Habits come from repeated actions. Whether good or bad, you can simply look at the trajectory of a person from their daily habits. But sometimes it’s hard to see the right path. You will think you’re working towards the right things but will still not see any progress.
So you need to find out what success is to you. It’s not about all the money and things you can have. But instead, what will make you feel like you’re living a life that’s worth living? That could be to pursue a passion in art, being a parent or fill in the blank. There is no need to chase someone else’s dream.
But to make sure you are prepared for the road ahead, you need the right habits. They will ensure that no matter how hard things get, you will still make them run by default. Here is a list of the ones that are important to me and should be for others when tracking your baseline progress.
Staying healthy by working out
When you take care of yourself, you’re able to have more energy. This helps you do more of the things you want to do. While we live in a world surrounded by computers, it’s important to step away at times and focus on nature.
Health is the only thing that you have which allows you to enjoy life. Once it’s gone, so is every other aspiration toward success. For this, you have to take every precaution possible. It doesn’t mean living without taking any risks. Sometimes you have to get injured so your body can become stronger. Your muscles tear every time you do so.
And with physical exercise, a lot of different habits will come into play. You can’t ignore those either. You will feel tired in the beginning, your muscles will hurt more. Your rest time will be more meaningful and you’ll start eating more food. As long as you correct your diet at the same time as you need a more nutritious caloric intake, you’re set.
Putting your thoughts down in a journal
We spend a lot of our time in our heads. And yet there are tens of thousands of thoughts occupying our minds during that time. We don’t spend as much time stopping and jotting down what it is we think.
Getting into the habit of writing things down, strengthens connections in your brain. But even more important is what you write about. Since your thoughts dictate your actions. That’s why I keep a gratitude journal I have been filling out for the last year and a half. It’s allowing me to get grounded. And I can also see that there is a lot to be grateful for in my life even when days are not going well.
The next part of my journal is an entry about what I’ve done the day before. This is so I can work on my memory. Recalling what I’ve done in as much detail as possible allows me to analyze different situations. And since I am not emotionally charged I will be able to write those things down with a clear head. Once my summary is done then I can plan my day. It has now become an album of sorts going back to see what I’ve done on a specific day.
Taking care of your environment
Being organized helps your mind feel at ease. As I’ve mentioned before, your thoughts become your actions. Think about your environment and see where that is true. If the things around you are not in order, then you may also struggle and be confused more often.
There is a certain degree of satisfaction I get every time I make my bed in the morning. It feels like I am waking up and achieving goals already. This didn’t happen overnight. It took many months of cementing this habit into my brain but now, years later, it’s become second nature. I used to clean up only when I wanted to have a “fresh start.” But the reality is that we’re starting fresh every single day.
You may think that since you have to do all those things in the beginning, you are restricting yourself. There are so many other things you could do and enjoy. But the answer is quite the opposite. It’s because you are doing those things that you can enjoy life more. Discipline gives you freedom once you earn it. And for that, there is a price to pay.