We are the sum of our habits, and it is becoming ever more important in our high stress environments to ensure we have good habits that help support a healthy lifestyle that manages our stressors. But what does this mean? What is a good habit?
A good habit, is a routine, practice or repetitive action that has a positive impact on your physical and psychological state. The key word I want to emphasise here is “and”. Many people have habits that feel good psychologically but are actually bad long-term physically or vice versa. Why? Because it tricks the mind into thinking that the habit has made them feel good in the moment but ultimately impacts their health in a different way. For example, drinking or smoking when feeling stressed.
A good habit is long-term and sustainable. And even life changing. Here are some life-changing habits that could set you on the path for success.
Reading, or listening…whichever your preference. If there is one thing most successful people have in common, it’s their love of learning and their insatiable need to grow. That is why they are always reading or listening to educational content through podcasts, audiobooks, courses and talks. They also are not confined to one genre; they expand their reading portfolio with a plethora of genres that are of interest. Reading is known to support cognitive function, improves language and communication skills, enhances creative thinking and problem-solving, assists with focus, and builds your knowledge.
Exercise and diet. We often talk about the importance of exercise and diet in all of our talks, podcasts and most articles. And we cannot stop talking about it for obvious reasons! Exercise and diet play a pivotal role in regulating your body, resulting in better mental clarity, physical health, mental health and focus. It also releases feel-good hormones that help stabilize your mood. One thing that many people struggle with when it comes to exercise is (1) time and (2) finding something enjoyable. But what if I told you both are possible? Well, it is, but it takes a little effort in the beginning to find the right exercise routines, sports, timing, meals to prep, etc. The great thing about the internet and social media though is that there are many pages for supporting people in the same boat as you, although some influencers may not be experts, they can help with providing ideas to help support you on this journey, if you find your way to the right pages.
Monthly strategy meetings. Often we think strategy meetings only happen in the workplace, not realizing that they are also important in your personal life. How? The purpose of a strategy meeting is to discuss your goals, where you are in achieving those goals and things to do to remain on track to achieve the goal. Now think about how you can use this for your personal goals, family goals, financial goals, etc. These meetings can be on your own, with a partner or with the entire family (discussions would need to be at an age-appropriate level for the children). The meetings should be focused on ensuring that each person’s individual goals or your family goals are on-track. It ensures alignment and makes achieving your goals more plausible as you are holding each other accountable.
Journaling. Journaling can act as a means to tracking your life, as a record of your past or as a means for managing your mental state. Journaling doesn’t always seem to be everyone's cup of tea, but often it is because many people do not know the power of journaling as well as the type of journaling that would suit them. Journaling is beneficial in supporting mental and spiritual health as it acts as a catharsis for many. But did you know that journaling does not always have to be written? People who prefer to express themselves in other ways also use visual journals (drawing) or audio-journals (speaking or singing). There is no limitation to journaling except for your own imagination, and sometimes it just helps to have somewhere to jot down your feelings or thoughts, even if we decide to burn the page later.
Spiritual practices (e.g. meditation, prayer, nature walks, etc.). We all come from different spiritual backgrounds and some who may be reading this article may describe themselves as not being spiritual at all. The interesting thing about spiritual practices is that sometimes they can be in done in ways we do not expect such as through spending time in nature, hiking or mindfulness practices. The common denominator for spirituality is the ideology that we belong to, are accountable for, or are connected to, something beyond just ourselves. It is the idea that we form part of a bigger picture in the world, and our role as such is to support the parts that create the picture. The key differences would then be in “how” we support those parts and what the consequence would be when supporting those parts. Studies have found that spiritual wellness is supportive in managing stress, building resilience, gaining a sense of purpose and improve your overall quality of life.
We know that building habits are not always easy, but once you get on the train, there’s no stopping it. Are you ready to jump on?
Comments