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Vital Habits To Dramatically Improve Day-To-Day Life

Shannon October 2, 2019

Are you looking to change yourself for the better? You may want to begin by changing your daily habits. Studies have shown that it takes an average of 66 days to incorporate a new habit into your life.

Remember that it will be a struggle at first. But eventually, incorporating good habits into your life will make you happier, healthier, and more successful overall. Here are 50 habits that will dramatically improve your daily life.

Waking up early is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

50. Wake Up Early

There is a famous quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Sure, it sounds corny. But it’s actually very true. If you make sure that you have eight hours of sleep per night and go to bed at a reasonable hour, you’ll find that you become far more productive throughout your day. If you wake up with the sunrise, you’ll be shocked to see just how much you can accomplish in 24 hours.

Do you struggle to wake up early? Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Night owls try to make the argument that they can be equally as productive with a different sleeping schedule. But studies have shown that if you spend more time awake in the darkness, it can lead to depression. And according to scientific research, working the night shift can shorten your life expectancy. If you find that you struggle to get things done throughout your day, it may be that you aren’t waking up early enough. If you struggle to wake up early, try to reduce or completely eliminate your caffeine intake in the afternoon. It will take time to correct your sleep schedule, but it will make a massive difference in your mental and physical health.

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Make sure to eat healthy food at least once a day. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

49. Eat At Least One Healthy Meal Per Day

A lot of people cringe at the thought of eating healthy, especially if they don’t need to lose weight. After all, who wants to go to a restaurant and order a salad instead of a steak? Remind yourself that eating healthy is not about depriving yourself of things that taste good. It’s about feeding yourself the fuel that will help your body reach its best potential. You can still enjoy what you eat so long as you incorporate at least one healthy meal per day.

Healthy stir-fries are easy to make and delicious. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Start to do some research about the options that are out there with vegan meals and how people on a plant-based diet enjoy delicious food for fewer calories and higher nutritional value. We aren’t suggesting that you should overhaul your entire diet or become totally plant-based. If you refuse to give up meat completely, that’s up to you. But eating at least one healthy meal per day will make a tremendous difference in your health and may even add years to your life.

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Try to spend time alone on a daily basis. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

48. Spend Time Alone Every Day

With the hustle and bustle of daily life, many people don’t get any time alone. This is especially true if you are married with children and work full-time. You may wake up next to someone else and go through your day with co-workers, only to come home to your family once again. This kind of lifestyle makes it almost impossible to be alone with your own thoughts.

Take some quiet moments to enjoy nature. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Try to carve out some time every day to be alone, and potentially meditate with some breathing exercises. Whether it’s during your commute to work or just 10 minutes in the car, try to make sure you give yourself time to breathe and reflect on your emotions in the present moment. This will help you become more mindful and enjoy the rest of your day to the fullest extent.

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The person you are on the inside may not match your exterior. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

47. Get To Know Yourself

In the last entry, we talked about the fact that a lot of people don’t get any time alone. How well do you know yourself? Are you aware of your faults, strengths, and the things that make you special? It’s important to get to know yourself. Many people need help from a therapist to learn these things, but it can be done alone if you put in the effort to reflect inward on a daily basis.

You should love yourself for who you are. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Everyone has unique qualities that make them who they are. The better you know yourself, the more chances you have to be happy and successful throughout your life. You will understand exactly what you need in order to be happy and to get to the next step in your life. If you feel that you need help getting to know yourself, start keeping a journal and jotting down your inner thoughts. This will help you to become more acquainted with your emotions.

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Stop smoking. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

46. Quit Smoking

If you are trying to make positive changes in your life, an obvious one would be to stop smoking. People who smoke make the argument that it helps to calm them down. They say they cannot quit because they would be under too much stress. The truth is that the reason why smoking feels so good is that you are taking a moment to breathe deeply and be alone just for a few minutes. You can accomplish this without a cigarette.

Smoking is awful for your health. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

We already know just how unhealthy cigarettes are. It causes lung cancer, breathing difficulties, allergies, and other illnesses. This is not just hurting yourself. It also affects the people in your family as well. On top of that, it’s incredibly expensive to keep up with a smoking habit. Once you quit smoking, you’ll realize that your life has become so much better than it was before.

