Friday, December 31, 2021

The 80 Best Micro Habits to Change Your Life

What's one tiny thing you can do every day to change your life for the better?

You might think that such a small change wouldn't make much of a difference, but nothing could be further from the truth. When it comes to making lasting changes in our lives, it's the little things that count. And that's what micro habits are all about.

To help you out, we've put together this list of the best micro habits that you should practice. Build them up slowly into your routine, and soon enough you'll notice small yet marked improvements to your life.


Discover What Kind of Life You Want
1 Define your goals. What do you want to achieve in life? What are your priorities?
2 Make a plan. Once you know what you want, figure out how to get there.
3 Take action. Start working towards your goals today.
4 Track your progress. Keep track of what you're doing and how it's going by writing things down.
5 Make a promise to yourself. Write out an oath in which you swear to act towards your goals and never give up.

Clear the Mental Obstacles in Your Path
6 Get out of your own way. Don't let fear stop you from starting and achieving your goals.
7 Be confident that you will accomplish what you set out to do.
8 Become aware of the excuses you tell yourself as a cover for procrastination and laziness.
9 Just do it! Don't overthink things; just take the first step and keep going from there.
10 Stop comparing yourself to others and start living your own life.

Start Saying "Yes" More Often
11 Say yes more often. When someone asks you to do something, say yes!
12 Take on new challenges. Remember, a new habit is much easier to keep than the one you've been working on for years.
13 Allow yourself to succeed at something new.
14 Learn from rejection and criticism by taking it in stride and listening to what other people have to say when you're being tested or challenged in some way.
15 Don't say no until you've thought about what it is that you're saying no to.

Train Your Brain
16 Think positively. Affirmations are great for repeating positive statements to yourself when you need a little cheering up or motivation.
17 Use visualization techniques to imagine yourself achieving your goals.
18 Solve your problems by first thinking about them before acting or speaking.
19 Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.
20 Take time for yourself to relax and recharge.

Start Eating Better
21 Start eating better by planning your meals and thinking about how much you're eating.
22 Limit high-calorie snacks like sugary candy bars, pastries, and potato chips to once a week or once every other day if you can't resist them.
23 Make it easy for yourself by keeping healthy food around the house and at work.
24 Drink more water. It's great for your skin, hair, and overall health.
25 Avoid eating late at night.
26 Try to eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods.
27 Eat breakfast every day to start your day off right.
28 Cut down on processed meats like beef, pork, and chicken.

Get Moving
29 Get moving just a bit every day by taking walks or riding your bike to work.
30 Start with small goals that are easy for you to achieve, so you'll have an easier time reaching the ones that follow.
31 Set yourself up for success by creating a "just right" exercise schedule.
32 Stay motivated with workout videos, music playlists, or podcasts that keep you energized and excited to move more.
33 Don't sweat the small stuff; just do your best and don't worry about it if you can't do every rep or set of every exercise perfectly.
34 Make sure you're lifting weights that are challenging for you.
35 Take a break when you need it, and don't feel guilty about it.
36 Celebrate your accomplishments along the way, no matter how small they may seem.

Get Organized
37 Declutter your space to get organized.
38 Stay on top of things by being tidy and cleaning up after yourself throughout the day.
39 Keep a schedule for yourself that lists things you need or want to do each day of the week, and mark them off when they're done.
40 Get a planner, a calendar, or an app to keep track of your appointments, deadlines, and events.
41 Make a list of things you need to buy at the grocery store, so you don't have to spend time thinking about it later.
42 Sort your clothes by color, type, or season to make getting dressed in the morning easier.
43 Create a "to-do" list at the end of each day that lists everything you accomplished.
44 Get rid of clutter to make your home more comfortable and functional.
45 Form good habits by following a routine that's easy for you to stick to.
46 Organize your thoughts and ideas by writing them down in a journal or notebook.
47 Make it a habit to do one thing each day that helps you get closer to your goals.
48 Remove distractions from your environment so you can focus on the task at hand.
49 Use labels and folders to keep your paperwork sorted and organized.
50 Make your bed at the start of each day. You'll be surprised the difference it makes.
51 Set aside time each day to deal with tasks that you've been procrastinating on.

Start Saving Money
52 Stop wasting money on things you don't need.
53 Create a budget so you can see exactly where your money is going each month.
54 Use cash instead of credit cards to limit your spending, especially if it's not in the budget.
55 Give yourself an allowance for entertainment expenses each week or month to not overspend.
56 Make a goal to save a certain amount of money each month or year.
57 Sell things you don't use or need anymore to make some extra cash.
58 Invest your money in a way that will help it grow over time.
59 Compare prices before you buy anything to ensure you're getting a fair deal.

