I’m all about learning things little by little, whether it’s a new job, relationships, habits, etc. You didn’t pop out of your mother’s womb not knowing how to walk, much less run, right? First, it lay there for months, then rolled over, crawled, sat up, and then staggered a few steps to the cheers of those around it. After a goose egg on your head and a bruised knee, you fell and stumbled for years afterwards, but eventually you got the hang of walking and now you take for granted how much easier it makes your life.
The same slow and steady learning process can be applied to these small life-changing habits. The trick to making habits stick is to start now, start small, and most of the time, just start in general.
Here are 10 of my tried-and-true micro-habits that will help you feel more organized and in control in a very unruly world.
1. Ask yourself, “What is the good thing to do?”
When you have the option of waiting a few seconds to hold the door open for someone, do it. If I can spend an extra five minutes in savasana, I’ll take it. If a friend is having a difficult pregnancy, I talk to her. Why? Because it’s a good thing.
Doing good doesn’t mean being appreciated. Remind yourself multiple times each day to do kind things for both others and yourself, especially when no one is looking. It trains your brain to think thoughtfully about every action, no matter how small. But remember: If “good” takes advantage of you, your time, or your generosity, it’s not good to begin with. Know your limits.
2. Apply the 1-minute rule.
credit: happiness project This rule of life was taught to me by Gretchen Rubin, a writer and a very intelligent woman. It’s easy. If a task takes less than a minute to complete, encourage yourself to do it right then and there. Recycle your junk mail, hang up your coat, reply to that email, close the silverware drawer, and put the lid on your peanut butter.
It’s easy. If a task takes less than a minute to complete, encourage yourself to do it right then and there. Recycle your junk mail, hang up your coat, reply to that email, close the silverware drawer, and put the lid on your peanut butter.
Most of these daily chores take just a few seconds, but when they add up, they can quickly become overwhelming. “Let’s do it tomorrow” becomes “Let’s do it tomorrow” and then “What do we have one more day?” Don’t think about it. Please do it now.
3. Add one more thing.
Add another vegetable to your dinner plate. Drink a glass of water every day. Learn one more Arabic phrase. once them One more thing Once it’s part of your routine, consider adding another one.
4. Know how much money you have.
Knowledge is power, even if that knowledge reminds you of how bad credit card debt is. Being financially secure and confident starts with knowing exactly how much money you have in your account at all times. Whatever it means to you, make it a habit to check your accounts often. When you have a better idea of how much money you have and how much you spend, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions when you’re tempted by frivolous spending.
Please keep this in mind. This is coming from someone with severe money anxiety. There’s a fine line between being on top of your accounts and obsessing over every penny. I’m the biggest cheerleader for financial literacy, but when the market crashed this spring, I removed the shortcut to my financial advisor’s site from my browser, choosing blissful ignorance over helpless stress. Understand what you can and cannot control, and focus on what you can do, like running away for an emergency fund or not buying an unrealistic jumpsuit.
5. Write it down.
Do you really think you’ll remember the funny thing your toddler said this morning by dinner time, let alone decades from now? And why do we trust our experienced brains? sufficient Need to remember exactly what you need to make Alison Roman’s recipes at the grocery store these days?
As soon as that little flag starts flying in your head that says, “I need to remember that,” write it down. It could mean a quote, a gift idea for something in your life that’s hard to buy, a restaurant you’d like to go to on your next date night, or anything else you’re likely to forget. Create list after list using old-fashioned paper and pen or using a notes app on your phone.
6. Organize your calendar for weeks, months, and even years if you like.
By taking the time to regularly organize your online calendar, you can stay informed and prepared for important events like upcoming bills, birthdays, and events weeks or months in advance.
In my Google Calendar, thank you internet gold, green events indicate when a scheduled payment will be made from my bank account. With four additional eco-friendly events a year, you’ll be notified two weeks before your quarterly tax payment is due, giving you time to organize your finances. My yoga instructor’s birthday will be recorded as December 10th of each year until 2023. I have a project at work that I’m supposed to check in on around early summer, but I never remember. Everything related to work is color coded. Put your oil change on your calendar a few weeks before you need it, in case your schedule fills up and you need to postpone it.
7. Take one thing with you.
If you don’t bring it with you every time you go to the kitchen, your bedside table will be filled with a collection of water glasses, tea mugs, and kombucha bottles. When you find yourself with free hands, ask yourself, “What should I bring?” Apply this to any area of your life that quickly becomes cluttered, such as a specific room, your office, or your car.
8. Learn how to prioritize your future self.
Sounds boring, right? You can retire early and spend all day relaxing on a Spanish beach without getting bored. Because it took decades of decisions to get there. On the other hand, a lifetime of living in the present moment can be self-destructive and lead to long-term deterioration of all health conditions, including physical, mental, interpersonal, and financial.
Let’s just take a moment and think about it. What are the possible consequences of having unprotected sex with him? I have to drive home, should I have another drink? Would you buy these shoes or donate them to your IRA?
The good news is that sometimes wild decisions are made teeth What is best for my future self? A frozen pizza at 2 a.m. can be a forward-thinking choice to avoid tomorrow’s hangover. Learn the perfect, and perhaps ever-changing, balance between what you need now and what you will need in the future.
9. You’ll get more rejection.
I was rejected at least 4 times today. It didn’t feel good in itself, but I bounced back faster than the previous four rejections. What do you have to lose? Remember, the worst thing anyone can say is they are That’s not the case.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned over and over again, it’s that you have to ask for what you want in life. Sometimes you understand, sometimes you don’t. But you have to ask.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned over and over again, it’s that you have to ask for what you want in life. Sometimes you understand, sometimes you don’t. But you have to ask. Whatever you want, whether it’s a career or a relationship, undergo exposure therapy for rejection, the micro-exposure therapy of being told “no” over and over again. It’s even more satisfying to hear “yes” once in a while.
10. Use frustrating moments to develop your patience.
We’ve all stood behind seemingly the slowest person in the world at a coffee shop or bank. When I have nowhere to go, nothing to do, and nothing to fret about, I say to myself, “I don’t have anything to do. “This is the perfect time to train your patience.”
Apply this phrase to frustrating moments, like when your toddler has an accident while potty training, or when you feel like writing a sarcastic work email. Take a few breaths. Please pay attention to your surroundings. Have some perspective. And yes, practice patience.
Megan is a writer and editor who muses on the life, design, and travel of Domino, Ronnie, Hunker, and more. Her rules of life include, but are not limited to, zipping when meeting up, tipping cash, and donating to an IRA. Become a friend and subscribe to her newsletter night vision or follow her Instagram.
Source: – witanddelight.com