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You should have a skincare routine. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

45. Have A Skincare Routine

Have you ever wanted to have beautiful, clear, glowing skin? While you may assume that some people were born with perfect skin, it doesn’t come naturally for most people. In order to have amazing skin, you’ll have to do a daily skincare routine. This involves exfoliation, cleaning, toning, and moisturizing with high-quality products formulated for your skin type.

Splashing cold water on your face minimizes your pores. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you’re not already doing it, this sounds like a lot of work. But once you get the hang of it, you can actually incorporate it into your shower routine in the morning and it becomes second nature. Once you get in the habit of taking care of your skin, you’ll notice that a lot of your blemishes and Imperfections will disappear. This also helps to maintain your skin’s quality over the years, and you’ll look younger as time goes on.

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Smiling at yourself in the mirror can cheer you up. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

44. Smile At Yourself In The Mirror

As corny as it sounds, you should begin to smile at yourself in the mirror. When we wake up in the morning, most people feel groggy and upset they have to get out of bed. However, being in a grumpy mood is not a good way to start the day. Look at yourself in the mirror and give yourself a big smile as if you saw one of your best friends. It’ll probably feel strange at first, but your fake smile will most likely turn into a real one.

Building confidence often starts with smiling at yourself. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

By smiling at yourself in the mirror, this will make you begin to like yourself more and feel a sense of self-confidence. You can go throughout the rest of your day feeling happy knowing you love yourself and you can conquer anything that happens.

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Cleaning your house can give you a true sense of satisfaction. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

43. Keep Your Home Clean

One of the best habits you can incorporate into your life is to get in the habit of keeping your home neat and tidy. Some people claim they don’t mind a mess, or even say that they prefer it messy because they know where everything is. In reality, there have been studies that show that people who have clean houses are more active and healthy than people whose homes are messy.

Cleaning can be fun. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Living in a messy house is terrible for your mental well-being. It’s best to keep your home organized and free of clutter if you want to live with the happiest and healthiest mindset.

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The more water you drink, the more radiant your skin will be. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

42. Drink More Water

Everyone has heard that we should drink at least eight glasses of water per day. It’s taught in every health class in the country, and you probably heard your parents nagging you to do the same. However, most people ignore this because they don’t want to be running to the bathroom every five minutes. It’s understandable if you can’t drink like a camel, but you really should drink more water throughout your day.

If you work out, it is especially important for you to drink a lot of water. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Drinking more water will reduce bloating, help your digestive system, and make your skin look younger. It also makes you feel better in general. Remember that your body is mostly made of water, and it’s very important for you to stay hydrated at all times.

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Making your bed in the morning is a great habit to have. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

41. Make Your Bed In The Morning

When we first wake up in the morning, we may wish we could go back to sleep. It’s difficult to drag yourself out of bed sometimes, but if you begin your day being productive immediately, it sets your mind in the right state of being. You can get started with productivity immediately by making your bed as soon as you wake up. This helps in a few ways, mostly because once the bed is made you will no longer be tempted to jump back in it.

If you have a partner, they can help you make the bed. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

At night, when you feel exhausted and it’s time to go to bed, you will already have a freshly-made place to sleep. If you let your bed go on made for several days in a row, you may realize that it’s not as comfortable as it used to be, and that is most likely because the sheets are getting bunched up from not making the bed properly. Remember that you were only doing a favor for yourself and that it will help your quality of sleep. Also remember to clean your sheets at least once a week too.

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Try to make a habit of writing in a journal. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

40. Write A Journal

If you’re not already writing in a journal, you should seriously consider starting. By writing in a journal daily, you can get to know yourself better. You’ll be able to reflect on your day, as well as plan for the future. If you aren’t already going to therapy on a regular basis, journal writing can be like a form of self-imposed release.

Take some time alone to reflect and write in a journal. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

No matter how successful you may be, everyone is still human. Some people are afraid to open up about their issues because they’re afraid of being judged. The beautiful thing about writing in a journal is that no one ever has to see what you’ve written down. You can be completely honest with how you feel about people in your life as well as the progress in your own day-to-day existence.

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39. Prepare Your Clothes For The Next Day

When you were a child, your parents may have taught you to set out your clothes for the next day. Not everyone has taken on that tradition as an adult. But it truly does make a huge difference in your life. This is especially helpful if you struggle with finding something to wear in the morning. If you were putting your outfit out the night before, you get a more alert sense of what you should be wearing the next day.

