by Lorena Romo, Content Marketing at Porch
Building and maintaining good habits can provide our lives with a positive framework, but these habits don’t simply happen by chance. It’s pretty easy to fall into bad habits that impede life. A happy routine can support a happy mood, so if we stick to positive routines, we stand a good chance of keeping negative habits at bay.
There is some psychological evidence behind the power of routine to support contentment, even happiness. Although adventure and spontaneous action can lend spice to our lives, they can make life seem a bit chaotic, and that can prove stressful. Many people become bothered and decidedly unhappy when their pleasant routines are disturbed. While we always want to leave some space for change and flexibility, we can certainly protect our positive frame of mind by promoting positive habits.
What Are the Benefits of Creating Habits That Stick?
Creating good habits around the home allows you to reach your goals if you leverage your habits appropriately. Some habits may seem more mundane than others. For instance, can a cleaning routine really propel your work success? The mere act of disciplining ourselves to complete our routines helps us create a self-culture of positive behaviors. Being productive at home can mirror our workplace productivity. Plus, there’s a decided benefit of having a clean house that’s always company-ready; it can become our retreat, a sanctuary that we can unwind in.
How to Make Good Habits Stick and Bad Habits Vanish
First, it helps to take stock when trying to get into a healthy routine at home. Our healthy routine might involve a nutritious diet, healthy sleep patterns, and routine chores. But, what are the bad habits that threaten our well-being and our healthy habit-forming goals? Carefully assess some of your most frustrating bad habits, the habits you want to change. You might have a bad habit of falling asleep on the couch after work, which prevents you from exercising or eating an early dinner. You might have a habit of allowing the television to distract you from performing the chores outlined in your daily routine.
To make the bad habits disappear, you first have to identify them and commit to change. You have to understand your pitfalls so that you can avoid falling into them. Maybe you love potato chips – one way to counteract this is to avoid the snack aisle at the grocery store, and opt for fruit and healthier sections instead. Avoid temptations and replace them with more healthful options. Only when we tackle our bad habits head-on with definitive strategies can we transform them into the positive habits that we know can improve our lives and mood.
The Importance of Routines for Our Happiness and Stability
People spend considerable time at home, and increasing numbers of people are working from their homes too. If you’re working even some of the time from your house or simply want to improve the quality of your life when you are at home, you should strive to create routines that lead to enhanced stability and happiness. Good habits can set a foundation for our lives; they can form the bedrock of each day. Our habits can become the building blocks we use to create the good life we crave.
Here, we’ll provide some tips for developing a healthy routine designed to ensure greater stability around the house. Feel free to adapt this advice as needed. However, take care when creating your routines that each supports the well-being of your mind, body, and even your spirit.
At Home Morning Routine
Establishing a good morning routine is particularly important because it sets the mood for the day. If your mornings are without a routine, building a productive day on a shaky foundation can be challenging. To help you create a positive morning routine, consider the following tips:
Wake Up Early
Even if you relish sleeping in, there are some essential benefits of waking up early that you don’t want to overlook. First, you can get the early-morning brain fog over before you begin work. Brain fog and sleepiness can last anywhere from two to even four hours. Starting work while you’re still sleepy can undermine your productive day. By waking up early, you can ease into your day and set yourself up for more success once you arrive at work.
Meditate
Starting the day with a clean and clear mindset can help us reduce stress and even form an effective barrier against it. You can clear your mind of bad dreams or worries by actively meditating for a few moments or even longer. Some people choose to wake up and sit at the edge of their beds to meditate first thing in the morning. Others choose to set aside time before breakfast to sit on their back porch to watch the birds. Taking a moment to clear your mind can help you prepare yourself mentally for the day ahead.
