Introduction
Sometimes, all it takes to change your life is to change your direction. And often, changing your path is as simple as changing your habits.
I used to believe that only extraordinary events could change one’s life — things like winning the lottery, meeting your soulmate, or landing your dream job. In part, I still believe that. However, recent experiences have taught me that a good habit can yield far better results when repeated daily with discipline. Haven’t you been convinced yet? Are you still holding onto that lottery ticket? Follow along.
Forming a good habit doesn’t require prayer, crossed fingers, or hoping that the law of attraction works. To let a good habit change your life, all you have to do is start building it — today. The choice is yours.
Changing Your Life with 10 Habits
But which habits should you cultivate? Here are ten good habits to change your life — one day at a time.
- Wake Up Between 5 and 6 AM: “If you can’t wake up an hour earlier in the morning, how do you expect to reach your goals?” With this quote from Robin Sharma, Enrico, a reader of EfficaceMente, reminded me of the importance of being an early riser. The habit of waking up early has countless advantages: you’ll be more motivated, create the time needed to achieve your goals, and have your own distraction-free, private moment.
- Take 5 Minutes to Say “Thank You”: Yes, I know words like “thank you” or “gratitude” may sound a bit like peace and love, but don’t just take my word for it — try spending 5 minutes a day thinking about things you’re grateful for. The beneficial effects will surprise you. Can’t think of anything to be grateful for? Try making a list of things you already have and would miss if they were gone.
- Spend Another 5 Minutes on Your Goals: I’ve always believed that to achieve any goal, you need two fundamental ingredients: focus and action. Visualizing your goals daily won’t necessarily help you reach them, but it will remind you that today, you have the opportunity to take a step closer to your dreams.
- Run for 30 Minutes: Starting the day by running for yourself and not for others was a small revolution in my daily routine. Here are a few benefits of this habit: increased concentration, sky-high motivation, better sleep quality, an overall sense of well-being, and heightened creativity. Daily physical activity also helps combat the silent killer of our health — sedentary behavior.
- Complete 3 Important Tasks Before 11 AM: What goals could you achieve if you completed 3 important tasks every day? Making it a habit to accomplish 3 tasks that matter to you before 11 AM will increase your productivity and help you achieve a few more dreams.
- Eat 3 Healthy Meals: You are what you eat. Don’t worry; I’m not one of those people obsessed with ultra-healthy eating. I love the pleasures of the table and good Italian cuisine. However, I believe that dietary education is a life-saving habit. Running out of culinary ideas? Try these healthy recipes suggested by the Milan Cancer Institute.
- Track Expenses Over €10/$10: Want to make money? Learn to save. By tracking your expenses, you’ll gain awareness of your financial flows and learn to pay yourself first. I know the habit of saving isn’t very glamorous. We all want to make quick and easy money. Yet, the first step to building wealth is saving. If you had started saving €200/ per month at age 18, reinvesting it with a 2% monthly return, do you know how much your capital would amount to at 37? €1,019,059 (Don’t believe it? You can find the spreadsheet with all the details by clicking here.) Trying costs you nothing; if it goes wrong, you’ll become a millionaire at 38!
- Describe Your Day in 5 Lines: Keeping a diary is an extraordinary habit. Writing down your thoughts, ideas, problems, results, and experiences daily has countless benefits: it helps clear your mind, reading what you’ve written helps you understand what didn’t work and what did in the past, and writing about your goals and progress provides motivation and focus. For my diary, I use Notion, trying not to write more than 5 lines. The effort of synthesis helps me gain clarity.
- Dedicate One Hour to Yourself: To give your best, you must recharge daily. Many aspects of our lives have the rhythm of breathing: there’s a time to exhale (work, give to others, train, commit) and a time to inhale (rest, relax, take care of yourself). After an intense workday, it’s time to inhale, dedicating 1 hour to yourself — for thinking, pursuing your hobby, or simply unwinding. There’s no better habit to find daily happiness.
- Read for 30 Minutes Before Bed: I’ve always believed that reading equals growth. Reading allows you to gain new knowledge, train your mind, and improve your written and spoken communication. With just 30 minutes a day, you could read 20–30 books a year. Using speed reading techniques, you could even reach over 100. How would your life change if you could apply just one idea from each book you read in your daily life?
Feeling overwhelmed by all these numbers?
Don’t worry; no one asks you to adopt all these habits simultaneously. Doing so would be a grave mistake! The secret to revolutionizing our lives is to start making small changes, one at a time, without ever stopping.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing your life doesn’t always require extraordinary events or monumental shifts. Often, all it takes is a willingness to change your habits. While I used to believe that only extraordinary events could change one’s life — such as winning the lottery, meeting your soulmate, or landing your dream job — I’ve realized that cultivating good habits, practiced consistently and with discipline, can yield far more profound results.