You can teach your children to pick out their clothes from an early age. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Check the weather report for the next day to make sure you are wearing appropriate clothes for the temperature and potential rainfall. After planning out your outfits for the next day, you may begin to realize that you’re far more fashionable than you once thought. A lot of it has to do with proper planning.

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You should go to the dentist at least once a year. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

38. Take Care Of Your Teeth/Go To The Dentist

You should always be in the habit of brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day as well as using mouthwash. Even if you take very good care of your teeth at home, you should still consider going to the dentist at least once a year. Having a deep clean in your mouth can make a huge difference in your dental hygiene. This can also help to detect any potential issues and prevent tooth decay from happening as you age. If you don’t have dental insurance through your employer, try to look for a local dental school.

Dental students need to learn with real people. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Aspiring dentists and dental hygienists have to work on real-life patients to practice their future careers. They need people to come in and get their teeth cleaned to get their work hours in for their degrees. You can often get an entire cleaning for less than $10 simply by offering your time to these students. This can be a lot cheaper than going to a full-fledged dentist, and you actually get a more thorough cleaning because these students are taking their time to do everything right to get their ‘A’ instead of rushing through it.

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Listening to podcasts can be a lot of fun. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

37. Listen To Podcasts

If you’re not already aware, a podcast is sort of like a radio show where people talk to one another about certain topics. Podcasts are an amazing way to learn new things. There are podcasts out there for anything you can think of; true crime, business, self-improvement, and even cooking. If you search Apple podcasts or Stitcher you will find that you can type in almost anything and a podcast will exist for it.

You may learn a lot by listening to podcasts. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Getting into the habit of listening to podcasts will improve your life in a lot of ways. First of all, it will help you embrace the things in your life that you’re truly interested in. Even if you can’t find anyone in your local area who has the same passion for your interest, you can listen to someone on a podcast talking about it. This makes you feel a lot less alone and it also gives you more to talk about with your own friends and family. It can even make your life more successful, especially if you find one that aligns with your career goals.

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Live plants will give life to your home. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

36. Keep Live Plants

Owning real plants in your house is beneficial for a number of reasons. It will help the aesthetic of your home decor no matter what interior design style you prefer. It also helps to clean the oxygen in the air.

Plants can be put in beautiful pots. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Live plants need some tender, loving care in order to survive. They’re far less maintenance than having a pet, but they will still fill you with pride once you see them grow and thrive.

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Negative thinking will never make your life positive. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

35. Turn Your Negative Thoughts Around

Everyone has terrible days where we think negative thoughts. These thoughts can be about ourselves, work, friendships, and much more. Once we allow a negative thought process to begin, it can sometimes turn into a vicious downward spiral.

Try to turn any negative thought around before it consumes your mind. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

While it is totally normal to have some negative thoughts happen every once in a while, try to stop them before they get out of control. Let your bad thoughts pass through your head. Swipe a bad thought away as if you are swiping left and saying “no thank you.” If you find yourself struggling with depression, try to build up your happiness by giving yourself happy things to think about one by one until you build a ladder out of a bad situation.

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It would be wise to make a habit of cleaning your closet. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

34. Clean Your Closet Regularly

Some people go years without cleaning out their closet. Items begin to pile up and you may have tons of clothes but feel you have nothing to wear. It’s far better to have fewer things that you actually enjoy wearing compared to having a lot of stuff that you never wear. This is why it’s always a good habit to go through your closet regularly. Some people recommend having a shopping bag in your closet to toss items that you are on the fence about getting rid of.

Folding properly and organizing your drawers makings a lot more space. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you haven’t reached for those items in a month or longer, it’s a sign you should definitely donate them to charity. Remind yourself that there are people out there who would appreciate the clothing you have to give.

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Planners can help you get ready for upcoming events. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

33. Buy A Planner

If you struggle with getting things done on a day-to-day basis, you may want to consider getting a planner. They are sold in just about every store that provides office and craft products. You can buy one online too. It’s also possible to create a digital planner on your phone or on Google Calendar. However, that’s not the same as having a physical paper planner that you can hold in your hands.