Eat Breakfast
If you’ve slept for eight hours, your body wants to refuel in the morning. It needs to be hydrated and fed. Breakfast is a mealtime that’s fraught with bad habits. Too often, people skip breakfast, forcing their bodies to function for hours before lunchtime. Others may grab a doughnut or something similarly unhealthy, which is not doing their bodies any favors nutritionally speaking either. Set yourself up for breakfast success by purchasing healthy items that don’t require a lot of preparation. Yogurt, fruit, and whole-grain toast are a few items to have on hand so you can eat something healthy each morning.
Exercise
Exercise provides us with an energy boost. Stretching or even taking a walk can help us improve our circulation and ready us for the day. Waking up late and rolling into work still feeling tired and lethargic is no recipe for productivity. Exercise sharpens our minds while supporting physical fitness. Include a walk each morning, even if it’s a short one, so that you get your body into gear for the day.
Get Ready for the Day
Even if you work from home, it’s essential to create a routine that gets you ready to be productive. Put on your work clothes. Fill your water bottle with fresh water. Shower, brush your teeth and hair, just as if you were going to commute to a job across the city. These habits may be usual, but they support a positive routine.
Plan Your Day and Begin
When you’re ready to start your main workday, create a plan. Your goals may be small. You may want to start the day by checking emails. Whatever you do, ensure that you portion out your time appropriately to address all the goals outlined in your plan.
At Home Afternoon Routine
If you’re working from home, it’s easy to get off track because no one will notice except for you. However, if you want to maintain your productivity and get your work accomplished without having to cram it all in later, you’ll want to create a positive afternoon routine.
Designate Your Workspace
Having a designated workspace at home will allow you to feel as if you’re “going to work” after all. Ensure that you have all the tools you need to get your work done and good lighting, a comfortable and supportive chair, and good ventilation.
Healthy Snacks
Keep your healthy diet on track by reaching for healthy snacks during your workday. Fruit, almonds, and water will help you stay energized physically and mentally.
Take Stretch Breaks
Be sure to give your brain and body breaks. Take five-minute breaks to walk the dog, stretch, or even throw a load of laundry in the washer. A short break in the routine helps you reset and gives your mind and body a chance to recharge.
Lunch
Try to avoid taking a working lunch and leave your desk to eat. Too much work can stress your brain. Allow yourself to unwind. Enjoy a healthy lunch in your kitchen or on your patio.
Quitting Time
Try to stick to a set time to end your workday so that you can maintain a healthy work-life balance. Clean off your desk so that it’s ready for the next day.
Night Routine
Your evening routine is important because it allows you to unwind and relax doing things you enjoy. Here are a few ways to fill your night with positive activities.
Nutritious Dinner
Get into the habit of making a nutritious dinner during your workweek. Ensure that you have a balanced meal each night to support your health. As your dinner cooks, use the time to plan the next night’s meal so that you’re always a step ahead.
Meditate or Journal
After a long day, it helps to alleviate the day’s stresses with another round of meditation. Some people prefer yoga or meditating outdoors in their garden. Journaling can also help you destress and set new goals like creating plans for the next day or week.
Me Time
It’s essential to fill your “me time” with things you enjoy doing, like mingling with family, watching television, reading, or crafting. No matter how busy you feel, it’s helpful to do what you love to do because it alleviates stress and supports your overall well-being.
Skin Care Routine
Taking care of your skin is part of maintaining your health. Moreover, it can feel great to deep clean and nourish your skin before getting ready for bed.
Relax
Finally, establish a sleep routine. Some people prefer to listen to music before bed. Others like to unwind with some essential oil. Try to avoid using any electronics before bed as they can stimulate the brain, making it hard to fall asleep. Try to avoid drinking water before bed, or you may have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, which can impede a good night’s sleep.
Use these tips to create a consistent daily pattern. If the idea of a rigid routine bothers you, remember that you can always take the weekend off or create a different pattern of behavior for the weekends. After all, you want to make the most of your weekends too! Try these activities for a month and see if you don’t begin to feel better physically and mentally. Remember, you can continuously refine these tips to enhance your personal schedule
Article originally posted on Porch.com.
