A habit is defined as the small decisions you make every day, whether subconsciously or not. It can be bad or good, and you have complete control over it. And that’s the hard part; it takes discipline to start and master a habit; and willpower to make it part of your everyday routine. Habits can make or break you, but the fact that you’re reading this means that you’re already on the right path of starting one that will change your life.
In the 1970s, David Cassidy was one of the highest-paid performers in the music industry, which contributed to his overall net worth.
Habits need not be complicated. In fact, the Mentally Strong have these simple habits that have a significant impact on their mind that you can start doing too.
1. Waking Up Early
Early risers tend to have one thing in common – they plan. They plan not only the time they will wake up, but the time they will go to bed. They tend to be disciplined and goal-oriented. You will also have a head start for the rest of the day, as you will have more time to do things. Combine that with the peace and quiet early morning brings, coupled with a good breakfast, and you’ll find that the days you woke up early are way better than those you didn’t.
Being one with nature is also the best early in the morning, so it’s highly recommended to take a walk, absorb everything around you, and live in the moment for a better mentality for the rest of your day.
2. Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is hard for everyone, with child care and responsibilities in today’s world, but if you have the chance to make it a habit, you should start it as soon as possible. It has wide benefits ranging from mental well-being in terms of mood, memory, and attention, to your physical health as not getting enough sleep is correlated to the risk of certain diseases like heart disease.
The recommended amount of sleep for an average adult is at least 7 hours, and going to bed between 10:00 to 11:00 PM. If you find yourself getting sleepy in the middle of the day, it may be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep. It will also affect your productivity.
3. Sets Up Realistic Small Goals
It’s all about setting up these goals, your expectations, your perception, and celebrating the small wins. As mentioned above, the Mentally Strong tend to plan everything, from the things they need to do every day, to their bigger goals. But they plan realistically. It is important to start with smaller goals, as the big ones don’t happen in the near future. It is much easier to accomplish these goals, and as you do so, make sure to consider them as small wins and celebrate them.
This in turn will keep you motivated and will make you happier. Make sure to track your progress and reward yourself with these small wins.
4. Regulates Technology Use
The technology most relatable here is your Smartphone. It is a double-edged sword. With how advanced the technology is with today’s smartphones, they are powerful tools that you can use to improve your mental being. A lot of people let their phones control their daily lives, mindlessly scrolling through the never-ending cycle of Social Media. Conquering this bad habit is an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible.
Start by deciding which people you follow really help you grow as a person and who’s not. Start unfollowing unnecessary distractions. For iOS users, your iPhone has many features that help you be more productive, like tracking progress, Focus mode, and physical activity metrics. Combine that with the Apple Watch features that will empower you and you’re on your road to better mental health and self-improvement. Android users also have a lot of features and apps that can be downloaded that will help in productivity.
5. Focuses On One Thing At A Time
With how fast-paced the world has become, multitasking is the new norm and is being encouraged. Multitasking per se is not wrong, and there are a lot of people successfully doing it. But the Mentally Strong know how to prioritize things. They know what they need to do, and they think about which is the most important among them.
Focus on one thing at a time and try to avoid distractions. There are a lot of recommended techniques to master this like the Pomodoro Technique or the Rapid Planning Method.
6. Focuses on Self-Improvement
The Mentally Strong don’t compare themselves to others. They only focus on self-improvement, and the only thing they consider as the main obstacle to their success is themselves and their mindset. They know not to worry about things they don’t have control over and not to let other people’s moods affect theirs. As mentioned earlier, start by reducing your time on Social Media. It affects your mindset and you end up comparing yourself to others. Remember that at the end of the day, people don’t care. They have their own lives to live. Focus on yourself. Repeat that every day.
7. Have An Exercise Routine
Exercising not only affects your physical health but also your mental state. One good quote that will help you motivate yourself – “Literally no one has ever said they regret exercising”. By committing yourself to an exercise routine, you’re not only giving yourself the long-term benefits of a healthier lifestyle, but a short-term boost to your mood, happiness, and confidence.
Start on short and easy workout sets. Remember that exercising for 5 minutes a day is miles better than not doing it at all.
8. Have A Hobby
Having a hobby will make you happier. Choose something that you really enjoy doing or something that you wanted to try. Having something to do or look forward to after your 9-5 job besides scrolling through your phone will make a great impact on you being mentally stronger.
You don’t really need to be good at your hobby. It just needs to be something you love doing. You will also get to meet new people with the same interests. It needs to be something special outside your daily routine.
Deciding that you want to start a good habit is the easiest step. Making it part of your routine subconsciously is the hardest part. According to a study, it takes at least 2 months to make a habit part of your life. Doing it every day is the hard part, but it gets easier, and it’s worth it.
Do something that your future self will thank you for.