Planning your daily life can help keep you more organized. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Another great thing about real planners is that you can keep it for years and go back to see what you were doing on a day-to-day basis. If you’re a mom raising kids, this is like a book full of precious memories. It can also become a way for you to measure your progress in your education or career. If you’re feeling down in the dumps, you can go back to remind yourself of how much you can accomplish in a small period of time.

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It’s wise to get in the habit of saving for the future. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

32. Save For A Rainy Day

The average American household has less than $1,000 in savings. Without savings, these people would have nothing to protect them if there was a potential job loss or tragedy that befell the family. Don’t let yourself become a victim of death. Start to save money out of every paycheck. If you’re not sure exactly how much it costs to pay your monthly expenses, you should make a budget in order to realize how much it costs for particular bills and how much you need to pay them. Usually, you’ll be able to cut back on some of your expenses and use that money for savings instead.

The more you save, the more comfortable you will feel in the long run. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

For example, if you’re the type of person who goes to Starbucks and spends $5 a day on coffee, you can eliminate that from your budget and put that $5 a day towards your savings account. Over the course of 30 days, that will turn into $150 a month. While that might not seem like much, it’ll eventually add up and give you protection in case you need a major car repair or something similar.

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Making a meal plan can help if you are on a diet. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

31. Make A Meal Plan

Do you throw away food that has expired because you bought too much? Or maybe you went grocery shopping in hopes of starting a new diet, but you still went out to eat several times that week instead. Simply shopping for groceries does not always stop you from making poor choices with your food. It is best to make a meal plan so that you know exactly what you want to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of the week.

Meal plans can help if you are on a strict budget. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Once you get in the habit of making a meal plan, you will save a lot of money in the long run. Less food will go to waste, and you can hopefully begin to lose weight if you’re willing to stick to a healthy diet.

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Do you fully understand your full range of emotions? Photo Credit: Shutterstock

30. Start Learning About Psychology

If you went to college, you probably took Psychology 101. However, most students are no longer required to take more psychology courses after that point, or they may have the option to take Sociology instead. This means that most people are ill-equipped to deal with the inner workings of the human mind. It’s probably a good idea to start a habit of learning more about it. The more you learn about psychology, the more you can learn about yourself and other people.

You may want to start reading books on psychology. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

There’s no need to read an entire psychology textbook. But simply reading articles from Psychology.com, listening to podcasts, and YouTube videos can all teach you something fascinating about what it means to be a human. The more you know, the more comfortable you will feel with your emotions, and it’ll help you become happier in the long run.

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It is best to act confident in yourself, especially in the workplace. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

29. Act Confidently

It is no secret that confident people often succeed more than those who have low self-esteem. Thankfully, you can change a few habits in your life to make yourself more confident. Nearly everyone has heard of the phrase “fake it til you make it.” This is true, especially when it comes to confidence. Even if you feel nervous about going into work, on a first date, or anything else in your life, it’s possible to fake confidence until you feel it for real.

The more confident you seem, the more people will trust you. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Before you go into a nerve-wracking situation, try to envision yourself succeeding in whatever it is you want to do. If you did everything perfectly, what would that look like? This is like giving your brain a dress rehearsal for what’s about to come next. Hype yourself up with some exciting music, or anything else that will make you feel great about yourself. Also, wear your best clothes and tell yourself you can do it. All of these things combined should boost your confidence levels.

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It may be time to cut your credit cards. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

28. Cut Up Your Credit Cards

If you are struggling to get out of debt, you should stop the bad habit of spending on those credit cards. If the temptation to spend is too much for you to handle, take a pair of scissors and cut the card in half. At the very least, you’ll no longer be able to take that card into a store with you to buy anything.

Cutting cards in half will help you pay off your debt. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Before you throw them away, make sure you keep the pieces just in case you have to call your credit card company.

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Your credit score is very important for your overall financial help. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

27. Pay Attention To Your Credit Score

You should always pay attention to your credit score, even if you already own a house. Having a healthy credit score determines if you will be able to borrow money in the future or take advantage of credit card perks like travel rewards.

Monitor your credit report on a regular basis. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

You can get your credit score for free by signing up for Credit Karma. For more tips on increasing your score, check out our 40 Surefire Ways to Raise Your Financial Health.

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Exercise can be fun. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

26. Exercise 30 Minutes A Day

There is an old adage that everyone should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is likely why recess and gym were requirements when you were in school. As adults, that responsibility lies with us to decide if we want to be active or not. But there’s no doubt getting exercise makes a huge difference in both our physical and mental well-being.

