If you really want to become a better person in 60 days time, start doing these 8 things every morning

Let’s be real for a moment.

Most of us want to become better people—not just more productive, but kinder, calmer, more resilient, and more aligned with our values.

But what stops us?

Often, it’s not a lack of desire. It’s a lack of structure. We wake up, reach for our phones, scroll through social media, then rush through the day reacting instead of intentionally living.

If you truly want to become a better person in 60 days, the change starts in the morning.

Here are 8 things I’ve found—both from research in psychology and my own practice of Buddhist-inspired mindfulness—that can genuinely transform your mornings… and your life.

1. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than you need to

Let’s start with something simple but powerful.

Waking up just 30 minutes earlier than necessary gives you the gift of time—time to breathe, think, and act with intention. It allows you to choose how your day begins, rather than being rushed into it.

Psychologists call this “the primacy effect”: the first part of an experience tends to set the tone for everything that follows.

If the first 30 minutes of your day are calm and intentional, you’re more likely to carry that clarity throughout the day.

Try this: Instead of jolting awake to an alarm, try a softer tone. Sit up in bed. Breathe. And then start the rest of this list.

2. Make your bed—slowly and mindfully

You’ve probably heard the military-inspired advice to make your bed every morning. But I’d go a step further.

Don’t just make it—make it mindfully.

Feel the sheets in your hands. Straighten the pillow with care. Notice the small act of order you’re bringing into the world. This moment, mundane as it is, anchors you in the present.

Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh used to say, “When you wash the dishes, wash the dishes.” That same principle applies here.

You’re not just tidying your bed—you’re training your mind to be present, to care, and to treat your environment with respect.

3. Do 5 minutes of breath-focused meditation

Five minutes. That’s all you need to start changing your brain.

Numerous studies show that short, consistent meditation practice improves emotional regulation, reduces stress, and increases self-awareness. And in my experience, it’s one of the best ways to stop being a slave to your thoughts.

You don’t need to sit cross-legged or chant in Sanskrit.

Just sit down. Close your eyes. Breathe in and out through your nose. Count to four on each inhale and exhale. When your mind wanders (and it will), gently return to the breath.

In Buddhism, the breath is a doorway to the present moment—and the present moment is where real transformation happens.

4. Read (or write) something that centers you—preferably with wisdom

Let me share a personal tip here.

Every morning, I read a few lines of something wise. Sometimes it’s from ancient Buddhist texts. Other times, it’s just a paragraph I’ve underlined from my favorite books.

Why?

Because what you feed your mind in the morning shapes your mental diet for the rest of the day.

If you’re not sure where to begin, this is exactly why I wrote my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How to Live with Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego. It’s not about religion—it’s about real, grounded wisdom you can apply to your everyday life. Start with one chapter in the morning, and use the reflection questions to connect it to your current challenges.

Your mind is like a garden. Morning is the time to plant the seeds you want to grow.

5. Write one intention for the day (not a to-do list)

This isn’t about productivity.

This is about becoming the kind of person you want to be.

Instead of listing 12 things you have to get done today, write down one intention that shapes how you want to show up in the world.

Examples:

• “Today, I will listen more than I speak.”

• “Today, I will act with patience, even when I’m frustrated.”

• “Today, I will bring calm to stressful situations.”

Writing your intention by hand makes it tangible. And if you revisit it at the end of the day—even better.

You’ll be amazed at how much power a single sentence can have when it’s planted early.

6. Do something slightly uncomfortable

This might sound counterintuitive, but one of the fastest paths to personal growth is to start your day with mild discomfort—on purpose.

Cold showers. A quick run. Journaling about something that scares you. Practicing a language you’re learning even though you feel stupid doing it.

Why?

Because this kind of discomfort builds self-trust.

You prove to yourself, first thing in the morning, that you’re willing to do hard things. And when life throws real challenges at you (as it inevitably will), your nervous system doesn’t panic. It remembers: I’ve handled hard things before. I can do it again.

7. Offer kindness to someone (even silently)

This one is incredibly powerful—and nobody even has to know you’re doing it.

Before you check your phone or get to work, think of someone in your life. It could be a loved one, a colleague, or even someone who’s challenging you right now.

Take one minute to send them goodwill in your mind.

Something like:

• “May you be happy.”

• “May you be healthy and safe.”

• “May you find peace today.”

This is known in Buddhist practice as metta, or loving-kindness meditation. And it works.

Studies show that daily metta practice increases positive emotions and strengthens emotional resilience. But even beyond that, it shifts how you see people.

You stop walking around in a bubble of self-focus and start relating to the world with more openness.

8. Remind yourself: You are not your thoughts

This one might seem abstract, but it’s the cornerstone of any real transformation.

Every morning, as part of my mindfulness routine, I remind myself:

I am not my thoughts. I am the awareness behind them.

Why does this matter?

Because most of us go through the day reacting to every thought we have as if it’s true or urgent. “I’m not good enough.” “This is going to go badly.” “Why did she say that to me?”

But when you realize your thoughts are just passing weather, you stop identifying with every storm cloud.

This is a key teaching in both Buddhism and modern cognitive psychology. And if you internalize it, you gain real freedom.

Final thoughts: Why 60 days?

I chose 60 days for a reason.

Psychological studies suggest it takes 2 to 3 months to truly rewire behavioral patterns. That’s enough time for these practices to shift from “things you do” into “who you are.”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to do all 8 things perfectly. You don’t need to become a monk or change your life overnight.

You just need to start your mornings with intention.

The person you want to become already exists inside you. These habits don’t create a new you—they reveal the best version of you that’s already there, underneath the noise.

And if you’d like a little more guidance on that journey, my book Hidden Secrets of Buddhism offers a practical, down-to-earth way to live with more purpose and less ego. Thousands have already found value in it—and I think you will too.

Here’s to your next 60 days. You’ve got this.