Good Habits to Form for Your Well-Being

It’s a truism that people are creatures of habit. In many ways, we need our habits because they help to make life manageable and a bit predictable. If you changed the route you took to work every morning or the coffee shop you grabbed your morning cup of joe at, you’d have an interesting morning every morning to be sure, but you’d also likely arrive late to work every time, and perhaps a little grumpy, too.

The place of habits in our lives

Our habits play a helpful role in streamlining our lives, so we don’t have to think through every single decision we make. Our habits can also be unhelpful when they aren’t healthy ones. Turning to food to soothe your feelings, for instance, can have many negative health consequences if your comfort food is fried, processed, or sugar-laden.

It is possible, however, to use our ability to form habits to our advantage. Just as you can form unhealthy habits, you can put effort into forming other, healthier habits that will help promote your overall well-being.

Some good habits to consider forming

If you pause and look at your day, how many of the decisions you make are automatic, meaning that you just do certain things without really thinking about them? What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? For many of us, it’s not saying “Thank you” to the Lord for giving us a new day, nor is it reading Scripture, or humming a song of praise. Many of us automatically reach for our mobile devices and start scrolling to catch up with the world.

These automatic and reflexive actions we take have an impact on us. For instance, how you start your day can affect your outlook by making you anxious or burdened. Perhaps there are other, healthier habits that we can leverage to help ourselves start our days well.

Forming these healthy habits can significantly enhance one’s well-being, and some habits worth considering include the following:

Good sleep hygiene

Getting enough sleep every night is good for you in many ways, including weight management, emotional regulation, and dealing with stress. Having a consistent sleep schedule that gets you to bed and up again can be helpful, and you can aid your health greatly by getting good quality sleep. You can also implement discipline with your electronics, keeping them to a minimum in your bedroom.

Self-care

Taking care of your well-being means taking steps such as regular exercise for at least 30 minutes daily, prioritizing activities that refresh you, and taking breaks to avoid chronic stress. Self-care also includes keeping yourself hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day, and giving primacy to whole, unprocessed foods while limiting sugary or fried snacks.

Gratitude

One of the keys to emotional resilience is being grateful for the things in your life. Practicing gratitude daily by, for example, reflecting on three things you’re thankful for each day, helps you be more aware of the blessings the Lord has placed in your life, and to have a deeper appreciation of your life.

Self-reflection

As with gratitude, there are many benefits to being self-aware and reflecting on your own life. Through practices such as journaling, you can gain deeper insight into who you are, why you function the way you do, and the patterns you have established. self-reflection also helps you get in touch with your feelings, which can help with emotional intelligence.

Self–improvement

None of us is perfect nor has arrived. This leaves room for growth, and you can achieve this by finding opportunities to learn like taking a class or reading books. Take time for your hobbies and interests and engage in creative pursuits that bring you joy and allow you to express yourself, such as music, writing, painting, or dancing.

Nurture social connections

We are deeply social beings, and we need relationships to help us flourish. Taking the time to invest in and nurture relationships with loved ones helps you build strong social connections and a sense of belonging.

Be out and about in nature

Many benefits come from being out in nature, from getting some sun to simply being around other people. You can spend time outdoors, whether you’re hiking, taking a walk, sitting on a park bench, or feeding ducks by a pond.

Be more compassionate toward yourself

We can be our own harshest critics, and that can play out in the words we direct toward ourselves. Instead of breaking yourself down, use your own words to build yourself up through healthy affirmations that cultivate a positive mindset. You can also take care of yourself by being okay with saying “No” and establishing healthy limits and boundaries with others.

Next Steps

These are just a few good habits you can implement for your well-being. You can start with one or two things that will make the biggest impact on you, remembering to start small and being consistent. It takes time to build behaviors into habits, but once you do, you’ll reap benefits that are worth the effort.

You can speak with a life coach or counselor in Laguna, California for some guidance on how to formulate and implement a plan to form new, healthy habits. The counselors at Laguna Christian Counseling in California are available for your initial risk-free appointment. Contact us today.