Incorporate a workout routine into your daily life. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

According to the Mayo Clinic, the 30 minutes a day rule is actually more than what you need. According to them, you should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week. This is above and beyond your normal daily routine. Basically, you should try to incorporate more walking and cardiovascular activity into your day-to-day life. Look for opportunities to take the stairs, park farther away from the door, or go on a walk around town whenever possible.

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Always make sure you are calling your friends and family. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

25. Call & Visit Your Family Regularly

Nowadays, a lot of people choose to text their friends instead of calling. This may be because you don’t have a lot of time to devote to a conversation, but there’s no replacement for hearing someone else’s voice. This can help you feel much closer with the other person, and there’s no chance you could possibly misunderstand one another like you could over text. Being able to communicate well over the phone is also very useful in the professional world and your boss will surely take notice.

Children love to talk on the phone. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you have children, teach them to talk on the phone too. Calling their grandparents should be something they do on a regular basis. This will help your kids become more social as they get old and alleviate any anxiety they may feel over talking to people on the phone.

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You should clean your desk on a regular basis. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

24. Clean Your Desk

Whether you work from home or in an office environment, you should clean your desk on a regular basis. This is especially true if you do not have any sort of cleaning crew coming in at night to clean for you. There are a lot of germs and dust that accumulate on your desk, especially since you work there every single day.

Cleaning your desk actually feels very satisfying. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Don’t forget to wipe down your computer, mouse, and keyboard. Since your hands are always touching these things, they hold most of the germs.

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People can be incredibly toxic in your life. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

23. Stay Away From Toxic People

Unfortunately, we all deal with toxic people at some point in our lives. These are people who are constantly bringing us down and making us feel awful. Sometimes they might lure you in with kind words only to make back-handed insults to cut you down again. When you’re in a toxic relationship, you feel as though you are walking around on eggshells in front of that person.

It may be time to move on from people who are dragging you down. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

It’s best to stay away from people who are bringing you down. Of course, this is much easier said than done. It may mean cutting ties with a family member or getting a divorce. Before you make a final decision, open up to someone you trust. Surround yourself with people who love and support you and find the strength to leave a toxic situation. Other times, leaving a toxic friendship may be as easy as never texting them again. Try to make it a habit of never letting these people into your life in the first place.

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Using your phone in bed will make it harder to sleep. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

22. Don’t Use Your Phone Or Tablet Before Bed

A lot of people have the habit of browsing their phone before they go to sleep. While this may seem normal to most people, it can actually make it a lot more difficult for you to fall asleep. When your eyes see a bright light, it triggers your brain to think it’s still daytime.

If you suffer from insomnia, your cellphone may be to blame. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Many people don’t realize just how harmful their cell phone habit is affecting their sleep. If you’re someone who has a difficult time falling asleep, try to stop using your cellphone, laptop, or computer at least an hour before bedtime. This should make a big difference in your ability to get a restful night of sleep.

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Always try to learn valuable lessons from your failure. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

21. Learn From Your Failures

Every single person on this planet has failed at some point in time. Even if they look very successful from the outside, that doesn’t mean their lives are perfectly blessed. These people have experienced failure just like everyone else. The major difference is that the successful person chose not to give up after failing. No matter what you’re trying to accomplish in your life, don’t let failure stop you from getting what you really want.

You can stop your failures before they topple down. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Back in the 1930’s, Napoleon Hill interviewed the most successful men in the United States to try to distill their success down into a principle that could be taught to other people. He put the following quote in his book Think and Grow Rich: “Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men do. More than five hundred of the most successful men this country has ever known told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.” The next time you feel tempted to quit, don’t. Instead, learn from your failures and keep moving forward.

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Photographs can be really meaningful to collect from your life. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

20. Start A Collection Of Meaningful Things

In recent years, there’s been a push to live a more minimalist lifestyle. While it’s true that decluttering your life can be tremendously helpful, that doesn’t mean you should get rid of everything that sparks joy in your life. If you don’t already have a collection started, try to ask yourself what kinds of items mean the most to you and make you really happy.

