10 Small Changes to Improve Your Quality of Living
1) Drink Water First Thing in the Morning
While it might be easy to turn to your usual cup of coffee in the morning, drinking water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach has a ton of healthy benefits. Although, this probably easier for me because I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't even like coffee. Anyway, drinking water first thing in the morning helps with metabolism, alertness, brain activity, the immune system, and a clear complexion. Check out some more of the benefits and some science-y explanations here. I implemented this habit in my everyday routine about two years ago, and it's helped me feel refreshed and ready to face each day.
2) Take Cool Showers
This particular habit was quite difficult for me to begin, as I absolutely love taking warm, steamy showers. However, taking cool showers in lieu of warm ones has helped improve my daily productivity, as well as having some science-y benefits. For one, my shower time has been cut down drastically. When I took warm showers, I never wanted to get out, and like many others, the shower was my think zone. So, unfortunately, I took hour-showers, and while that gave me plenty of time to think, I was also being extremely unproductive with my time. Taking cool showers has encouraged me to be quicker, and in turn waste less time. Also, on the science-y side of things, taking colder showers increases alertness, helps metabolism, improves the immune system, and helps hair and skin. (More on that here.) Those benefits sound a little familiar, right? Just like drinking water in the morning, cold showers help you to achieve the maximum level of productivity and alertness. These habits set you up for success each day and increase your motivation, which helps improve your overall quality of living.
3) Cut Out Soda
This one has some largely obvious health advantages that you can discover here, and quitting benefits pretty much every body system. While this could be a struggle for some, as soda can become quite addictive, it was fairly easy for me to cut soda out. One key factor that helped to make it so easy was this: I never even bought soda from the store to begin with. I already had a strict rule in place that I could only ever drink soda when going out to eat. This removed a large amount of the temptation and was also a step against possible addiction. However, I scrapped this rule for an even stricter one and cut out soda completely. In all honesty, I was tired of soda and all of the extra, unnecessary sugar. After a while, it all started to taste the same to me anyway. This was an easy one for me, maybe not so much for others, but it's an extremely healthy and beneficial step to take all the same.
4) Exercise in the Morning
This is another one that increases alertness and gets the brain juices flowing. Morning exercise kicks butt. It does indeed. When I exercise in the morning, I view it as starting my day off strong, literally. Unlike evening exercise, which I used to do everyday, morning exercise helps to increase my motivation to kick butt and get stuff done the rest of the day. Like I said before, it's important to set your day up for success early. When I first started this daily routine, I set alarms, placed my running clothes in an obvious spot, and prepared my playlist the day before to help myself get into the habit. It might be difficult, but the results are worth it and a consistent schedule will help it become a go-to habit.
This is another one that increases alertness and gets the brain juices flowing. Morning exercise kicks butt. It does indeed. When I exercise in the morning, I view it as starting my day off strong, literally. Unlike evening exercise, which I used to do everyday, morning exercise helps to increase my motivation to kick butt and get stuff done the rest of the day. Like I said before, it's important to set your day up for success early. When I first started this daily routine, I set alarms, placed my running clothes in an obvious spot, and prepared my playlist the day before to help myself get into the habit. It might be difficult, but the results are worth it and a consistent schedule will help it become a go-to habit.
5) Take the Stairs
Even though it's not much, it's still something. Maybe a free mini-workout. And it keeps you from feeling like and turning into a lazy couch potato.
6) Set Aside Time for Productive Nothing
It's important to spend some time doing nothing each day in order to de-stress and relax. But there are healthier ways of doing nothing than scrolling through social media or watching Netflix. Read a book, doodle, paint, play word games, write, make lists, pray, or spend some time in reflection. Productive nothing.
7) Move Social Media Apps Off Your Home Screen
As someone who struggles with social media addiction, it's easy to understand how tempting it is to check each app constantly throughout the day. Although I always plan to swiftly breeze through all my social media in a matter of a few seconds, I quickly become absorbed in my Instagram feed or sucked into an endless void of Snapchat stories. By removing my social media apps from my home screen, I removed a large amount of the temptation to continuously check each one. Having those icons right on my main screen made it all too easy and all too tempting to give in to my social media thirst. Here's an analogy: when I open my pantry to search for a snack, my eyes are immediately drawn to a bag of very tasty and very unhealthy potato chips, unless I hide them behind clutter all the way on the top shelf, and place a box of wholegrain crackers in front of it for good measure. In a parallel manner, hiding my social media apps in a folder on the very last page of my phone helps to remove temptation. While it may not seem like much, it's effectiveness definitely surprised me. When it comes to productivity, social media proves itself to be one of the largest and most frustrating obstacles in my way. Regulating social media is a key element for your journey to success.
