Four Daily Micro Habits for a better day. A micro habit is a very small change that can be made to your day, that over time will accumulate and have a big impact on your life. A micro habit should not take long to do and not take a great deal of effort. The idea is that over time, these small daily changes will have a compound effect resulting, over time in a bigger change. For more Information on Micro Habits, please take a look at our Blog Micro Habits: Small Steps Equal Big Changes Over the years I have tried a variety of different tips, techniques, strategies and ideas to try and be more productive in my day, to stave off the feeling of being overwhelmed and rushed to feel calmer, more energetic and in control. Below are the four habits that I have found, that have worked for me and help me to feel less frazzled and more at peace.
- Drink Water
When I drink more water I feel less tired and much more energetic, I think more clearly and am able to concentrate more. Our brains are made up of 75% water so it is easy to see that if we don’t drink enough it is going to have an impact on our brains and consequently on how we function. Our blog on Hydration for Better Mental Health explains in more detail.
- Get up when you wake up
I can have a habit of hitting the snooze button and thinking to myself just 10 more minutes in bed, until that turns into half an hour and I’m racing to get up get dressed and ready for where I need to go. Or, I spend ages scrolling through social media before eventually dragging myself out of bed. I have found though that if I get up when the alarm goes, I am generally more productive throughout the day. I haven’t started off the day in a rush, so I am calmer and less distracted. I also have time to do small things like make my bed, eat a proper breakfast, drink a glass of water, take care over how I look, open all the curtains etc. All of which gives me a sense of felling happier in my environment and about myself.
- Take a Break
There is a lot of evidence that taking breaks throughout the day can be very beneficial to your mental health and your productivity. I have found that taking a lunch break, going into another room and having something to eat away from my desk, or going for a walk has positive benefits. Our blog on The Benefits of Taking a Lunch Break explain why this is so good for us.
- Prepare for the Following Day the Night Before
This micro habit has been a big game changer for me. At the end of every day I spend about 5 or 10 minutes resetting my house and preparing myself for the next day. I take any cups or plates to the kitchen, I don’t wash up but I make sure they are ready by the sink. I tidy away anything left out, I set up my desk for what I need the next day. If I am going somewhere I pack my bag, make sure I have what clothes I need ready and I have a shower in the evening. This all means that when I get up in the morning, my intentions for the day are already set, I know what I am doing and there are less steps needed to get started, everything is fresh and prepared to get going.
These micro habits are what I have found to work for me. You can always give them a go and see if they work for you. Alternatively, you might have different ideas about small changes that you can make to make your day feel better. If you are stuck for inspiration, take a look at this website
Business Insider 24 Easy habits that psychologists have linked with health and happiness
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