50 Ridiculously Easy Daily Habits That Changed My Life in a Year

2022 was a life-changing year for me. So many incredible goals have been achieved this year. One of the main things that have changed my life is changing my habits. I have really focused this year on making healthy choices every day that will benefit me physically, mentally, and emotionally. These are small by powerful habits that will make 2023 the best year yet.

1. Make Your Bed

I’ve talked before about how I made making my bed a habit last year. It doesn’t seem like something that would have made much of a difference. Making my bed really does set me up to start getting things done first thing in the morning. It’s like a clean slate to start your day. I’ve also found that I sleep better since starting to make my bed. Making your bed also makes your space look more tidy and organized. It’s just a quick 5 minutes that does so much!

2. Make Sleep a Priority

When you’re trying to take care of so many things and achieve all your goals it can be hard to find time to sleep, but making sure you get not just enough sleep. Quality sleep is equally as important. Something that has helped me is keeping a regular sleep schedule. I go to bed around the 9-10 pm hour and typically wake up between 5-6 am. Obviously, there are days when I cannot keep that schedule or when I let myself sleep in, but I try to keep that schedule as much as possible. I also engage in habits that have improved my quality of sleep which are discussed later in the list.

3. Check Your Bank Account

Most of us never physically see our money. As a person who primarily uses my debit card, I depend on my mobile app to know my financial situation. When there is no physical connection to your money it can be hard to make healthy financial decisions. Checking my bank account every day helps me make better and more informed decisions. I’ve found that I make fewer impulse purchases since making it a habit to check my bank account daily.

4. Journal

Journaling is a habit that I picked when I was in treatment (Find out about my journey here). It really has helped me take my life and healing to the next level. Journaling allows me to really dig deep and reflect on my life, my goals, my thoughts, and my behaviors. I really feel like journaling has helped me get to know myself on a deeper level which has helped me to love myself on a deeper level. There are a ton of journal prompts on the internet designed to help beginners and journaling pros alike. I will be posting Journal Prompts every month in 2023.

Check out January’s Here: 34 Journal Prompts for January to Start Your Year Off Right

5. Review Your Planner

How many of us buy a planner at the beginning of the year with the best of intentions and then all but forget about it by March? That was me for the past few years. One thing that has helped me get in the habit of using my planner every day is having the right size planner. I used to buy the largest size planner thinking it would help me be more put together, but I often wouldn’t bring it with me because it didn’t fit in my bag. So it was essentially useless unless I remembered to fill it out when I got home (I didn’t).

Now I have a smaller size that I take with me everywhere. I can just pull it out when I’m scheduling doctor’s appointments or when my boss mentions an event I need to market. Since I use my planner more I also review it more. Reviewing my planner has become part of my bedtime ritual to make a note of what I need to focus on the next day or in the coming days. I’ve never felt so organized.

6. Cook Yummy Meals at Home

Not too long ago I was eating most of my meals outside of the home. That gets expensive, but I also don’t feel as emotionally connected to my food when I’m having someone else cook for me all the time. In the past year, I have made it a point to cook more. I genuinely enjoy cooking and always have, but depression kept me from having the energy to do it. Slowly I started cooking more and more meals at home until it became natural to cook at home every meal.

One major thing that helped me was a meal kit because it allowed me to slowly get back into it without having to worry about grocery shopping (which was rough in rural Michigan for a while). I still treat myself to Chipotle or go out for dinner and drinks with friends every once and a while, but I honestly prefer a home-cooked meal these days. Convenience meals aren’t a part of my daily life anymore. I have more energy and honestly feel more intuitive in eating since I’ve started cooking a majority of my meals from scratch.

7. Move Your Body in a Way You Enjoy

I can’t tell you how much exercise has helped my mental health. Working out seems like a chore to a lot of people, but a lot of that has to do with the way our society views exercise as a punishment (Let’s Ditch Diet Culture Together: Pink and Pineapple Podcast| Ditching Diet Culture). The key is finding exercise that you enjoy. Maybe you hate running? Don’t do it! There are so many different ways to exercise and life’s too short to do something you don’t like. I love yoga, weight lifting, the rower, and Stairmaster. I also enjoy a mixture of classes and independent exercise.

I recommend changing how you look at exercise. So many people look at it from just an aesthetic angle. While it’s true exercise does help your body stay toned and trimmed, there are so many other important benefits. It helps you sleep better, it gives you endorphins, it’s empowering, it helps with stress and anxiety, and so much more!

