tried waking up at 4 am, 5 am, and 6 am. After a lot of experimentation, the latter worked best for me. I get 8 hours of sleep, so I no longer need an alarm clock.
The main point here is to find your best times for going to bed and waking up and doing it every day. Your body will adapt quickly. Combined with the first point, it makes a perfect combination to start the day.
3) Eating once a day
This will be controversial.
But I see more and more people adopting different types of intermittent fasting (IF). The BS of 4 meals a day is over.
I started more than 5 years ago with IF, which meant back then skipping breakfast. I only had coffee. I never felt energized after having breakfast. Once I started doing IF, my morning became more productive than ever.
But after lunch, I had the same problem as before. So, after a lot of research, I discovered a more "hardcore" version of IF called OMAD (one meal a day). I have a big dinner after work, so I don't have to worry about the crash after eating.
You may think I feel hungry all day, but that is not the case. Hunger behaves like a wave. Sometimes, I feel hungry, but it disappears after a few minutes.
So now I enjoy the energy levels that fasting provides the whole day. If you want a cheat code for productivity, start fasting.
If you haven't fasted before, I recommend skipping one meal. After your body gets used to it, you can go for OMAD.
In any case, consult your doctor before changing your diet.
4) No cell phone during the day
Unless you use your phone for work, you should have it in airplane mode or shut down for the majority of the day.
Having notifications popping up the whole day will kill your concentration and focus. I even get a little mad when people get vibrations in their smartphones every damn moment. I would get crazy if I were them!
Chances are, 99% of your notifications are BS distractions. Suppose you must use your cellphone, though. In that case, it's wise to deactivate notifications of all your non-essential apps and/or use "No disturb" mode.
And don't cheat. Even if you look at your phone once an hour, the 5 minutes of checking your phone will become 15. And then it will take you longer to concentrate again.
People may get used to you answering right away. If that's the case, tell them you are turning your phone off to concentrate, and you will reply when you are free. If they respect you, they will understand.
5) 10000 steps a day
The point here is movement. Don't get obsessed with the number. One day can be 7000 steps, and the following 12000.
If you sit most of the day, you need some movement. Going to the gym is not enough. We are not made for sitting all day. Nowadays, I crave walking if I'm sitting for too long.
I have the luck of living near the gym and work, so I can walk there and reach around 11k steps by just going to these places. Add some podcast or YouTube video (or another human being) to make it more enjoyable.
6) Meditation
Most of us are addicted to thinking. If unsure, try closing your eyes and attempt to follow your breath. If your mind doesn't let you follow your breath, you are addicted to thinking.
Meditation helps you realize how chaotic your mind is. But it's also the cure to this thinking compulsion. The problem is not that your mind comes with thoughts but that your attention gets caught. By meditating, you can train your mind to focus on whatever you want to put your attention to.
As a bonus, meditation gives you a sense of fulfillment that no material possessions will ever give you.
7) Reading
There are many cool concepts out there that would have been impossible for me to come up with without good books. Solid principles will reshape your mind and change who you are.
Nowadays, there are also many podcasts and YouTube videos for acquiring those principles. But I find it challenging to put all my attention on them. On the other hand, it's easier to put your undivided attention when reading.
Also, books usually go more in-depth in the topics they cover, so you can better internalize the ideas in your psyche.
8) Writing
For self-improvement junkies, it's very easy to do too much theory and little practice. Books are great, but be aware of getting trapped in the world of ideas.
Remember: personal development is about embodying the principles.
Writing is a key and underestimated tool for self-improvement. I use writing (besides these posts) to organize my ideas to think and communicate better. It helps me to connect the dots and ponder about my life.
There are many ways in which you can use writing as a personal development tool (I made a post going in depth about writing). For example, you can journal to track and later reflect on your life choices. Or you can contemplate by asking deep questions about your life or reality itself. There are endless possibilities.
What of those habits are already part of your life?
And what habits would you incorporate in the list?
Feel free to leave a comment!