“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
I have never met a person who didn’t dream of changing their life, one way or the other. The truth is that no matter how perfect our life seems to be, we all need certain changes every now and then that would spice things up and remind us that we are alive.
Some of us dream of leading heathier lifestyle, some strive for perfection and desire to be more productive and more balanced. Others, however, simply want to be happier than they are. What we need to understand is that no change comes from a single event. On the contrary, we change slowly, through little things we do every single day.
When I look back at what my life was a year ago, I realize that it was the small habits that had the greatest impact on the changes I have undergone.
I wasn’t always aware about my daily choices such as the long hours spent scrolling through my phone, delaying my bed time and sacrificing my sleep for the reels that kept coming. Mainly, those were some useless videos I’d forget about the moment I put my phone away. I’d go to sleep at odd times and had just a couple of hours of rest throughout the night, waking up drained instead of energized. As of my eating habits? Well, I’d simply grab what felt convenient, most times just a quick snack instead of real food. I was totally ignoring my physical and mental health, until it hit me that I needed to do things differently. I started with habits that seemed meaningless at first but made a huge change.
At first, I experimented. And honestly, I fell of the waggon now and then until I figured out what worked for me and what didn’t.
Today, I share with you seven lifestyle habits that turned my life around. They’re not extreme changes or anything that requires magic solutions; just simple and rather realistic changes I genuinely believe anyone should try.
1. Waking Up Early and Owning My Mornings
Until a year ago, being a “night owl” was my thing. Whenever my friends said they were going to bed early, I secretly laughed at them, bragging that I was staying awake until late in the night. Because of some reason, I believed that’s something young people do, and despite my age, I felt young, and maybe I was trying to prove a point, who knows, honestly. And well, going to sleep late meant waking up late.
One of the changes I wanted to do was getting up early and be the master of my mornings. All of a sudden, there was no rushing and no chaos. I started having enough time to have my morning coffee and spend at least an hour or two with myself before heading to work.
I have to be honest and admit that the first couple of days felt brutal. My body, which was used to being in bed until late in the morning, resisted. I felt groggy and as though my entire world collapsed. But then I got used to the new routine. What’s more, I stuck to it because it brought a number of positive things.
Rising early provided me with a certain “thing” I was unaware was missing from my life, which is now almost essential; a peaceful, uninterrupted hour or so before the earth started spinning and clamoring for my attention.
Once I set a regular wake-up time, my body suddenly settled into its own rhythm and I found I had more steady energy during the day. I didn’t have to pedal with all my caffeine wheels spinning or crash in the afternoon. Also, waking up with purpose made me more productive, focused and so much less reactive to stress and the pressure I felt from the outside world.
Here are some tips to start waking up early!
- Run your bedtime back in increments of 15 to 30 minutes, going to sleep a little earlier each night until you are waking at the time you want.
- Limit screen time 30 to 60 minutes before sleep since blue light interferes with the body’s sleep rhythm.
- Try to develop a straightforward morning ritual that you genuinely look forward to. It could be journal entries, engaging in some stretching, or just having a cup of coffee, whatever suits you best. This way, waking up feels rather rewarding.
2. Prioritizing Sleep Like It’s Sacred, Because Honestly, It Is!
This may sound like a cliché, but it’s how I used to think about sleep: as time wasted. I used to stay up late binge-watching Netflix shows and then brag about how little sleep I needed. Then my body and brain began to revolt. I suddenly started experiencing headaches, poor concentration, moodiness, and total exhaustion.
However, once I decided to prioritize sleep, the difference was mind-blowing. I began to have a regular bedtime schedule and go for 7 to 8 hours a night. No compromises.
Once I started sleeping better, everything else just got easier. I could think clearly, stay focused, and didn’t feel drained all the time. I wasn’t as moody or quick to get annoyed, either—just more chill overall. With good sleep, my energy came back, and stuff like working out, eating right, or hanging out with people stopped feeling like a drag and actually started feeling… well, enjoyable.
