List of 10 Healthy Habits
Boosting happiness starts with changing your habits now. Incorporating positive habits that help you achieve your long-term personal and professional goals will ensure that you are in the best position to succeed. Try adopting and tracking these 10 healthy habits now with a habit tracker printable so you can make the most of every day and reach your goals faster.
Start by adding the 10 simple, healthy habits included in this article each day to begin to boost your happiness over the long run. This essential guide contains practical tips which will facilitate a better quality of life, greater happiness, and improved health. Take the initiative now and start boosting your happiness with these helpful tricks!
1. Read More Books
This is probably my favorite positive habit to implement. Read more books! Reading is a fun and easy way to improve your mood, relax, and generally boost your happiness. It also has the bonus side effect of expanding your knowledge base depending on what you decide to read! Reading also gives you common interests and topics to discuss with friends and family.
There are so many positive health benefits to reading. Regularly picking up a book and reading can improve your emotional wellness, boost your memory, and even reduce stress (to name a few).
Taking a few minutes every day to read instead of simply skimming articles or scrolling through social media can bring about tremendous improvement in your life. I find it fascinating that such a small commitment can offer such great rewards. If you are looking for a simple, healthy habit to boost happiness that packs a big punch, think about implementing a reading habit.
I like to track the number of books read each year. This year my goal is 52 books in 52 weeks. I have included a free printable book tracker for you to download to track your reading activity too. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!
2. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything
Adhering to the 80/20 rule can help make your day more efficient and productive leading to increased happiness. The 80/20 rule is a powerful tool you can use to help you prioritize goals and increase productivity. How it works is simple, 20% of your effort will lead to 80% of your results. If you focus on the most important tasks on your to-do list, you can maximize your output and increase efficiency thus increasing your happiness.
This rule is applicable in virtually every aspect of life, from business decisions to time management to health goals and more. Understanding the 80/20 principle will give you the power to take control of how you spend your time so you get the most out of your time.
Implementing small healthy positive habits like this one will improve your focus and alertness throughout the day, helping your productivity soar. Besides that, adhering to this rule will help keep your goals on track and keep you from chasing ideas and not getting anything done.
3. Stop Multi-Tasking and Focus On One Task At A Time
Multi-tasking is NOT a superpower. It is a myth. Multi-tasking can lead to decreased productivity and overall satisfaction. In line with the 80/20 rule, focus on performing one task at a time. This is an excellent way to ensure that each task on your to-do list is done efficiently and effectively without splitting your attention between twelve things under the guise of multitasking. Taking on too many tasks at the same time can be overwhelming, leading to a feeling of being inefficient and stressed out. Plan your day and prioritize your tasks. Concentrate fully on the one task at hand and do not get sidetracked into multi-tasking multiple goals/tasks simultaneously.
4. Make Your Bed Every Morning
Start your day on a high note by simply making your bed when you get up. It seems so simple but it is so empowering to do. It will give you a sense of accomplishment and signals the day has begun. Additionally, studies have shown that it also helps to boost productivity for the rest of the day.
This feeling of structure and order can have a calming and energizing effect on your, allowing for smoother workflow throughout the rest of your day in all areas of life.
For me, making my bed first thing is the positive habit pick me up I need to get going. I am naturally not a morning person. About 2 years ago I bought new bedding for my bed. I made the decision that moving forward, every single day before I get moving, the bed will be made. Between me and my hubs we have stuck with this 98% of the time. It’s a great feeling on the front and back end of your day to have your bed made.
We recently took a road trip to Texas to see our middle son graduate basic training and when we got home it was the wee early hours of the morning. My husband opened the door to our bedroom and said, “thank you so much for making the bed before we left. It is going to feel so good to just crawl into bed without needing to adjust the bedding first.”
5. Exercise First Thing In The Morning
Jumpstarting your day with a workout can be highly beneficial in helping you stay positive, energetic, and productive. Furthermore, research has found that exercise can significantly reduce stress while also boosting cognitive performance and overall happiness.