8. Always Look for A Coupon or a Sale

I’ve really started focusing on my financial decisions in the past year. One thing I’ve started doing is looking for deals, coupons, or rebates, especially on things I HAVE to buy (like gas). I figure if I have to buy something I might as well make sure I am getting the best deal or money back (Find out how I get paid each time I fill up: 6 Money Saving Tips You Need to Read Before 2023). The money I save can go into savings, towards bills, or maybe even something fun. Most stores now have apps that allow you to clip coupons or view deals. I also recommend using a browser extension that will find codes or rebates when shopping online (like Rakuten or Ebates).

9. Limit Screen Time

This one is really difficult for me. Between running Pink and Pineapple and doing marketing/admin for my full-time job, I rely on screens a lot to get everything done. Add in streaming and the doom scroll I find myself in at least once a week, it can seem like I have a screen permanently attached to my face if I’m not careful. In the last year, I have made it a point to have a few hours in the evening away from my computer or scrolling Tiktok.

I now spend my evenings cooking, cleaning, reading, journaling, or putting together a puzzle. A podcast is always playing in the background. I catch up on my shows or watch TV for a few hours on the weekends, but I’m very rarely sitting there all day long like I used to. This can be a hard habit to break and I definitely recommend setting a timer for like a half hour or so when scrolling TikTok or Instagram to keep yourself in check.

10. Take Your Vitamins

My mom will be happy this one is on here. I want to preface by saying I don’t think you HAVE to have supplements to be healthy. (In fact at my last physical before I started taking vitamins regularly all my levels were normal except my vitamin D and Iron levels were low) But as a busy vegan who barely gets to see the sun (because Michigan), I take them to ensure that I am getting all my nutrients. I’ve ALWAYS been anemic (even when I ate meat), and my Vitamin D levels are low (from no sun and vitamin D being a harder nutrient to get as a vegan). The result is more energy, glowing skin, and better focus. This trick is finding the time of day that works best for your lifestyle. I take mine at night before bed and have a reminder set on my phone/watch to go off at 8 every night (also helps remind me that it’s time to wind down). It’s basically engrained in my brain at this point.

11. Clean As You Go

So many of us are wired to clean everything all at once. I used to be that way. My approach to cleaning was very all-or-nothing. Honestly, I didn’t have the time to do that and I started having to clean as I go. Sometimes I’ll have extra time in the morning now and I’ll clean a small part of my apartment that I notice needs some extra TLC.

I also have my things that do every day or just about every day like cleaning and sweeping the kitchen after dinner or picking up the clutter in my bathroom from getting ready that morning. If I see something in my fridge that needs to be thrown out or wiped down, I just do it instead of constantly waiting until it becomes a huge project. The result is less stress, more time, and a much better living environment.

12. Manage Your Time

Time is a major resource that so many of us don’t use wisely. As I stated before I used to get stuck on the doom scroll every day. I would spend all my free time watching TV. My mental health was awful and my motivation was at an all-time low. Now I make sure I plan my days (see number 5) and try to plan my mornings and evenings so that I will be making choices toward my goals. Without a plan I’m distracted. A year ago I was a chronically late person because honestly just getting out of bed was a lot of energy for me. Now I plan my time to make sure I have plenty of time (I still have my days when I’m running behind don’t get me wrong but it’s far fewer).

13. Do One Hobby that Improves Your Life

Hobbies are such an important part of life and happiness. Before I had hobbies my life was just sitting at the computer or in front of the TV. Now I do things that give me energy or mental stimulation like yoga or reading. Find a hobby that makes you feel fulfilled. Maybe it’s hiking or knitting. Try filling your time with activities that improve your overall wellness.

14. Drink Enough Water

Everyone knows water is an essential part of staying healthy, but still few of us actually end up getting enough water. Being properly hydrated really is a game changer. Since ensuring I am drinking enough water, so much has changed for me mentally and physically. Not only is my skin so much clearer, but I feel so focused during the day and I have more energy. I also can tell when I’m slacking on my water because my stomach hurts.

15. Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon

One thing that has helped my quality of sleep has been cutting myself off from caffeine after 12 pm. I used to have my afternoon cup of coffee and sometimes more. I didn’t think it affected me. That is until one day I was so overcaffeinated that I had a panic attack. From that day on I now am much more mindful about caffeine intake and over time have realized that the amount of caffeine I was drinking is why I wasn’t falling asleep easily or feeling rested. I still have my afternoon cup of coffee at work, but it is decaf.