Audiophiles love to collect old records and players. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

These collections could be of sentimental older family photos, vintage video games, vinyl records, cameras, china, and so much more. Remember that “hoarding” and “collecting” are two vastly different things. A collection can be organized and displayed in a way that makes your home more unique to you. And once you start this process, your friends and family will have a better idea of what to buy you for your birthday and holidays to add to your collection.

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Sometimes, it’s okay to say no. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

19. Learn to Say “No” More Often

With all the hustle and bustle of daily life, you’re most likely asked to do things from your boss, co-workers, friends, and family members. If you are a people-pleaser, you’re probably going to say “yes” to doing something even if a little voice in the back of your head is pleading to just go home. After a while of saying “yes” to everyone else in your life, it can seriously begin to drain you. So practice saying “no” to others more often and “yes” to yourself instead.

It’s okay to protect your time. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Saying “no” is not selfish. In fact, if you drain yourself completely, there will be nothing left to give. Remember that self-care and preventing burnout is healthy and will help you continue to be a loving, caring person to the people in your life. So, next time a friend asks you to do something you’re not actually interested in, be honest about how you feel, and say that you would prefer to just stay in and rest. If they get offended by this, it’s a sign that they may be selfish or insecure. True friends will want you to take care of yourself before you’re ready to socialize again.

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When you set goals, make sure you are actually ready to achieve it. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

18. Give Yourself Realistic Goals

Having goals is amazing, and everyone should be trying to manifest their success. However, you need to give yourself goals that are realistic. For example, if you tell yourself that you’re going to lose 50 pounds in one month, that’s not healthy. In fact, if you did lose that much in a month, you’d probably end up in the hospital. By giving yourself massive goals, it will only discourage you from completing the task. The same could be said with nearly any other goal, whether it be financial or otherwise.

Always use the “SMART” method when setting goals. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

There is a saying: “reach for the moon, and land among the stars.” In a way, this is true, but it’s often a gradual step in the process. In Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill, he recommends to write down your goals and then give yourself realistic steps on how you are going to get there. For example, your goal may be to lose 100 pounds in one year. So you could write something like, “I am going to lose 10 pounds in one month. I will do this by completely cutting out sugar from my diet, eating vegetables every day, and walking for an hour a day.” If you actually follow through with those steps, you are likely to lose weight.

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If you organize your closet, you will be able to find everything quickly. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

17. Become More Organized

Being organized can dramatically improve both your personal and professional life. When you’re organized, you know exactly where everything is in your house. In a split second, you can go directly to where this item is because everything has a place for it to belong. The same goes for work. If your files are completely in order, you’ll never spend hours rummaging through paperwork or digital files wondering where it all went.

Organizing your kitchen tools will make cooking a lot easier. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you want to become more organized in your life, consider watching Tidying Up by Marie Kondo on Netflix. Each episode goes through how to clean, declutter, and reorganize your home so that everything sparks joy for you. The same can be done in your office space. Once you become more organized, you’ll begin to notice how easily your workflow becomes and how much more productive your life can be.

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The more you eat at your desk, the more likely you are to gain weight. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

16. Stop Snacking At Your Desk

If you work from home, or if your boss is very relaxed with their rules about having food and drink at your desk, you may be in the habit of sipping your coffee or eating out of a bag of chips while you work. This is a very bad habit for a few reasons. One, you are mindlessly eating without really thinking about it. This takes your mind away from what you are consuming, and focuses it on something else instead. Over time, this adds unnecessary calories to your diet.

Snacking while working leads to mindless eating. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Another major downside to eating at your desk is the potential for accidentally spilling your drinks or dropping crumbs. These tiny pieces of food may fall into the cracks of your keyboard. This habit can even lead to ants and other insects infesting the room. Instead of snacking at your desk, keep your food and drink consumption to your kitchen or office breakroom.

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Try to always live in the moment. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

15. Learn To Live In The Moment

All too often people are not living in the moment. Their mind is wandering off thinking about work or worrying about the future. Instead of doing that, try to be present and enjoy the moment while it lasts.

If you have kids, try to appreciate your moments spent with them. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

This is especially true if you have children. They grow up fast, and you should enjoy every second you have with them when they’re still in their innocent stage of life. If you blink, you just might miss all of the greatest moments. Once you truly feel present in the moment and appreciate everything going on around you, it’ll bring you true happiness.

