10 Good Habits For Growth
Intentional productive habits will change your life. It’s worth making some of the not-so-fun responsibilities into habits. But, we definitely can’t forget about things we love.
Life is about balance & these 10 good habits will help create stability and security.
I make sure to make habits that will point me in the direction of my goals. Here are 10 good habits that have improved me.
♥
habit
hab·it/ˈhabət/1. a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.
↓↓ 10 Good Habits For Growth ↓↓
Fairy tales are stories of triumph and transformation and true love, all things I fervently believe in.
Kate Forsyth
1 | Track Your Progress
If you’re trying to change something, keep track of it. You can log your calories, water intake, work out sessions, classes you attend, etc.
Tracking good habits is a form of personal accountability, it provides a visual representation, and kicks off a dedicated focus to change.
You can track them however you want but here are some free templates I made if you don’t feel like making your own.
↑ Good Habits Chart ↑
“Successful people are simply those with successful habits.”
Brian Tracy
2 | Go On A Walk
Going on a walk can be more effective than chugging coffee when it comes to providing energy. Walking can spark creativity, reduce stress, improve sleeping, thinking, productivity and help prevent illnesses.
That’s a lot of benefits coming from something as simple as walking!
“A change in bad habits leads to a change in life.”
Jenny Craig
3 | Visit Your Interests
I personally love animals, therefore love visiting pet stores, petting zoos and farms. Hanging out with animals decreases cortisol (the stress hormone). Animals help reduce anxiety, depression and can make us feel less isolated.
But, not everyone loves animals.
Think about your interests.. then, think about where they reside…
Then go visit them.
You’re likely to feel happy and inspired. You might meet someone who has similar interests.
When we meet or even just listen to people with similar interests we gain a deeper understanding of our own passion.
A habit doesn’t need to be the same exact routine every time you do it; just regularly devote time to seeking out your interests.
If you’re not able to physically GO places, you can even watch YouTube videos, read blogs about the topic, etc. You can still engage with others that have similar interests without leaving your home.
If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.
Anatole France
4 | Drink Water
Your body is roughly 60-80% water, don’t gloss over the importance of it. Water helps with digestion, circulation, transporting nutrients, maintaining body temp, producing saliva.. AND,
Being hydrated improves our cognition, and impacts our mood by making us feel energized, less tense, and more alert.
Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace change if the alternative is disaster.
Elon Musk
5 | Learn
Instead of scrolling through social media or gossiping, invest the time into you.
Whether it be life hacks, something related to your career, your passion, an item on your bucket list, anything that’s educational and helps you become a better, more knowledgeable version of you.
“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head.”
Benjamin Franklin
6 | Check Your Finances
Checking up on where your money is going is smart. Sometimes it sucks to look at what we spend our money on, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, think about the alternatives to the things you’re feeling bitter about spending money on.
It’s an important habit because you’ll have a good understanding of your necessary expenses & your careless fun spending habits.
Here’s how I do it.
I track all my debt balances, income & my spending in my planner; every transaction & the amount (you don’t have to be that anal).
I write down my pay check amount and start subtracting the amounts I have to pay, any recurring payments that will happen until the next pay day & any amounts that go to savings.
Example:
+1500.00 pay check
-298.00 1/2 of mortgage
-50.00 phone bill
-150.00 savings
-69.99 Hulu
-93.10 student loan
-16.95 YouTube premium
/+822.06
After I’ve done this, I have a concept of how much money I have until my next pay day.
I then RIGHT away put a portion of my left over money towards debt. This is why making it a habit is a good idea. You’ll be giving yourself the opportunity to manage your money, regularly.
I track all of my spending & meticulously go through the list, coming up with creative ways to be more frugal.
Because I know the day is coming that I will look through that list, I make better financial decisions.
AND, I’ve done it for so long that it’s a habit.
But, here is something personal about me. I spent $30,000 on a custody battle that I lost.
But because I made it a habit to manage my money, I’ve paid all of it off and even had 0% interest almost the whole time.
SO, before you start celebrating with your money that’s ‘leftover’, factor in savings & opportunities to pay down debt.
Every two weeks when I look through that list of transactions these are the questions I ask myself:
- Is there a cheaper way of obtaining the same item/service?
- Am I willing to go without this, even temporarily?
it’s ok if the answer is no.
- Is there a free trial I need to cancel before I’m charged?
- Did I include all my subscriptions?
- What expenses are coming up that aren’t a part of my normal bills (birthdays, Christmas, Easter, car insurance (if you pay multiple months at a time, etc.).
If you have credit cards look for opportunities to transfer as much as you can to a card that has 0% APR for a limited time (they’re usually a year but I’ve seen 16 and even 18 months too).
Write down when that 0% APR is up and when it ends, transfer the amount to a different credit card company that’s offering 0% APR.
You can track your money however you want but here is a template below.
It’s really not that hard!
Make managing your money a habit, or you’ll pay.
Literally.
