25 Small Daily Habits That Will Completely Change Your Life This Year

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If the start of a new year makes you feel like you want (and need) to reinvent yourself and change your life, you might be surprised to know that you can do that simply by adopting small yet impactful habits.

Yes, you’ve read that right: you can change your life without making any big, drastic changes!

You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world. You don’t have to leave your job. And you definitely don’t have to cut off your social life and go full “monk” mode. (Unless you want to, of course)

Changing your life can happen through small but constant tweaks and improvements.

Why? Because it’s what you do regularly, not on occasion, to determine who you are.

Without further ado, are you ready to discover the 25 small daily habits that will change your life for the better, this year? Then, let’s get started!

Last update: November 27, 2024

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Relationship and Communication Habits That Will Change Your Life

1. Express your feelings

Tell people how you feel about them.

Do you love someone? Say it.

Did someone do something nice to you? Show your appreciation and gratitude.

Do you like somebody’s outfit? Compliment them about it.

If there’s one thing that will never be enough in this world is love (and kindness)!

So, this is your invitation to show love to people every day – not just on special occasions.

A nice, kind, thoughtful comment can go a long way.

I mean – you could make someone’s day with your words! So why not do it?

2. Practice active listening

One of the greatest gifts you could ever give to someone is your total, undivided attention.

One of the habits that can massively improve the quality of your relationships – and so change your life for the better – is the art of practicing active listening.

Active listening is one of the soft skills that not many have – yet so many of us need in our lives.

Here are some ways to become a better listener:

• Let others talk without interrupting them
• Focus on what the person is saying rather than how you’re going to answer
• Maintain eye contact
• Put your phone on DND and in your pocket
• Ask questions
• Show empathy towards the other person
• Use your body language to express your interest in having that conversation
• Acknowledge whether they want you to just listen, give advice, or support them

3. Stop complaining

When you complain, are you actually improving your situation?

Probably not.

The truth is that complaining is one of the most useless things you can do in your life…

It’s expecting the situation to get better as you verbally (or mentally) come up with thousands of reasons why your situation is so bad.

Complaining is also one of the easiest things you can do.

Somehow, if you complain, you feel like you’re justified for not doing anything. You’re reassuring yourself that’s ok to be a victim.

You’re coming up with excuses for not doing the work – which is the only thing you can do to actually improve your situation!

So, if you’re seriously unhappy about your life and want to change it for the better, it’s time to stop complaining about it once and for all!

📌 SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT FOR LATER! 📌

Life-Changing Health and Wellness Habits

You might have already heard of some of these tips – but hey, if everybody is mentioning them, it means something! 😉

4. Get outside

Another important daily habit you should stick to is to spend some time outside, every day. (Yes, that means even when it’s dark and gloomy)

There are many reasons why getting outside is good for your health – not only physical but also mental.

Other than helping you stay fit and in shape, spending as little as 5 minutes in nature a day can significantly:

• Lower your anxiety levels
• Reduce the chances of developing depression
• Improve your sleep
• Boost your creativity
• Reduce stress
• Improve your focus and attention
• Make you happier

Wondering how you can squeeze in more time outside on your busy days? Don’t worry, I got you! 😉

Just keep it simple! You could try:

• Parking the car further away from your office (so you get to walk 3 extra minutes)
• Go for a 10-minute walk during your lunch break
• Have a plant in your backyard to take care of, so you have to go out to water it every day
• Just open the front door and stand outside

No more excuses – it’s time to soak in some vitamin D 😉

5. Practice mindful eating

Mindful eating has nothing to do with the type of food you eat, but it’s all about the headspace you’re in as you eat.

It’s tuning in with your body as you experience the joy of eating.

How often do you eat your meals either scrolling through your phone, watching TV, or getting through your emails?

Mindful eating is a way to turn eating into a sacred moment by enjoying your own company or others.

Here are a few tricks to try when approaching mindful eating:

• Take one (or a couple) of deep breaths before starting your meal
• Express gratitude for the food in front of you
• Take small bites and chew thoroughly
• Notice how your body reacts to the food you’re eating
• Remove all distractions
• Honor your hunger cues

6. Prioritize self-care

From the moment you step out of the door – actually, from the moment you look at your phone -, you’ve shifted your attention from inwards to the outer world.

In a world that constantly demands more and more of us, it can be challenging to find time for self-care.

Yet, it’s also true that we cannot pour from an empty cup.

If you don’t learn how to prioritize yourself and your well-being, I’m afraid that your body will send you a strong signal that it’s time to slow down.