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Always make sure to call people by their name. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

14. Call People By Name

In the famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People, author Dale Carnegie suggests to always call people by their name. If you’re meeting them for the first time, introduce yourself and ask for their name. Make sure you remember it and use it once or twice during the conversation. By using someone’s name, it helps them feel like they’re truly being noticed and remembered.

Always look people straight in the eyes, and call them by their name. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Even if you’re simply going to a store to buy something, everyone has a nametag. And servers at a restaurant usually introduce themselves, as do customer service representatives. If you remember to use their names, you’ll often receive better service too.

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Reading more books can make you happy. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

13. Read More Books

A well-written book can transport you to another time and space. Sometimes, a story is so captivating, you can completely relate to the story’s characters. This helps to build your level of empathy, especially if you get in the habit of reading books on a regular basis.

You will be inspired by reading books. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

And, of course, if you read non-fiction books, you’re likely to learn a tremendous amount of information. Don’t have time to read? Check out audiobooks instead. You can listen when you’re driving in a car or sitting through a long commute.

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Do not spend your entire dinner staring at your cell phone. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

12. Put Your Phone Away

Taking your phone out during dinner time is a terrible habit that a lot of people in the modern world are guilty of. People are choosing to respond to texts instead of communicating with the human being who is sitting right in front of them. Make a promise to yourself that when you are with someone else, you will not get distracted by technology.

Cell phones can ruin a romantic dinner. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Being present in the moment when you are having a conversation will bring you closer as friends, or as a couple. Remind yourself that there will always be time to look at your phone later. You’re not missing out on anything online by putting it down, at least during a date.

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Truly stop and listen to other people before you speak. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

11. Truly Listen To Others

Unfortunately, many people do not actively listen to others. They’re just waiting for their turn to speak. Instead of eagerly waiting to interject, truly listen to what the other person is saying. Take interest in what they want to talk about and respond accordingly. Eventually, you can get around to talking about what you want to say.

Active listening is a skill that you may need to work on. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

People will truly take notice when you listen to them and it will most likely bring you closer. This works with co-workers, friends, family, and relationships. Everyone will appreciate it if you’re a good listener.

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What motivates you? Photo Credit: Shutterstock

10. Figure Out What Motivates You

It can be hard to be motivated with your goals if you have not properly pinpointed what drives you. For example, if you don’t care about money, then the promise of a big payday won’t be enough to get you on your feet and working towards your goals. Still not sure? Think back to a moment when you worked really hard towards a goal and accomplished it. Why did you commit to finishing that task?

Everything you need is already within you. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Once you have figured out what motivates you, start using that in your daily life. For example, if you worked hard to get A’s because your parents bought you a new toy, try to do that for yourself as an adult. You can make a promise to yourself that you’ll get a reward for finishing a task. Just do whatever you need to do in order to follow your bliss and succeed with your life’s purpose.

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Think long and hard before you make a huge decision. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

9. Make Fewer Spur-Of-The-Moment Decisions

If you make decisions too quickly, it can often lead to mistakes and regret. This is especially true if you are trying to rent an apartment, buy a house, or any other major choice in your life. Even if you feel very busy, try to take a step back and really think about the decisions you are making. If you can’t decide between two options, make a list of pros and cons. This may help you to be able to see the answer to the problem more clearly when it’s written down.

If a tough decision would affect your partner, ask for their input. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If the decision concerns your partner, you should always include them in the conversation. They’ll truly appreciate the fact that you decided to include them, and it may bring you closer as a couple.

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Stock healthy food in your household. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

8. Stock Up On Healthy Foods

A lot of people say that they struggle to stick to a healthy diet. This may be because of one simple issue: They don’t buy enough healthy food to last the entire week. If you open your cabinets and refrigerator and all you see are boxed foods filled with preservatives, you’re never going to reach your goal of improving your health. Start buying healthy foods and stop yourself from buying sugary snacks. Once your entire house is filled with healthy food, it becomes much easier to make better choices.

Ask your family to help you on your healthy journey. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

If you think that there is too much temptation at the grocery store, you may want to order your groceries through Walmart Grocery Pickup, Amazon Fresh, or another local grocery delivery service. This way, you don’t have to walk around the aisles tempted to pick up cookies or cakes. It becomes a lot easier to select the items that are healthy for you and stick to your budget as well.