Build Stronger Relationships and Social Skills
60 Make an effort to socialize with people you don't know well.
61 Smile at people, even if you don't know them.
62 Talk to strangers sometimes; it can be a great way to get to know new people and make new friends.
63 Offer to help someone out if they look like they're struggling.
64 Take the time to listen to others and pay attention to what they're saying.
65 Try to be more understanding and less judgmental.
66 Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
67 Let go of relationships that are toxic or draining.
68 Apologize if you've hurt someone's feelings or made a mistake.
69 Ask for what you want and need in your relationships without being demanding, entitled, or burdened.
70 Be conscious of what you say to other people so that they don't feel put down or demeaned by you.
71 Make time to spend with the people you love.
72 Try to plan at least one fun outing each month with your friends or family.
73 Introduce yourself to the people around you instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Take Care of Your Tech
74 Back up your computer files regularly, so you don't lose important information if something happens to your device.
75 Delete programs and apps you don't use anymore to free up your phone or computer space.
76 Keep your operating system and software up-to-date to protect yourself from security threats.
77 Turn off notifications, so you don't get distracted by every buzz or ding that comes your way.
78 Find out how much data you're using on your cell phone plan and reduce it if necessary to avoid overages.
79 Unsubscribe from emails that are cluttering up your inbox that you never read, especially spam.
80 Be aware of online scams and phishing attempts, and protect yourself by being skeptical of what you see on the web.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

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Friday, August 27, 2021

The 5-Minute Habit (Based on Neuroscience) That Will Change Your Life

"I've got a dream that's worth more than my sleep." –Eric Thomas

It’s true that in order to live our purpose in this world, we’ve got to have a vision and a plan for achieving our dreams. We must be tenacious in working toward our goals, and we might occasionally have to sacrifice a little sleep for that dream. However, our “hustle at any cost” culture has convinced us that this means choosing between success and quality of life (e.g. health, happiness and fulfillment). This either/or mindset is not just inaccurate — it actually threatens our bottom lines and secretly sabotages success.

The stress, exhaustion and decision fatigue caused by “hustling” can all lead to mood swings. Our logical processes literally shut down, opening up the floodgates to irritability, frustration, anger and sadness. In other words, the primitive part of our brains (controlled by emotion) takes over and dictates our behaviours, while our higher-level thinking is put on pause.   

Can you see how this creates the exact opposite of the success we’re striving for?    

Although the stigma remains that break-takers are lazy or unmotivated, this belief is unfounded. Breakthroughs in neuroscience research unveil proof that goes against everything we thought we knew about achievement.

Periods of intentional rest are now known to boost our

  • Productive energy

  • Creativity

  • Innovative thinking

  • Executive function

  • Positive mindset

  • Intuition

  • Memory

One specific method that's especially effective? Napping. Often we’re tempted to rely on coffee in lieu of taking a short break when we feel sluggish during the workday. However, napping has been shown to enhance alertness and attention even better than caffeine. 

Brief periods of rest also counteract the sluggish effects of not getting enough quality sleep at night. Napping even makes us better problem solvers, which directly leads to innovation and decisive action — two notable hallmarks of success. 

Maybe this all sounds great, but you’re wondering who has the time or flexibility for a workday nap? You’re right, many of us don’t… but guess what? Falling asleep is not necessary in order to feel the restorative benefits of midday rest! Try these three faux nap ideas to enhance creativity and productivity. They're easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules — so pick one, set a timer for five minutes and enjoy.

1. Close your eyes

More than 50 percent of the surface of the brain is devoted to processing visual information. Closing our eyes frees up the energy associated with that 50 percent, allowing our brains much needed recovery. We can tap into the unconscious processes that help us connect with our innovative ideas and solve problems more efficiently simply by decreasing visual input.

Action step: Create a cozy nap environment without the expectation of falling asleep. Taking that pressure off of ourselves goes a long way toward relaxation and leads to increased productivity. Consider playing some soothing music to help drown out any distracting noises. Allow your eyelids to gently close, and notice any thoughts that arise.  

2. Daydream

As a child, were you ever scolded for gazing dreamily out the window? Our parents and teachers presumed that a wandering mind was a hindrance, but neuroscience researchers find that daydreamers actually score higher on creativity scales.

Making time for free-flowing thought allows for almost effortless disentanglement of the jumbled information in our minds. Just as our muscles gain flexibility through gentle stretching, new insights are more likely to surface when we’re relaxed. For best results, approach your daydreaming session with intention: You must be able to notice when you are in this state and pull yourself out at will. This requires some practice.

Action step: Choose a photo or work of art that feels relaxing to look at, perhaps a calm ocean scene or some flowers against a bright blue sky. (Note: Blue is calming; orange stimulates creativity.) Set a timer for five minutes. Sit comfortably and gaze at the picture. Allow your mind to wander while keeping the focus on the feeling you get from the image, and keep a pen and notepad nearby to jot down any flashes of inspiration.  

3. Breathe

The adult brain, a mere two percent of body weight, is responsible for around 20 % of oxygen consumption. This means oxygen is one fuel our brains heavily rely on for planning, decision-making and higher-order thinking.

Simple focused breathing gives us a mental energy boost. It also helps us relax into our unconscious mental processes, supporting creativity and productivity by activating our parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for both mental and physiological relaxation).

Action step: First, practice diaphragmatic breathing — drawing the air into your belly instead of your upper chest. Place one hand over your heart and the other over your abdomen while inhaling. When your lower hand rises during inhalation and your upper hand does not, you know you’re bringing the air fully into your diaphragm.

Next, breathing only through your nose, inhale for a count of four… hold for a count of four… exhale for a count of four… and hold again for a count of four. Repeat this sequence for anywhere from two to 10 minutes.    

Access intuitive solutions via the subconscious mind

Using these techniques, our brains are able to pick apart information and reassemble it, like pieces of a puzzle, in a way that our conscious mind alone cannot.

What if we made this common practice?

What if we embraced the power of our natural mind-body connections?

What if, instead of celebrating busyness, we paused enough to tune into our deeper levels of consciousness?

Then we would understand that we don't have to trade our dreams for restorative rest. In fact, when we give ourselves the space to relax, we empower our minds to align with our dreams. And that is when we can achieve a level of success that hustle culture just can't match.


This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

 

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