Simple sleep hacks that worked for me!
- Make sure you sleeping schedule stays consistent. Yes, even on weekends if that’s possible.
- After mid-night caffeine is simply a no-no.
- Your bedroom is your sanctuary, so make sure it feels cozy. And of course, tech free.
- If you are not used to complete silence just opt for some calming music.
3. Moving My Body Every Day
Well, yet another habit I didn’t used to practice. I remember coming up with a bunch of excuses whenever someone suggested a walk or jogging. The gym was never an option either because I did try going there, and it didn’t end well. I just felt like I wasn’t the person for such sorts of “moving.” Why? Cos I wanted to be home instead, thinking that walking, jogging, and exercising were just a waste of time. I was so wrong.
The moment I realized my sedentary lifestyle was taking a toll, I committed to moving my body every day, even if it was just a simple walk. I also understood that key wasn’t intensity but consistency.
So, what really changed?
For once, my energy levels. All of a sudden, I didn’t need massive amounts of coffee to be able to keep my eyes open in the morning. No moody swings, no anxiety through the roof.
I went through who knows how many things until I found something that actually felt fun, not just “good for me.” For me, that means the outdoors, quick HIIT sessions, and even occasional dance workout.
Tips to stay consistent.
- Don’t overcomplicate things cos the movement doesn’t need to be extreme in order to “work.”
- Treat your workouts like appointments.
- Try to track your progress, since motivation comes from improvement, even slight one.
4. Mindful Eating and Nutrition
For years, I ate anything and everything that was convenient, fast food, potato chips, sugary snacks, you name it. I guess those were the choices for anyone with a busy life and little desire to cook. At the time, I didn’t realize how it was impacting me or my mood or energy. Or maybe I did but I was too “lazy” to do anything about it. I’d start the day on coffee and sugar, feel OK for a while, then take a nosedive in the mid-afternoon, wondering why I was so tired or so grumpy.
I never even thought twice about it, just assumed that’s what life was. Eventually, however, I eating more whole foods, drinking more water and paying attention to how I felt after eating. At first it was small stuff. I’d have a salad with some protein and feel… good. Really good. I never slouched over my keyboard, got an hour later craving sugar, or felt like sleeping on the job. I’m surprised at how starkly different it seemed once I really looked.
And then, little by little, my decisions became more conscious. I wasn’t aiming for perfection or trying to adhere to some rigid regimen. I just tried to eat things that leave me feeling physically satisfied and mentally calm. If I wanted a sweet, I’d eat one, but I paid attention to how I felt afterward, and that prompted me to think more carefully about what I eat, rather than forcing myself. Those energy shifts were wild. I don’t hit that afternoon slump anymore. I can make it all day without constantly snacking or grabbing caffeine, and somehow, I feel proud of myself.
But the best part was how my relationship with food evolved. I got to like it. I craved food, I wanted to eat, whether it was cooking breakfast, eating lunch, following an old recipe, or just sitting down with a simple salad. Food ceased to be a rote procedure or a guilty pleasure. I tasted flavors, textures, even how a hot meal could comfort me. My cravings shifted too, sugar didn’t have the same constant pull anymore because my body felt nourished.
When I think about it, it’s funny how something that felt so fundamental such as deciding what to eat, ended up changing so much in my life.
Simple mindful eating habits.
- Eat slowly and not in front of the TV or your phone.
- Opt for nutrient-dense foods the majority of the time, but don’t beat yourself up for an occasional indulgence.
- Stop eating when you are full.
5. Journaling and Reflection
Just the thought of writing in a journal used to intimidate me. I don’t know why but I assumed you had to write some beautiful, profound thing every day, as if you had to be a genius to open a notebook. That was enough to turn me off completely. But then, rather than resist, I just decided to go for it and started putting down a couple of sentences each morning.