Usually, when your body tells you that it’s time to take a break, it’s already too late to prevent burnout.

To avoid reaching the point where your batteries are at 0%, you must prioritize daily self-care.

Taking care of yourself is not a treat nor a luxury – it’s a must!

So, how can you embrace self-care regularly, even on those days when you’re short on time? Here are some examples:

• Take your daily vitamins
• Chug a big glass of water as soon as you wake up
• Add leafy greens to your meals
• Stretch your body or do some yoga
• Listen to uplifting songs
• Get enough sleep
• Decompress with a warm shower
• Unwind by reading a book before bed
• Journal about your feelings and thoughts
• Engage with inspiring content – whether that’s a podcast, a video, or my blog 😉

Make time for yourself – you’re your most important investment!

7. Fix your posture

I don’t hear this often, but fixing your posture is one of the habits guaranteed to change your life for the better!

Why? The posture you assume determines how you carry yourself in the world and the energy you bring with you.

Those two elements significantly impact how others perceive you.

It’s something so small yet powerful, but it’s so often overlooked.

Since your posture might be affecting your life more than you’d think, here are some ways to fix it:

• When working at your desk, sit up straight
• Every time you walk into a new room, express confidence through your body language
• Stand up every hour, even for just 2 minutes
• Stretch daily
• Do yoga to improve your flexibility

Productivity and Time Management Habits to Change Your Life

8. Plan your days

How can you track your progress without a plan? How do you know what is most urgent, and what can wait until later?

This ain’t possible unless you have a good plan that’s got your back!

PS. Grab the FREE Dream Life Planner to help you get rid of the mess and prioritize what truly matters in your life 😉

9. Do not snooze

“You snooze, you lose”.

Yep – that’s right!

Those 5 extra minutes in bed might be doing more harm than good to your overall productivity…

When you hit the snooze button, you’re starting your day sending the signal to the Universe that you would rather lie in bed than get up and live your life.

Ugh, that’s not a really good start, isn’t it?

One technique that has helped me a lot in fighting the urge to hit the snooze button is the “5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins.

What’s the “5 Second Rule”?

As soon as your alarm goes off, you think “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” – then you take action! In this case, you get out of bed.

But you can apply the “5 Second Rule” anytime you find yourself procrastinating on something.

So simple, yet so powerful!

Why does it work? By counting down, you’re distracting your brain from action. You’re stopping it from coming up with excuses and reasons that lead you not to do the thing you really have to do.

No more thinking “Ugh, it’s still dark outside” or “Just two more minutes, I promise” – nope!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – stand up! 😉

10. Stick to a morning routine

Now that you’ve managed to make it out of bed, the first steps of your day must be carefully planned, as they have an enormous impact on the rest of your day.

It doesn’t matter which morning routine you decide to follow – whether that’s a more structured and productive one or a slower, more intentional one.

What’s important is that you have a routine to stick to in the first place.

Having a clear set of steps to follow each day will allow you to start your day feeling more “put together” and calm.

Here are some questions that can help you decide on the morning rituals you should include in your mornings:

• “How do I want to feel as I start my day?”
• “Is there any area of my life I’d like to improve?”
• “What is something I want to do but never make time for?”
• “What do I need more of in my life?”
• “How can I make my mornings more exciting and fun?”

11. Have screen-free breaks

As our brain is constantly connected, either digitally or because it’s always thinking about the next thing on the to-do list, we must remember to take a break from time to time.

Ideally, the best option would be to do a screen-free break – where you let your mind just wander.

Instead, what do you often do?

You’re waiting in line, so we grab your phone.

Need a restroom break? Your phone is secured in your pocket, ready for your next scrolling session.

Did you get home from work feeling exhausted? You turn the TV on.

We’re constantly looking for ways to distract ourselves and numb our minds, giving us no time to process and decompress.

So, next time you happen to have 2 spare minutes in your day, instead of filling it with mindless scrolling, why don’t you allow your brain to rest and let your mind wander?

Not only your phone battery will last you longer than 2 hours, but you’ll feel recharged too!

12. Follow the 2-minute rule

It’s simple: if it only takes two minutes, do it now.

This is the simple rule coined by David Allen in his book “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity”.

How many times have you read an email or a text without answering because “Oh, I’ll deal with it later…”?

Well, then what was the purpose of reading that email or message in the first place if you already knew you were not going to act upon it?

So many precious minutes are wasted every time we think of something without actually doing anything about it.

