14 simple habits that will make you happy every day

A lot of us feel unhappy because we don’t make enough space for simplicity in our lives.

Simplicity is what reminds us what really matters by highlighting where we may over-complicate everything.

For example, the way you expect yourself to be perfect and overthink what to say to someone. As if it will matter in a few years, let alone hours!

There are habits that you can incorporate into your life to improve your overall well-being, but the real magic is in the awareness that you’ll slowly build.

And they say it takes 21 days to build a habit – that’s 3 weeks for you to see if this list is too good to be true.

You’ll only know if you try, here are 14 simple habits that will make you happy every day.

1) Staying offline when you wake up

This is about preserving the peace for as long as possible at the start of your day.

Because there are no laws on the internet, making it unpredictable. And I don’t know about you, but my mind is super vulnerable when I wake up. 

I barely feel real.

The last thing it needs is how the world has yet another crisis that I can’t do anything about. So keep your phone out of reach. 

In fact, charge it away from your bed.

The world can wait.

2) Avoiding excessive caffeine

I’m guilty of needing a cup of iced coffee in the morning to feel alive.

And it’s hard to give up something if you have a full-time job that requires you to be more human than necessary.

But there’s a middle ground you can find with yourself by making some time for coffee alternatives.

For example, opting for other morning beverages like green tea!

Even though being productive can mimic happiness, excessive caffeine intake can increase stress levels and anxiety. 

So slowly reducing it will help you feel more relaxed in general over time.

3) Having a morning routine

You could take it a step further by making more time in the morning for a routine, so you have more time to wake up.

It can be something you do on your days off at first if you’re new to it.

But this can include making your bed, having a skincare regimen, and making yourself a nice breakfast.

The point is to create a nice little haven for yourself to set a positive tone to start your day on. 

So make sure you make it your own so it benefits you.

4) Having a nighttime routine

If a morning routine sets the tone, a nighttime routine will give you something to look forward to.

Because sometimes when you’ve had a bad day, a glimmer of hope can be a saving grace.

A nighttime routine can include a skincare regimen, but also organizing your space to “remove” the energies of that day.

Think of this as a spell to ensure a good night’s rest. To create a sense of trust through discipline, but also to send your dream self some good vibes.

Sort of like a promise to yourself.

And of course, so your morning self can wake up and not wonder who did the closing shift.

5) Saying something nice to yourself in the mirror

If this sounds silly, it probably means you need it,

In fact, talk to yourself in general!

And if you struggle with negative self-talk, seeing yourself say nice things to you can be a good way to break that habit.

I became so much more confident when I started to talk to myself in order to understand my racing thoughts.

So pretend you’re on a talk show, or giving a TedTalk – you might learn a few things about yourself.

6) Getting sunlight

I’ve been stuck in negative thought loops and general low moods where I avoided getting out of bed.

The idea of going outside felt comparable to having to do rocket science. Which is irrational beyond irrational, I know.

But then I’d drag myself outside, and lo and behold, irrationality be gone.

Even opening the shades and letting the light in can drastically change your mood. 

So go photosynthesize and thank me later.

7) Eating intuitively

This is about eating when you’re hungry, not when you think you “should.”

It takes a bit of getting used to if you’ve always eaten on a schedule. Or if someone has always cooked your meals for you.

And you should talk to your doctor about what nutrients your body needs because we’re all different and it can give you a good place to start.

But the point here is to improve your relationship to food because let’s face it, society hasn’t helped much.

Intuitive eating is also about preparing your own meals and getting creative with it!

Almost like a meditative practice where you prepare what will nourish you – there’s something really rewarding about that.

8) Having a grounding practice

Similarly to having a routine to start and end your day, this will help you feel safe in your own presence.

It could be as simple as laying on the floor once a day and focusing on the hum of your refrigerator.

Some people feel more grounded after they have a nice talk with someone! So if that’s the case for you, reach out to a friend that also grounds themselves the same way.

Personally, I like to journal and write my thoughts down. Everything from the good, bad, ugly and funny.

It’s fun to look back on, and it’s also just nice to feel heard by someone who gets it.

9) Practicing gratitude

Gratitude is a great way to ground yourself, and it’s so great that it deserves its own section!

So many people use gratitude in order to bypass their struggles. Which is what it can be used for, but to experience all the benefits, you have to be consistent with it.

Because there’s so much to be grateful for in life! Beyond what you still have despite what you’ve lost.

Start noticing all of them and you’ll feel your energy shift for the better.

And you can start by finding all the things you’re grateful for about yourself – in the morning if you have time.

10) Noticing all the little things

As you practice gratitude you will naturally fine-tune your gaze to perceive with more depth.

And you can take it a step further by continuing to notice all the little things that make life beautiful. Anything that makes your heart jump and feel like a kid again.

Like the color of a flower you saw on your walk home, or how a scarf got stuck on a tree and looked just right.

Maybe you’ll get in touch with your inner poet and express these feelings, maybe you won’t.

Bottom line is that it’s fun to be alive when you have the world to look forward to.

11) Offering yourself grace

As a habit, this can be done by becoming more aware of your thoughts.

So starting today (or whenever), set the intention to notice all the negative thoughts you have toward yourself.

It might take some time and dedication to see what kind of stories you’re telling yourself but I promise, it will become simpler in no time.

Once you have a general idea on how you aren’t extending yourself grace, it will become a habit to discredit them as they come up.

In no time your confidence will increase. In fact this is how I was able to create a lot of positive change in my life.

Slowly, but only because it began in my soul and took its time to reach the surface.

12) Having a laugh

Laughter is the best medicine and sometimes it’s the only one that’s affordable.

Which is sad, but hey, we make it work here.

It would be strange to set an alarm for yourself to laugh in order to make it a habit and I won’t ask you to do that – unless you think it’s a good idea.

But you can make humor a daily part of your life by making more room for it. Whether it’s by watching your favorite show, or planning some time to see friends.

This is also to reframe how you view fun as something you don’t need to earn. As long as it’s planned with good intentions in mind, it won’t become excessive.

Like many medications, it will take some time before you see how it improves your general mood. 

But unlike many medications, the effects are immediate.

13) Cleaning something

Personally, I like to clean to relieve stress but I didn’t always enjoy it.

Partially because I thought I had to clean everything at once every time for it to “count.”

But I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to microdose on cleaning.

And breaking it up into smaller tasks can help you create a routine surrounding it without going too mad.

Because no matter who you are, the stress from being in an unclean environment is worse than the stress of cleaning one thing a day.

14) Putting a coin in a jar

Seems totally random, I know.

But when you think about it, it’d be a pretty good daily habit to have.

So throw whatever change you find while you stress clean or wherever else in a jar and treat yourself to something at the end of the month (or a few months) with it.

It requires no emotional attachment and can give you something to look forward to even if it’s just ice cream.

Not to mention, habits feel more worth it when you can see all the benefits you’re reaping.

And what’s better than some loose change collecting to act as a metaphor for why you’re doing all this work for yourself?

Even if it’s just ice cream?