I feel like an influencer doing this. These are just a list of habits that I’m either doing or that I want to implement in my life. I thought it would be nice to share.
- Phone close or on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and out of reach from your bed. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing I hate more than hearing my phone buzz right as I’m about to doze off. (It’s even more frustrating when it’s only a weather notification.) Therefore, I put my phone on DND or I close it completely. As for keeping it out of reach, it is quite refreshing to wake up without seeing blue light first thing first. In my apartment, I manage to keep my phone in another “room” as my bedroom, but I understand it’s not possible for everyone. So, I think putting it on your dresser or bookshelf works the same. The important thing is to actually get up to attain it. (And my argument still stands even if you use your phone as your alarm clock.)
- Better posture. Do I need to say more? I’m thinking of buying this bra thing that makes you stand straight, but I might look for exercises first. A better posture might help with my back problems, and I feel like people appreciate good posture.
- Along the same lines as having a better posture, looking up when walking. I know how to walk (most of the time), so why look at my feet? Plus, it’s really not that scary because everyone is either on their phone or looking at their own feet. It’s just more enjoyable to look up.
- I want to change my screentime on my phone from scrolling (which barely gives me any satisfaction) to phone calls with a friend or long videos. It seems like a better investment.
- I want to swear/curse less and speak better. Everyone is worried about the pollution they produce—and I mean I recycle, but I want to watch what comes out of my mouth. Make it a little cleaner, pollute the air a little less.
- Declutter, clean, then be mindful. Now I’ve been decluttering like crazy ever since the new year. And I mean it. I’ve decluttered my closet to my songs/playlists on Spotify to borderline the people I talk to (slow and tedious process that one). To be honest, it’s amazing. I feel like I can breathe again. If what you’re decluttering is material/physical, a good sweep or vacuum never hurts anybody — you’re already there, so might as well. The step that is as important as the decluttering part is the “being mindful” part. Because we don’t want new junk replacing the old junk we threw out. We want good stuff to have place to enter our lives. And good things take time, so we learn patience in the same while.
- Understand your problems. Has anyone ever asked why you used this or that and you have no concrete answer to give them other than this person on the internet told me to do this/use that? That happened to me and I remember feeling awkward and thinking that the person who asked me must think I’m gullible. Well, understanding your problems (why it happens, why those ingredients in that product work fixing the problem, why that technique helps solve the problem) fixes that issue. Of course, you don’t need to start there. Taking a product recommendation from a TikTok is fine. But maybe that product won’t work for you, maybe it’s not available in Canada, maybe it’s quite expensive. Understanding your problem will also help you find better or more convenient solutions that should still work in fixing your problem.
- Stop chasing people. Let them come to you because they will come to you, and if they don’t…. Someone better will. There are some things you can control, which all revolve around you. Unfortunately, you cannot control people. You cannot make someone like you or love you. So let them be. Let them do their things. The good ones will stick around, and you’ll know where you stand with the others. And if you believe you aren’t deserving of that, then it is on you to work on yourself to change that mentality because that is very much in your control. Be Maddy, not Cassie.
- Like boys, don’t love them. From my experience, it’s a bit of a waste to love them. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun but keeping it at liking is enough. I think more often than not, guys simply like us and we confuse that for love. The man that loves you, will show you so. In the meantime, like the rest of them.
- Wash your hands before doing your skincare. If you’re prone to acne like me, this might solve some of our problems. And this is the kind of dumb logic we forget. Why do we wash our faces with dirty hands full of bacteria?
- On that same clean/skincare note, change your towels, especially face clothes, weekly. I’m not a makeup brush girly, but same principle applies. Technically speaking, I should say the same for bedsheets, but I don’t know one person who actually enjoys unmaking, washing and then making their bed. So, in my opinion, bedsheets can be a biweekly matter. Even more so in the winter. During summertime, it should be more frequent for obvious sweaty reasons.