Even though it's not much, it's still something. Maybe a free mini-workout. And it keeps you from feeling like and turning into a lazy couch potato.
6) Set Aside Time for Productive Nothing
It's important to spend some time doing nothing each day in order to de-stress and relax. But there are healthier ways of doing nothing than scrolling through social media or watching Netflix. Read a book, doodle, paint, play word games, write, make lists, pray, or spend some time in reflection. Productive nothing.
7) Move Social Media Apps Off Your Home Screen
As someone who struggles with social media addiction, it's easy to understand how tempting it is to check each app constantly throughout the day. Although I always plan to swiftly breeze through all my social media in a matter of a few seconds, I quickly become absorbed in my Instagram feed or sucked into an endless void of Snapchat stories. By removing my social media apps from my home screen, I removed a large amount of the temptation to continuously check each one. Having those icons right on my main screen made it all too easy and all too tempting to give in to my social media thirst. Here's an analogy: when I open my pantry to search for a snack, my eyes are immediately drawn to a bag of very tasty and very unhealthy potato chips, unless I hide them behind clutter all the way on the top shelf, and place a box of wholegrain crackers in front of it for good measure. In a parallel manner, hiding my social media apps in a folder on the very last page of my phone helps to remove temptation. While it may not seem like much, it's effectiveness definitely surprised me. When it comes to productivity, social media proves itself to be one of the largest and most frustrating obstacles in my way. Regulating social media is a key element for your journey to success.
8) Donate for Each New Clothing Item You Buy
This really helps to reduce clutter, get rid of unnecessary stuff, and prevent an attachment to material things, all while helping a good cause. I have a fairly large wardrobe built up at this point in my life, so whenever I buy new clothing I always balance it out by donating. A simple habit, really, but a good one.
9) Use a Clean Pillowcase (At Least) Every Week
I generally have clear skin thanks to some luck and genetics, but regularly changing my pillowcase as helped me to reduce the frequency of the occasional pimple. Dirt, bacteria, oils, and makeup all accumulate on your pillowcase overnight, so it's important to take this small step to keep a clear complexion, especially if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin. Some more tips and info on that here.
This really helps to reduce clutter, get rid of unnecessary stuff, and prevent an attachment to material things, all while helping a good cause. I have a fairly large wardrobe built up at this point in my life, so whenever I buy new clothing I always balance it out by donating. A simple habit, really, but a good one.
9) Use a Clean Pillowcase (At Least) Every Week
I generally have clear skin thanks to some luck and genetics, but regularly changing my pillowcase as helped me to reduce the frequency of the occasional pimple. Dirt, bacteria, oils, and makeup all accumulate on your pillowcase overnight, so it's important to take this small step to keep a clear complexion, especially if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin. Some more tips and info on that here.
10) Figure Out a Morning Routine
Finally, if you want to set yourself up for success, be productive, and include all of these other healthy habits, you're going to need a routine. Once again, it's all about starting the day off right and getting done what needs to be done. Some make agendas, some set alarms to remind them to start a certain activity, I create a checklist: simple, quick, and causes a feeling of satisfaction every time I check a task off. Do what helps you most, but a morning routine is an essential to kick-starting your day and improving time management.
Have you successfully used any of these tips? Have some of your own to share?
Love,
-Em
Finally, if you want to set yourself up for success, be productive, and include all of these other healthy habits, you're going to need a routine. Once again, it's all about starting the day off right and getting done what needs to be done. Some make agendas, some set alarms to remind them to start a certain activity, I create a checklist: simple, quick, and causes a feeling of satisfaction every time I check a task off. Do what helps you most, but a morning routine is an essential to kick-starting your day and improving time management.
Have you successfully used any of these tips? Have some of your own to share?
Love,
-Em
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