Exercising in the morning can be the difference between a successful day and a stressful one. It not only helps you to stay fit and healthy, but it can also help to clear your mind and prepare you for the tasks ahead. A regular morning workout routine can help prevent other daily obligations from interfering with your schedule, allowing you to focus on what matters most. The short-term benefits of exercise are well-known, but its long-term effects on health and mental well-being cannot be overlooked either.
6. Listen More, Speak Less
Active listening is a skill that develops with practice. When we listen more than we talk, it gives us an opportunity to see new perspectives, learn new things, and gain insight into the feelings of other people. Being open to ideas, opinions, and beliefs that are different from our own can be transformational for fostering healthy relationships and communication. It can help us to understand each other better and ultimately build more meaningful connections.
7. Compliment Others
Complimenting others is a powerful and positive habit with the potential to brighten everyone’s day. It is an easy and effective way to connect with people to help them feel appreciated and celebrated their strengths and achievements.
Complimenting others is an important part of any successful relationship. Not only does it improve the mood and self-esteem of the recipient, but it can also help to strengthen bonds between people. What’s more, offering sincere compliments can have far-reaching positive effects on both the giver and receiver, from boosting confidence to creating a more pleasant work environment. By taking the time to recognize and appreciate others, you can benefit in countless ways – both mentally and emotionally.
8. Just Smile
Just smile. That’s right, JUST smile. Smiling is one of the easiest positive habits you can implement to improve your day. It can have a positive impact on all those around you.
Smiling has been proven to bring out positive feelings in the person doing the smiling. Studies have also shown that people who smile tend to be seen as more confident, likable, and happy, making them more attractive to others in both professional and personal settings.
9. Practice Meditation
Spending a few minutes in peaceful silence each day can have a positive effect on mental health, concentration, and composure. This can lead to an overall better quality of life. Incorporating a calming, meditative practice into your everyday life can be extremely beneficial. It can decrease stress to allow you to make better decisions. Taking a break from the external chaos and taking time to be still can provide you with moments of peaceful respite. Starting a meditation practice also allows you to stop (however briefly) the never-ending flow of information that bombards you on a moment to moment basis thanks to technology. Quiet meditation also gives your mind the space it needs in order to process information with clarity and discernment. On the days when you are feeling overwhelmed, take a short break to breathe and quiet your mind. You be happy you did.
10. Complete 3-5 Micro Tasks Every Morning
Besides implementing some of these 10 healthy habits to boost happiness, it is important to establish a few micro goals you can tick off at the start of each day. Ticking off goals at the start of each day can help you stay productive and focused on the task at hand while giving you a better sense of what needs to be done in relation to what you are working on.
Incorporating this positive habit, completing 3-4 micro tasks every morning, will help you stay on track with your bigger goals. You’ll be better organized and more productive as a result. By breaking down long-term objectives into small manageable micro-goals, you can stay focused and motivated to pursue your goals in an efficient and effective manner. Plus, with the help of tracking tools, you can easily keep track of your progress and adjust your strategy accordingly. Tracking micro goals with a habit tracker printable or app is an essential part of setting yourself up for success.
Terms of Use for Habit Tracker Printable
Both of these habit trackers are for personal use ONLY. You may reuse both trackers as many times as you want by printing them or duplicating the page in your planner. Please be mindful that it is for personal use ONLY and may not be sold or reproduced or offered as a freebie on your website.
Positive Habits Conclusion…
You can work on boosting your overall happiness by slowly implementing some of these 10 healthy habits. Remember you don’t have to add all of them at once. Slowly add the habits that resonate with you into your daily habits. If you are like me, tracking your habits gives you gratification and small wins lead to bigger success in the long run. Download this daily habit tracker printable to start tracking the habits you want to implement. You will love seeing your progress.
Certified Personal Trainer (NASM)
Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM)
Behavior Change Specialist (NASM)
