Time management is one of the most valuable skills you can learn in life. Balancing everything you need to accomplish throughout the day while taking care of your mental and physical health can be a powerful tool. Building healthy habits is important, but making them stick and ensuring they become routine is the hardest part. Here are a few pointers to help you implement daily habits that improve your quality of life and bring benefits in other areas.  

Set Clear and Specific Goals

  • Be realistic and start with small, achievable goals that don’t set you up for failure.
  • Focus on one or two goals at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 

Establish a Routine 

  • Consistency is key! Incorporate your new healthy habits into your daily or weekly routine to help them stick. 
  • Pair a new habit with an existing one for a seamless transition. For example, drink a glass of water while or before making your morning coffee.  

Use Visual Reminders 

  • Whether it’s a vision board, post-it notes, changing your phone wallpaper, or using a tracking app, keep these visual reminders around to help keep you accountable and keep your goals top of mind. 
  • Seeing your progress visually, like marking off days on a calendar or agenda, can motivate and encourage you to keep going. 

Practice Self-Compassion 

  • Be patient and kind to yourself. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of the process and may be inevitable. Prepare yourself and make necessary adjustments ahead of time. 
  • Self-compassion helps maintain a positive attitude and mindset, making it easier to get back on track. 

Track Your Progress 

  • Track your progress and hard work. Whether through a journal, Google Calendar, fitness tracker, or mindfulness app, find what works best for you and stick to it. 
  • Tracking your progress could also help you identify necessary adjustments and make scheduling these healthy habits into your routine easier.  

Accountability

  • Share your goals with family, friends, or a group that shares similar goals. This can motivate you to maintain your daily and weekly progress. 
  • Consider joining a group or community with the same goals for additional support, encouragement, and a social experience. 

Reward Yourself 

  • Remember that staying on track can be challenging, and being kind to yourself can also include rewarding yourself. Celebrate small milestones and treat yourself. A reward can take the form of self-care, such as going for a hike, getting a massage, or buying a new pair of workout shoes if you have a fitness goal. 

Begin with the End in Mind 

  • Focus on the benefits of the healthy habits you’re building and visualize the positive outcomes to stay motivated. Remind yourself of why you decided to implement this healthy habit.   

By starting small, being patient, and staying consistent, everyone can build healthy habits that last!