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Some people believe that you should walk 10,000 steps a day. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

7. Aim For 10,000 Steps A Day

There are some people who believe that if you walk 10,000 steps per day, you can become very healthy. In today’s world, you may not walk a lot. You may go from your home, to the car, and then into your office, where you sit down at a desk. Even if you think that you walk a lot, once you start tracking your steps on a pedometer, you may be shocked to see how little you actually move on any given day.

Your phone will let you know how many steps you have walked. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Get into the habit of checking your steps either on your phone, Apple Watch, Fit Bit, or a good old-fashioned pedometer. Once you begin to pay attention to how much you move, you’ll see just how far away from 10,000 steps you are. Trying to achieve more steps in your day becomes almost like a game. Parking farther away, taking the stairs, and taking a walk around the block will all contribute to your overall score. The more you aim for that goal, the healthier you will become.

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Weighing yourself every day is not good for you. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

6. Stop Weighing Yourself Every Day

If you are trying to lose weight or stay in shape, you may be in the daily habit of weighing yourself. This is actually very bad for your mental health for a number of reasons. First of all, your body will naturally fluctuate its water weight every day as much as five pounds. You could be doing everything “right” and then see that you somehow gained weight. This can be incredibly discouraging and make you spiral into obsession.

You may feel shackled by your scale. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Instead of weighing yourself every day, cut back to once a week, or even once a month. Remember that as long as you are making the right choices to get fit, the results will show themselves in the long run. You’ll get a far more accurate picture of your weight by only weighing yourself sparingly.

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Stop and smell the flowers. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

5. Spend Time In Nature

Even if human beings have become so disconnected from nature, it’s still very much a part of our existence. You should make a habit of getting outside every once in a while, even if it is just to stop and smell the flowers or take a walk with your dog. By taking a moment to feel connected with nature, you’ll feel more at peace with the world.

If you have a dog, they will appreciate if you take more walks in nature. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Viewing something beautiful in nature can help put things in perspective. No matter how large your problems may seem, the world will keep on turning.

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You can always use online planning tools to fill your calendar. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

4. Give Yourself Things To Look Forward To

Sometimes, life can feel like one day just bleeds into the next. If every day is the same, you may begin to feel a bit depressed and lose your excitement for life. Instead of allowing this to happen, always give yourself something fun to look forward to. Start going to local events, make plans to see your friends, or plan a weekend road trip.

Sometimes, people prefer to use a hand-written planner. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

By filling up your calendar with events to look forward to, it’ll make you happier in general. Even if you’re having a difficult day, you can always remind yourself that soon enough, you can go do something fun.

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The more you laugh, the happier you will be. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

3. Laugh More

There is a saying that “laughter is the best medicine,” and it’s true. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing immediately soothes and physical tension you may feel in your body and also decreases stress. Over time, laughing on a regular basis will help to boost your immune system, which means that you will get sick far less often. And it will obviously improve your mood and happiness.

The more you laugh, the longer you will live. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Since it boosts your immune system, one may argue that laughing might even make your life longer. So make sure you try to find a reason to laugh every single day, no matter what’s going on in your life.

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Start keeping a gratitude journal. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

2. Express Gratitude

One of the secrets to feeling happy is to be grateful for the things you already have. You can begin this process immediately by keeping a gratitude journal. This could be typed out digitally or in a notebook. Start by writing everything you feel grateful for. If you’re going through a hard time, you may only be able to write simple things like “I am grateful for having food” or “I am grateful for having a place to live.” As you go on, you can find more and more things to be grateful for.

Tell your parents how grateful you are for them. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

You should also express gratitude for the people in your life. Most parents are not told by their children often enough that they are grateful for all of the work they did to raise them. By telling people that you are grateful for them, they’ll truly appreciate it. This will most likely improve your relationships with your family and friends.

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Always remember to show your love for people in your lives. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

1. Tell People You Love Them

Some people find it difficult to say the words “I love you” because they’re not used to feel so vulnerable. They may try to show their love through their actions. But if you truly do love someone, whether it’s your best friend, family, or significant other, don’t be afraid to say it. Love is one of the most powerful things in our lives. Everyone deserves to feel loved.

Let your family know how much you love them. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Once you begin to say “I love you” regularly to your family members, you may begin to feel much closer to them. It truly can help improve your life and make you feel much more secure.

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