8 Healthy Habits for a Happier, More Confident Life
Practicing healthy habits can boost your confidence and overall happiness, but adopting new habits isn’t always easy. We have 8 great tips on how to make healthy changes that will boost your self-esteem, mood and wellbeing. We suggest taking small steps to replace unhealthy habits with new ones like the eight daily happiness habits listed below.
Practice gratitude
Research has found that practising gratitude has many health benefits, and focusing on what we are grateful for, rather than what we wish we had, is a great way to boost our moods.
If you’re the type who likes to write, try starting a gratitude journal, listing the little things you enjoy each day. Or, if you’re more of a visual person, grab a quick snap each time something brings you joy during your day and review your photos each night.
This one works particularly well if you make an effort to do things that you enjoy regularly. When you are enjoying life, you have a positive attitude, and your actions are more likely to meet your goals.
Stay active
The benefits of physical activity for mental and physical health are well researched. Try taking a regular short walk in the park, gardening, or cycling instead of driving or taking the bus.
Or, if you’d prefer a more structured routine, there are plenty of other exercises that can boost your mood including
- Yoga classes
- X-training
- Dancing
Give breathing exercises a go
Speaking of keeping active, your lungs could probably do with a workout as well, and science has found that controlled breathing can be used to manage anxiety, overwhelm and stress. Box breathing, for example, is great for helping to calm yourself and also provides additional health benefits.
Declutter your space
According to research, clutter can harm your mental health, especially your self-worth and mood. There are plenty of helpful decluttering tips online if you don’t know where to start!
Try something new
Just because something is familiar doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Trying new things is very good for your health. For example, creating new memories can help keep life exciting and stave off boredom. In turn, this can assist in preventing or managing depression as switching up your routine can also help life feel more fulfilling.
If you’re not sure where to start, start with one small change that you can make at home. As your confidence grows, you’ll be able to make bigger changes.
For example, you could start by trying a new recipe for dinner. Or maybe you could swap your morning coffee for herbal tea instead. You could also make sure you visit somewhere you’ve never been before once a week.
Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to try something new!
Increase motivation
To increase motivation, list your goals and make a plan for achieving them. Once you have a clear direction and take small steps every day, you will reach your goals much sooner than you think.
You can also keep yourself motivated by surrounding yourself with positive people. Positive energy is infectious and will help you stay motivated. Likewise, apathy and constant complaining can drain you of the motivation to do anything. Make sure you spend time with positive people as far as possible.
If you’d like a little more structured guidance, check out our Workout Buddy blog.
Address anxiety
A certain amount of anxiety is normal in our often busy lives and, in most cases, is manageable. By taking small steps to manage your anxiety, you can begin to invite more peace into your life.
One way to begin is by keeping a journal to record the things that cause your anxiety. You can then take steps to manage them in the future. Common methods for managing anxiety include:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Exercising regularly to reduce stress
- Getting adequate sleep
- Limiting caffeine intake
- Practising relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation
- Maintaining a daily routine to reduce uncertainty