Sometimes it was what I wanted to accomplish that day, sometimes how I felt, and sometimes just a little note about something I was thankful for. That’s it. And truly? It changed more than I thought it would. I began to recognize patterns in how I felt, things I’d never noticed before, like how the same worries popped up, or how certain moods I experienced regularly, week after week. It also helped me actually see progress. Little things that seemed small at the time, like finishing a task, or surviving a hard day, suddenly gained importance, because I could remember them.
So even when I was stressed or anxious, I didn’t have to hold it all in my head. I could dump it on the page and then I’d feel lighter. And for me, journaling gradually shifted from feeling like a scary task to more like a tiny visit with myself. This journaling thing turned out to be much more valuable than any “deep insight” I thought I needed.
Tips for effective journaling.
- Keep it short and doable, just five to ten minutes a day.
- Focus on gratitude, your goals, or what you’ve learned.
- Don’t worry about grammar or perfect sentences; just be honest with yourself.
6. Digital Minimalism
Being glue to your phone sounds oddly familiar, right? I couldn’t help but be on my phone all day long. Whenever there was a notification coming, I just had to open it, and once I did that, I spent hours scrolling. It was like there was no way to stop. And for what? Just instant pleasure from watching fun videos with no real value.
Somehow, I just knew it had to stop, but as you know already, that’s easier said than done.
I started by just turning off notifications and deleting apps I never used. Then I stopped checking my phone first thing in the morning and right before bed. And honestly? Life got easier. I had more time, felt less stressed, and hanging out with people didn’t feel so chaotic because I wasn’t half-distracted. Most of the stuff online didn’t even matter anyway. Getting rid of all that clutter made me feel… free. Like my head finally had some space to just breathe.
Digital minimalism tips
- Start by freeing your phone from the clutter and delete any apps that don’t serve you and you haven’t used in a while.
- Check your phone on a schedule instead of constantly.
- Go on social media when you actually need to, not because you are bored and have nothing else to do.
I feel like once I broke the habit of checking my phone a million times a day for no obvious reason, it somehow gave me mental space to breathe.
7. Consistent Learning and Personal Growth
The last habit that changed my life, and honestly, maybe the most rewarding one, was learning something new every day. I don’t mean going back to school or forcing myself to master complicated skills overnight. It could be something as simple as reading a few pages of a book, listening to a podcast while cooking, taking a short online course, or even just reflecting on my day and noticing patterns in my own thoughts.
Doing this consistently slowly changed how I saw the world. I started noticing opportunities I had ignored before, ideas I hadn’t considered, and ways I could push myself out of my comfort zone. Learning something every day boosted my confidence too. I felt capable of trying new things, tackling challenges that used to intimidate me, and trusting that I could figure things out along the way.
It also sparked zooming in on curiosity in lots of unexpected ways. I never know what’s going to spark my curiosity. All of a sudden, I wasn’t just sleepwalking through life — I wanted to get out, talk to people, ask questions, learn about the people, places, and ideas I was surrounded by. On top of all that I had something to get out of bed for. Just the fact that I’m growing, even if I’m growing just a little bit each day, makes life seem worth it. It’s this quiet, ongoing habit that reminds me I’m always moving forward, even when everything else feels uncertain or messy. To me, learning was less about accomplishment and more about fully lived life.
Tips to build this habit
- Start by reading 15–30 minutes daily, even just one book a month adds up.
- Explore topics outside your comfort zone.
- Try to apply what you’ve learned in real life.
When I actually began implementing these seven habits, I didn’t notice immediate or drastic improvements, but gradually my life started to feel different. Of course, I didn’t get it right every day. Some days I skipped habits, got frustrated, or just couldn’t be bothered. But over time, all those tiny little steps added up, and now my life just… feels better. It feels more me.
There’s no need to try to do everything at once. Pick one habit, figure out how to make it work, and then move on to the next. But it’s important to stick with it, and I promise you’ll be glad you started in the first place.