Especially if it’s something quick and easy that would not take you longer than a couple of minutes.

Here are some ways in which you could apply the 2-minute rule to your life:

• Read emails and messages only when you have the intention and time to answer
• Thinking of someone? Give them a phone call
• Just finished cooking? Wash up everything straight away
• Make your bed first thing in the morning
• Have a new idea? Write it down
• Book that doctor’s appointment

This 2-minute rule will make your life feel easier and more organized – why not give it a try?

Personal Development Habits That Will Change Your Life

13. Journal

Journaling is a hell of a life-changing habit – and I’m not the only one who believes this!

In this video, Ali Abdaal – YouTuber, podcaster, and writer of the bestseller “Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You” -, shared how the simple habit of journaling every day has positively impacted his life.

So, whether you’ve already given journaling a try but never managed to stick with it or are completely new to this habit, I suggest you give it a try 😉

PS. In need of inspiration? Grab here your FREE “30 Journaling Prompts for Self-Discovery”:

14. Try meditation

Another life-changing habit you shouldn’t sleep on is meditation.

It can feel daunting and purposeless at first, but with enough patience and consistency, you’ll surely see the benefits of it.

The best way to approach meditation is to start small and have no expectations.

You can decide the:

• frequency of your practice (I recommend daily)
• type of meditation (whether you follow a video on YouTube or simply close your eyes and focus on your breath)
• length of the practice (even 2 minutes are better than none)
• ambiance and set-up, such as the lights and sounds of the environment where you’ll meditate

15. Embrace everyday learning

There is always something new to learn.

The good news? Although the Internet might have some negative effects, it also offers many advantages.

A whole world of knowledge and information is just one click away – isn’t that amazing?

What’s one skill you’d like to learn? Or, what topic are you interested in? What would you like to know more about?

The sky – or, in this case, the Internet – is the limit!

There are plenty of personal growth blogs, YouTubers, podcast channels, and digital platforms where you can learn anything you want.

And yeah, while you can find everything online (effortlessly), let’s not forget that there are still plenty of books, magazines, and physical resources that you can consult whenever you want to learn more about something.

16. Filter your content

While it’s now easier than ever to get access to a lot of information, it’s also easier than ever to feel overwhelmed by it.

There’s so much content out there that it’s easy to panic and wonder where to start in the first place.

The truth is that not all content is good content.

Or, at least, not all content is tailored for everyone.

So, whenever you find yourself cringing over something someone you follow has posted – why are you still following them?!

You have a choice.

You have control over what you decide to consume.

Consume content that makes you feel good about yourself and inspires you to take action. (Like this blog, hopefully 😉 )

17. Set a daily intention

If planning your days means getting clear on what your priorities are to ensure you’re the most productive, setting daily intentions is a whole different story.

It has nothing to do with what you achieve, and everything with how you want to feel as you achieve those things.

Your life is not a to-do list.

Certainly, there are responsibilities and things you need to take care of but you can’t keep checking off your life away.

It’s time to live your days with more intention.

18. Act as your future self

An underrated form of self-care is taking care of your future self.

Some choices are not easy to make, but they will make our lives easier in the future.

Whenever you’re faced with a decision in which instant gratification seems too tempting, I want you to think of your future self.

How would your future self behave, on this occasion?

The right thing to do is to do the thing that your future self would thank you for.

Make your tomorrow easier by doing something small but right today.

Some examples are:

• Lay out your workout set the night before
• Fill a cup of water and place it on your nightstand
• Meal prep some quick dinners for the busy week ahead
• Tidy up your space for 10 minutes after work
• Set a time limit for your social media apps

Life-Changing Emotional Habits

19. Let go of the past

Overthinking about what has been said and done won’t give you the chance to have a re-do.

Constantly thinking about the past won’t change your future.

The only thing that has power over your future is how you decide to spend the present moment.

Who you decide to be, starting from now, is more important than who you’ve always been.

What you decide to do, starting from now, has more impact on your future than what you’ve been doing so far could ever have.

Re-living some moments in your head won’t get you those moments back. From now on, you can only move forward.

Make new memories, meet new people, go to new places, do something different, and become a better you.

Don’t waste your time focusing on what has been. Focus on what could be.

So, if you feel stuck, ask yourself: “What is one small step I can take now to positively change my life?”.

Start from there.

20. Add fun to your life

There’s a fine line between adulting and letting all fun out of your life.

I don’t know about you, but the more responsibilities I have, the more tasks I take on, the busier I get…and the less life feels ‘fun’.