- Read instructions. Now I know we all think we know better. And for many nuances, we could be legitimate. Though, every once in a while, I believe it is good to go see the instructions. They might be bullcrap (that is a real possibility), but with the consumer’s right to be informed, they are technically supposed to give clear instructions on how to use the product. So going to read the “How to Use” section of a product to see how the companies themselves said how to use their products can’t do much wrong.
- Going outside aka going on walks. Now this is more of a summer goal because I am severely ill equipped in winter walking attire (I’m also ill equipped for summer, but it’s less bad). I know I don’t like leaving my place, I don’t like leaving my comfort, but I can admit that going outside does make me feel good and I shouldn’t stop that.
- Flossing. We all need to get on it.
- If you’re tired, go nap or rest your eyes. It’ll do you better and it’ll calm your brain or at least force it to slow down since there’ll be nothing more to engage with it.
- I saw a TikTok the other day, and it was a young lady telling a love advice. She said something along those lines : Give the universe more chances. Go out to that party with your friends even if you’re tired. Go buy it in person instead of online. Work in a coffee shop instead of in your room. Give the universe more chances. It really is a great love advice because relationships don’t knock on doors and no man can sweep you off your feet if he has never seen you. But what I like most about it is that you’d also be giving yourself another chance to be rewritten. Yes, maybe work or school was hard and you’re drained, but you allow yourself to end the day with laughter — to not let that tiredness be the final version of who you were that day. Yes, it’s easier to order online, but you allow yourself to buy something that fits you right for sure. Yes, you could work in your room, in your bed, in your pajamas, but you allow yourself to be a little more put together and you allow yourself to be seen.
- Embrace silence. This one is challenging because we’re constantly in noise and it can get overwhelming, in a way, when that noise disappears. Yet, it’s more needed than we think. So I believe that half an hour to an hour of silence everyday or so can really do us good.
- I’d like to read more. I used to read a lot in high school because I’d read in the bus or during what I call the “in-between” moments, but I lost that in college. I don’t take the bus anymore and the “in-between” moments result in me going home. So, I’ll make time for reading because I really enjoy reading and that’s not something I want to have to remember.
- Your first instinct is surely right. Do it first and foremost.
- An object in motion stays in motion. If you want to do something, you must start by doing something. Going from 0 to 100 is very difficult for many people, so we have to build ourselves up. If you want to do your homework, but you’ve been sitting down on your phone, you first need to start with something small and not challenging. Pick up the clothes on your floor, fill up your water bottle, wash your face. Naturally, you’ll pick up motion and then it’ll be easier to transition into doing your work. This principle also applies if you sense that you’re slowing down. Go do another simple and different task. Fold your clothes in your drawer, go clean your locker, walk for a bit. Pick back up your motion and come back to your focus.
- Get to your point faster. Seriously. Say what you need to say and let’s move on. Also, this is your reminder that you don’t necessarily need to provide a reason or an explanation. Just get to your point.
- Learn to feel neutral about the bad stuff; learn to feel positive about the good stuff.
- If you like something, if you find something good, say it. Compliment more. It can be about an object or something physical. Don’t fear saying you like their purse, that their hair looks gorgeous, that their height is very cool. It can also be about behavior. Tell them you appreciate their politeness, that it’s sweet how they make sure everyone is included, that you liked that they did this for you. I think we all need to learn to appreciate more and to appreciate verbally. Like I said if it’s good or if you liked it, speak up.
- Learn how to take care of house plants. Let’s bring back some green into our lives. Let’s make sure the green can flourish in our lives as well. So, invest in plants and take care of them well.
- Be better. Upgrade on everything. Level up everywhere. Learn how to do better hairstyles, learn how to be healthier, learn how to be more social. Become more educated, become wiser, become refined. Have a better attitude, have an open-minded mindset, have more control over your reactions and your environment. Be better.
- I want to do what I think. I want to become consistent and meaningful with my words and thoughts. I want to follow through.