If you’re a visual learner here is a video on it! ↓
7 | A Quick Chore
Fit a quick chore into your routine. Doing housework not only gives you strength and exercise but it increases attentiveness and can even improve memory.
I encourage you to just pick one or two chores to complete as a habit. You will likely feel accomplished and more relaxed afterwards.
Good Habits Examples
- Before going to bed every night put all the dirty laundry in the washer & every morning switch the laundry.
- Prepare the coffee pot before going to bed.
- Wash dishes from lunch & pack a lunch for the next day after getting home from work.
These are just some examples.
I know that we typically are managing a lot more than just one chore per day. & We do our best to do all the others at some point, when time allots.
But, having one that’s carved out as a habit, feels less like a chore for some reason.
clean = calm
The awareness that health is dependent upon habits that we control makes us the first generation in history that to a large extent determines its own destiny.
Jimmy Carter
8 | Read Motivational Quotes
Quotes can quickly provide free positive energy. You can gain knowledge and inspiration in just a few short words.
Quotes are super accessible and you can find them on literally every topic. They’re on twitter, google, Instagram, tumblr; read some.
I like quotes, obviously.
But, even re-reading ones I haven’t seen in a while can be inspirational & it’s even better when I come across a good one that I’ve never seen.
“We read to know we’re not alone.”
William Nicholson
9 | Take A Supplement
Supplements are a relatively easy way to boost your mood and make you feel accomplished without really doing anything. Vitamin B12 and Folate are good for improving mood and symptoms of depression. Omega-3 fatty acids are also used for mood support.
If you live in an area where you’re not in the sun much, Vitamin D is a good idea.
If you’re a female, calcium is a good idea.
Fish oil has a lot of benefits.
Vitamin B is a good idea too & a lot of people don’t get enough.
Fiber is another one that tons of people don’t get enough of. It helps you stay full for longer which will make you eat less. It also helps you stay regular. If you do go with fiber, It’s a good idea to drink water with it.
There are a zillion supplements out there but I’ll put a link below to some mental health supplements.
→For More Information On Supplements Click Here ←
“Just because you’re struggling with self-discipline doesn’t mean you have to raise the white flag and declare your self-improvement efforts a complete failure. Instead, work to increase the chances that you’ll stick to your healthier habits – even when you don’t feel like it.”
Amy Morin
10 | Connect With Someone Who’s “Been There”
Empathy is a powerful feeling, make it part of your 10 good habits. Studies have shown that people perform better when they are in an empathetic environment.
You’re more likely to be engaged in life and feel a sense of belonging. You could reach out to someone you know, or not…
When I started to struggle with some of the obstacles of cancer I, on a whim messaged someone on Facebook (who I didn’t know) that also faced health issues. Connection is part of our DNA and many experts argue that it’s just as important as food, water, and warmth.
Someone may show you how they mastered the very thing you’re struggling with.
Or maybe someone has tried something you’re interested in doing. They’ll be able to give you some information.
Below are a couple of the groups I’ve used. I met MANY people that also grew up in homes with alcoholism as a daily part of life, which is something I’ve not only experienced but am also passionate about.
We may feel really alone, until we realize we’re not.
You miss every opportunity you don’t take.
Hope Recovery
This one is a non profit organization that offers TONS of free support. They have individualized therapy and support groups for eating disorders, abuse, PTSD, dissociation, sexual trauma, grief and loss, self esteem, self care, men’s support groups, and addiction.
They have one on one services and group/workshops. I have joined many of their PTSD groups. I always felt safe & definitely felt connected with someone who’s been there.
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families | ACOA
Another amazing place to connect. ACOA changed my life. I know that many others feel the same admiration for this program. There are thousands of groups and they all have their own flavor. If you don’t like one, leave and try another.
They have guidelines to ensure that you feel safe. You never have to turn on a camera or mic, or speak at all. I sometimes just join to listen to others.
Don’t be turned off if you’re not from an alcoholic family; alcohol aside; there are tons of people that are just as welcome as anyone else.
The groups are for anyone that’s experienced dysfunction and dysfunction comes in MANY forms.
Being vulnerable is a powerful tool. Sometimes we don’t feel like sharing with anyone we personally know. If that’s the case, here are some trusted numbers to connect with someone safe that you don’t know personally.
We all need a little emotional First Aid every now and then.
The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating. It can affect our habits and outlook on life, leading to addictions and poor decision-making. It can take a toll on our family life and interpersonal relationships. It can trigger real physical pain, symptoms, and disease. And it can lead to a range of self-destructive behaviors.
Peter A. Levine
Those are just a few places to connect with others. The point is, regular emotional care is a good habit. It doesn’t have to necessarily be something rooted in your pain and suffering. It could have to do with decisions you’re considering, your hobbies, aspirations or life goals.
“Although circumstances may change in the blink of an eye, people change at a slower pace. Even motivated people who welcome change often encounter stumbling blocks that make transformation more complicated than they’d originally anticipated.”
Amy Morin
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