People are creatures of habit. The coffee you drink each morning, the skincare routine you do every night, and many other rote tasks are what shape your identity. Your habits define what you do, (or don’t do) each day to help reach specific goals. If you’re looking to make a large lifestyle change or simply make a shift in your routine, creating micro habits is a great solution.
Sometimes, creating new habits is much easier said than done. Lifestyle changes can be hard. That’s why micro habits are so great. They are defined as small, simple actions a person can take everyday that will achieve large results over time. Starting small eases away the all-or-nothing mindset many people possess when it comes to self-improvement. You can use micro habits to transform practically any facet of your life, whether it’s to start exercising more, eating healthier, reading or any other goal in mind.
It becomes easier to embrace a new lifestyle by starting small and using micro habits. Once you become comfortable with that little shift, push your limits a little more. Here are VALLEY’s top micro habits for self-improvement.
1. Write or journal for five minutes a day.
Journaling is a great habit that has serious benefits for your mental health. It’s therapeutic and can help you overcome challenges and gain perspective. If you’re interested in making journaling a habit, start small. Set a timer for five minutes and write whatever comes to mind. After some time, you’ll look forward to journaling everyday and you won’t need a timer to tell you when to stop.
2. Put things back when you finish using them.
Many people struggle with being messy or wanting to be neater. Start off by putting your coat in the closet at the end of the day instead of throwing it on the back of your couch. Or commit to putting your coffee mug in the dishwasher instead of leaving it on the counter. Over time, it won’t even be a task you think about before doing.
3. Make your bed.
Making your bed is the first step in starting your day. It creates a sense of accomplishment that will motivate you to be more productive throughout the day.
4. Read 1-2 pages a day.
If you’re interested in making reading a habit but can’t find the motivation to finish a book, start by making a micro habit of reading one or two pages daily. It will only take a few minutes and you’ll be making progress toward finishing a book. After a few weeks, you’ll begin to look forward to reading.
5. Stretch for five minutes when you first wake up.
Stretching has many proven health benefits including relieving stress, improving posture and increasing a person’s range of motion. For someone who is looking to better their fitness journey, stretching in the mornings is an easy way to become more active.
Some other simple micro habits include meditating, spending a few minutes a day outside, drinking more water, drawing and many others. Making big changes in your life starts with small steps.
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