8 Simple Habits That Actually Changed My Life
I know the title of this post sounds like click bait, but I really mean it. Over the past few years I have discovered a few simple habits/life hacks/apps/products/etc. that have actually changed my life. While I’m not a believer in quick fixes or magic cures, sometimes simple things can actually make a big difference.
So, without further ado…
8 Simple Habits That Actually Changed My Life
Reading On My iPad: I love to read, but because I’m a person who is constantly moving around (I blame all the fire in my astrological chart), I can rarely sit still long enough to read during the day. I’ve found that I like to read most right before bed, but because book lights are annoying, and even more annoying is reaching over to turn out the light when you’re all cozy and about to fall asleep, I didn’t end up reading all that much… until I started reading on my iPad. Now I read 25-30 books a year—and it’s just because the freaking thing is backlit. That’s all it took. Plus, with the Libby App I can request and borrow library books for free without even leaving my house.
Using the Pomodoro Technique for Work: I have the attention span of a goldfish and I constantly struggle to focus for long periods of time. A blogger I follow introduced me to the Pomodoro Technique a few years ago and it has been so helpful for me. The gist is that you do distraction-free work for 25-minute intervals with a 5-minute break in between. You can use any timer you like, but I use the Strict Workflow Google Chrome Extension. It’s a cute little tomato icon in my browser that I click when I’m ready to work uninterrupted and it has really changed how I work for the better—both for my job and for personal projects (in fact, I’ve got my little timer going right now as I type this).
Working Out at Home: I have belonged to gyms in the past, but it turns out that I am way more consistent with exercise when I do it at home. I’ve been using the Sweat App for a few months now and it’s perfect for a Type-A person like myself because the workouts are really structured (ab day, arm day, and leg day) and they’re short so it makes it really easy to fit into my day. I do 3, 28-minute resistance workouts a week and then 4+ cardio sessions outside of the app (which is typically just a brisk walk for me) and I’ve actually gotten into pretty decent shape—minus the layer of carbohydrates that my muscles are hiding under. 🤷🏼♀️
Subscribing to a Meal Kit Delivery Service: I wish I was the person who found cooking to be relaxing or enjoyable, but…it 100% feels like a chore to me. I cook because I need to eat, not because spending two hours in the kitchen at the end of my work day is appealing on any level. This is why I love meal kit delivery services. Someone else picks out the recipes for you and then ships a box to your front door with all the ingredients and detailed instructions—it’s ideal. We’ve been subscribing to Blue Apron for over five years now and it makes dinner so much easier and we end up cooking much more interesting meals than we would normally put together on our own. We don’t do it every single week but it’s nice to get a box a couple of times a month. I also love having a bunch of Daily Harvest meals stocked up in the freezer because they are super heathy and very easy to prepare (you basically just heat them up in a pan). I have referral codes for both if anyone wants to try them out!
Putting My Big Yearly Goals in My TeuxDeux List: I love TeuxDeux, have I mentioned this before? It’s a to-do list app created by Swiss Miss (the design blogger, not the hot chocolate brand) and I’ve been using it for over a decade now. It’s laid out like a simple weekly calendar with lists you create under each day, but recently I started inputting my bigger yearly goals into the “Someday” section at the bottom. I used to just list my goals out in my physical journal, but I’ve found that having more visibility to them (I have TeuxDeux open at all times in my browser and I also have the app on my phone) has helped me to keep them top-of-mind, which in turn has helped me to take more steps toward actually accomplishing them.
Starting My Day With a Green Juice: I feel best when I’m eating a ton of fruits and vegetables, but I don’t always take the time to make myself the healthy meals I’d like to be eating. A few years ago I did a cleanse where we started each day with a simple green juice and it’s a habit that has stuck with me. Yes, it’s healthy so that’s reason enough to do it, but I also just feel pretty damn good about myself when it’s 9 a.m. and I’ve already downed 3 servings of vegetables. The way I see it, no matter what I eat for the rest of the day, at least there was that green juice. 🥬🍍🥒
Tracking My Steps: Because I’m someone who enjoys obsessively tracking everything I do, keeping tabs on how many steps I take every day is right up my alley. I’ve found that knowing how much I’ve moved—or more importantly—how much I haven’t moved in a day does actually influence my behavior. Yes, it’s mostly motivated by guilt, but if it’s 5 p.m. and I notice that I’ve only taken 500 steps all day, I’m much more likely to get out and take a quick walk than I would be if I wasn’t keeping track.
Keeping My Yoga Mat Permanently Rolled Out: Because we are much more likely to do something if it’s convenient, I keep my yoga mat rolled out at all times so there’s no barrier to practice—even if it’s just for a few minutes. Kind of like when people sleep in their exercise clothes or leave their running sneakers right next to the bed to inspire their morning workout, it’s helpful to make the habits you want to cultivate as easy and convenient as possible.
It’s the little things, you know? Anyone else have any stupidly simple life hacks that have actually made a real difference for you?
p.s. Don't worry, I still love physical books and always have a giant stack that I'm working through, as pictured at the top of this post.
p.p.s. And I know no one wants to hear about anyone else’s skincare routine, but I have to say that Baja Basic’s Collagen Boosting Facial Serum has changed my life…or at least my skin. It is MAGIC and the the most hydrating skincare product I have ever used (plus it’s only $26 and has no junky ingredients in it).
