We all want to make a change for the better and we know that adopting habits can help. But exactly which habits should we be adopting and just how do we do it? What are the best habits to start with and which will help us to become the best version of ourselves? Find out in this post!
Article first published April 2021. Updated August 2022.
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12 habits for living your best life…
In my last post, I revealed the first seven of Twelve Habits to adopt if you want to dramatically improve your life. This week, I’m sharing the remaining five. Want to know what they are? Keep reading!
How to improve your life…
Before we dive in, here’s a quick recap of the first seven:
- Get up early.
- Stay hydrated.
- Go for a walk every single day.
- Plan your meals in advance.
- Adopt a proper bedtime.
- Plan your week ahead the Sunday before.
- Make your own wellbeing a priority.
And now for the rest…
Watch the related video…
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HABIT #8: Track your spending
One of life’s biggest stressors is money. Telling your money what to do and where to go is key if you want to improve your life. If you regularly get to the end of the month and wonder where your money went, you’ll really benefit from tracking your spending.
First, figure out what your fixed outgoings are each month (mortgage/rent, utilities, food, fuel etc). Deduct that from what you bring home so you know what you have left. Then, spend a month writing down every purchase you make and review it to see where your money goes.
Check-in once a week to make sure you don’t go over budget. As the month goes on you’ll see where you’re making unnecessary purchases and where to reign things in if needed.
- Related: How to Stay on Top of Your Finances
HABIT 9: Cook from scratch
Cooking from scratch is SO much better for you than buying processed or pre-packaged food. For starters, you know what’s going (and not going) into your dinner. Second, it’s healthier because you have control over the ingredients and calories. Third, it saves you money and makes life easier. Especially if you make double the amount – that’s lunch for the following day and/or another evening meal taken care of!
Cook with as many fresh ingredients as possible every day. Prepare everything yourself instead of opting for the ready-made version and make your sauces instead of reaching for a jar. If cooking from scratch doesn’t come easy, start off with two or three nights a week.
(This post might contain affiliate links which means that if you click through and make a purchase, I make a small commission. Read my disclosure policy here.)
HABIT #10: Unplug one hour each night before bed
Do you find it hard to settle come bedtime? If yes, take a look at how you’re spending that last hour before you turn in. Still working, watching TV or scrolling through Facebook? That could be the reason you’re finding it hard to get to sleep! If we’re busy right up until we go to bed, our brains are still wired when we try to settle. Improve your life and get a decent night’s sleep by adopting the habit of unplugging an hour before bed.
Unplugging tells your body it’s time to unwind, that it’s the end of the day and time to prepare for bed. Spend the hour doing something that unwinds and relaxes you, something that gives your mind time to wind down. Turn off the TV and read instead. Listen to music. Take a bath. Do whatever works for you. Make sure you have a set bedtime though – this habit won’t work without it!
- Related: How to Find More Time for You
HABIT #11. Journal
Journaling is BY FAR one of my most favourite habits. It’s a great way to get to know yourself better and figure out what it is that makes you happy. It’s a great stress-buster too! Offloading your thoughts onto paper is incredibly freeing. Over time, by re-reading what you’ve written, you’ll begin to see patterns in your thought processes and behaviours.
If you really want to improve your life, this is a great habit to adopt. Set aside a few minutes each day (it doesn’t matter when) and just write whatever comes to mind. It might feel strange at first, but it will get easier the more you do it. At the end of the month look back on what you’ve written and see what you’ve learned about yourself.
HABIT #12: Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude is an incredibly powerful habit. Quick and easy to do, this one really helps you to become the best version of yourself. When we practice gratitude, we realise life isn’t as bad as we think it is. We realise we have SO much to be thankful for and that we’re already far richer than we thought too. We realise that it’s not what but WHO we have around us and the time we spend with them that matters.
Practice gratitude regularly and you’ll become much more appreciative of life. You’ll find that you want for less and you’re far more content with the things you already have. So how do you do it? Simply write down three things you’re grateful for every single day!
12 habits that’ll dramatically improve your life…
There you have it, twelve habits that have the power to dramatically improve your life. Adopt one or all of these and you’ll be amazed by just how much life becomes less stressful and more enjoyable. One word of warning though…don’t try adopting them all at once! It can take anything from 18 days to upward of two months before a new habit is fully formed, so give yourself time to get used to one before adding another.
Start with the one you feel is going to have the biggest impact and allow yourself at least a month to get used to it becoming part of your day. Then, when you’re ready, add the next. Adopting habits is a work in progress so build momentum over time. Give each habit chance to become second nature and it’ll be more likely to stick around!
Here are all twelve habits again:
- Get up early.
- Stay hydrated.
- Go for a walk every single day.
- Plan your meals in advance.
- Adopt a proper bedtime.
- Plan your week ahead the Sunday before.
- Make your own wellbeing a priority.
- Track your spending.
- Cook from scratch.
- Unplug one hour each night before bed.
- Journaling.
- Practice gratitude.
That’s it for this post! Which habit will you choose to adopt first? What habits would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time…
Did you like this post? You’ll LOVE these too!
- Dramatically improve your life with these 12 easy to adopt habits (part one)
- Why you should be setting habits NOT resolutions
- Three questions to ask yourself BEFORE making changes to your life
About the Author
Hey there! In case we haven’t met, I’m Sarah. A wife, mum, fur mama, certified master life coach and goal success coach, founder of a Simple and Contented Life and your mentor for making a change for the better.
Incredibly passionate about helping mums declutter and simplify their lives so that they feel more organised and have more time for their families AND themselves, I‘m here to help you become the person you want to be and create the life YOU want live.
A cross between Hermione Granger and Monica Geller, I’m also an introvert and a HUGE bookworm. I love cocktails, hazelnut lattes, true crime and all things pretty stationery, especially notebooks and planners!
When I’m not helping my coaching clients and Club members create a life they LOVE, you’ll find me in my office designing new printables for this Store, hanging out with my youngest in Starbucks or attempting to walk my somewhat lazy Frenchie pup, Arthur!
I’m absolutely thrilled you’re here…I know that you have the power to become your BEST self and live your BEST life, and together, we can make it happen! 💛
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[…] I love to curl up with a book whilst listening to my favourite playlist. I also have a list of things that make me happy. Doing something from this list every single day really helps me build some self-care into my daily routine. […]