It shouldn’t be merely living, you should aim at thriving!

So, whenever I feel stuck in a rut and life feels dull, I like asking myself: “How can I make this more fun?”.

It’s very similar to romanticizing your life. The goal? To find more beauty even in the smallest things!

Here are some ways in which you could add more fun to your life:

• Sign up for a workout with a friend
• Go on a ‘hot girl walk’ and treat yourself to a latte from your favorite café
• Turn on your favorite playlist and turn cleaning into a concert in which you’re the rockstar 😉
• Eat breakfast for dinner because…why not?
• Sign up for a class to finally learn what you’ve been dreaming of for so long

21. Start with self-love

One of the most underrated yet powerful habits that will completely change your life is: treating yourself from a place of self-love.

Think about it:

• How many times have you started exercising because you didn’t like what you saw in the mirror or the number on that scale?
• What did you think of yourself, when you realized that you made another mistake at work?
• Why did you give that guy a chance, even though there were red flags all over him suggesting that you shouldn’t date him?

Most of the time, we force ourselves to do things.

It doesn’t come from a place of self-love and self-compassion, but rather from a negative and toxic mindset that’s making us think all the time “I need to be better. I need to do better”.

The action you take from a place of feeling like you’re not enough will never have a positive outcome.

You should treat yourself the way you treat the most important people in your life: with love and understanding.

Take a look at how you talk to yourself: are you being your #1 supporter or worst hater?

Think of why you decided to start a new habit or routine: is it because you want to get better, or because you want to run away from who you are now?

Real, positive, and long-term change can only be achieved if it comes from a place of self-love.

22. Ditch comparison

One of the best habits you can adopt is ditching comparison.

I know: easier said than done!

Every time you pick up your phone to open Instagram or TikTok, you’re comparing yourself with millions of people…yet you wonder why you’re so unhappy with your life!

I mean, you’re just comparing your lowest moments in life with someone’s highlights, after all. How could that possibly let you down…right?

If you want to become a better version of yourself, you need to ditch comparison and focus on you and you only.

There is no competition.

Your journey is unique.

You are unique – and that’s so beautiful!

Embrace who you are now. Embrace this part of your journey. Appreciate the good and the bad. Learn how to ride with the highs and lows.

It’s all progress. It’s all part of the journey.

Remember that, even if everyone seems to have it all figured out, making you feel like you’re behind in life…well, that’s just what they want you to see.

There’s no such thing as being behind in life.

There’s just you. Your journey. And everything that comes with it.

23. Practice gratitude

To be grateful for what you have is one of the most impactful habits you could embrace to change your life.

In a society that wants you to always do more, be more, and get more, it’s so important to stop and recognize all that you already are and have.

Before jumping into the next goal you want to achieve, why don’t you take a minute to acknowledge and express your gratitude for the one you’ve just achieved?

On your path to becoming “her” and living your dream life, one key aspect is working towards realizing your dreams from a place of abundance.

You can find the abundance in your life anywhere, if you only start looking.

24. Celebrate yourself

Tied up to the point of gratitude, I believe it’s important to put way more focus than we currently do into celebrating our beautiful selves.

And I’m not talking only about your achievements.

I’m talking about celebrating who we are, as human beings.

There’s no rulebook of life.

Every day, we’re literally on our journey to discovering who we are and how we can make this life more fulfilling and meaningful.

Embrace yourself for who you are today, as you’re creating who you want to be tomorrow.

Every day, you’re growing and evolving into the best possible version of yourself.

Despite what social media wants you to believe, despite fearing not being good enough or not having enough, and despite constantly feeling you’re behind in life…let me tell you this: you’re doing a freaking amazing job at this journey called life!

I’m proud of you – and you should too!

25. Let people into your life

Sometimes, as a self-defense mechanism, we fear letting people into our lives.

If you’ve built up high walls only to protect yourself and avoid being hurt…let me tell you: you’re missing out on love.

You’re missing out on the chance of letting people see you and appreciate the beautiful human being you are.

You’re missing out on loving and giving.

Don’t be so afraid of getting hurt to not allow anyone to get close to you.

Stay open to love.

Stay open to a more vibrant and meaningful life, that can only be enriched by meaningful connections.

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That’s all for me today!

I hope you got the right inspiration to change your life, this year, thanks to the right small habits!

Q: “What small habits you can’t wait to adopt, in 2025, to finally change your life?” – Share them in a comment! 🙂

Until next time,

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