Most of us probably find it hard to stick with habits. Usually we get distracted by other things in life that appear to us to be more relevant. However, I would like to present you 5 habits that not only take almost no time or effort but will also make you feel better about yourself. Here they are.
1. Flossing
I am sure that many people already do this, but flossing daily is vital for the health of your gums as well as for overall hygiene of your mouth. Some say that flossing is more important than brushing your teeth. Moreover, it takes 1-2mins to do and can be easily incorporated in your evening routine.
2. Drinking water
Now, this is an obvious one. Drinking those humble 2l of water per day will make your digestion better, skin and hair shinier and give you more energy. Drink 2 glasses of water right after waking up in order to get your organs started for the day. Moreover, drink a glass of water 30mins before eating to ensure that your digestion system is ready and can absord the necessary vitamins and mineral as well as digest more smooth. If you find regular water boring, then add lemon, lime, mint or some fruit to it. You can get a water bottle with a special compartment inside to store the goodies that will make your water taste nicer.
3. Making your bed in the morning
This can be a very difficult one, especially if you are not a morning person. However, if you do need to make sure your bed does not pull you back, make it right after you get up. It gives your bedroom a sense of tideness and sets you off for a more organized and calm day. Also, it looks nice and feels more fresh to get into at the end of the day.
4. Washing dishes right after you eat
Another slightly complicated one. Unless you have a dishwasher, I am sure you've had dirty dishes pile up at some point. I have housemates so eventually I feel obliged to wash my stuff especially since we share everything but if you live alone/with your partner, dirty dishes might become a constant. I suggest to approach it this way: if you wash it right after eating, you will not have to do it later. It takes no time to clean after yourself and you have a nice clean kitchen with clean dishes. It takes a while to adopt the mindset but man, it's worth the effort.
5. Investing time in your skills
So, here's the thing. Skills are essential for success. Whether we like it or not, those of us who are more skilled move through life quicker and faster. I've been wanting to learn French for a while, and until I can afford to take a professional French course, I use Duolingo. I'm sure a lot of you have heard about it. Depending on the skill you want to learn, you will have to look for adequate tools but anything can be found online. True story: I wanted to knit a friend of mine a scarf as a Christmas present and literally learned knitting from 0 on YouTube. Anything's possible! Most important is to designate time every day for perfecting the skill. It can be as long as 20mins but the longer you do it, the easier and more enjoyable you will find adding more and more time to it every day.
It is scientifically proven that to grow a habit takes 21 days, i.e. you have to perform the action for 21 days in a row and on the 22nd day your brain will naturally be drawn to it.
If you find it hard to stick with your habits, I suggest creating yourself a habit tracker. From personal experience I can say that seeing your progress leaves you wanting more. I have successfully grew certain habits with the help of a habit tracker and continue to do so.
What's the habit you're going to grow this month?