16. Laugh More

This last year has honestly been so dark at times. I really wouldn’t have been able to overcome it without a sense of humor. Humor really is a coping mechanism for me. I definitely think there is a fine line between taking yourself seriously and taking yourself too seriously. Make sure you’re on that line. Life is way too short to constantly dwell on something you can’t control or undo. We all have moments when we do something airheaded or aren’t our best selves. Make a note of it, laugh it off, and try to do better next time.

17. Eat Intuitively

I talked in a recent podcast episode about ditching diet culture and making intuitive eating a habit. Intuitive Eating is basically trusting your body around your food choices. Rather than mentally stressing over every meal and snack it’s letting yourself eat what you want. It feels scary and daunting when you are first doing it because diet culture is so ingrained in our brains. But honestly, since ditching restrictive mindsets around food my body naturally goes toward healthy and less processed foods because they make my body feel good.

Do I still have days when I want a cupcake? Yes and I go and I fulfill that want because I know that tomorrow that want will more than likely be gone and life’s too damn short. Since doing number 6 eating intuitively is so much easier. There’s something about the progression from planning to eating that makes me feel a deeper connection to my food.

18. Cut Out Toxic People

Do you know those people that just drain the life out of you? I’ve made a point in the last year to avoid them or cut them off completely. You cannot be your best self if you’re hanging out with that “friend” who is always making backhanded compliments or that family member who doesn’t understand or respect your boundaries. Life is too short to continue to let other people affect our happiness. If you aren’t in a situation where you can cut them off, limiting the time you interact with them is the next best bet. But I would advise trying to make it possible. If it’s a work situation look for a different job. A negative workplace is more likely to change you than you changing it.

19. Pay Off Debts

One of the things I have accomplished this year is paying off $3,000 in debt. If you have debt then you most likely have interest that is added on every month. Credit Card Interest especially is a huge financial burden and that money you pay every month could be going toward other things. Make it a point to put extra money every month (or paycheck if you can swing it) towards your debt. It feels so good making that very last payment and you’ll feel so financially free.

20. Clean Your Desk/Space Every Night After You Finish Work

One thing that really makes me feel so much better when I come into work is a tidy space. Having a tidy workspace has been shown to promote focus and higher work performance than a cluttered space. It’s also much less stressful because everything is where it should be so papers and items are lost much less often. Tidying up my space is also a great mental signal that it is time to end work.

21. Stretch

Nothing feels better after a period of inactivity like stretching. But did you know that stretching has incredible mental benefits? Stretching has been shown to release endorphins and it activates your parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for inducing feelings of calmness and rest. You can add stretching before your favorite exercise or try a yoga flow. I do at least one or two yoga poses a day at least even if I’m not practicing that day just to wake myself up in the morning.

22. Stick to a Skin Care Routine

I’ve discussed my skincare routine on here before, but when I was struggling with my depression I fell out of the habit of doing my skincare every day. I simplified my routine and have made it a part of my morning/nightly ritual again. Skincare is a great form of self-care. A skincare routine is proven to build mindfulness, encourage self-esteem, and aid in relaxation. I feel so clean and put together after I do my skincare in the morning. My nightly skincare routine is extremely relaxing and a great part of my bedtime ritual.

23. Aim to have 5 Fruits and Vegetables

When we’re busy it can be hard to get your fruits and veggies. It feels a lot easier to hit the drive-thru or pop a convenience meal in the air fryer. But if you plan ahead (we talk about this later) you can easily get your recommended fruits and veggies. A veggie-filled meal doesn’t automatically mean boring salads. There are so many yummy stir-fries, curries, and soups that will help you get more plants into your diet.

24. Get More Sunlight

This one is really hard for me as a person who lives in a dingy 1 window apartment and living in Michigan. It’s not rare for me to struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (Check out: 6 Excellent Tips You Need To Survive the End of Daylight Savings Time and Avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder) But trying to make getting sunlight a habit really helps me stay mentally sound. I make sure to get outside at least once a day even if it’s just to walk around the block or take the trash out.

25. Wear Sunscreen

Now that I am no longer in my 20s I am taking anti-aging very seriously. I have extremely fair skin and a family with a history of skin cancer so I always try to make sure I am making healthy habits to take care of my skin. Super-Goop Unseen Sunscreen is my favorite because doesn’t have that streaky look like the sunscreen you remember from beach days. It also works great as a primer for makeup.

Find out my favorite Summer Beauty Items of Last Year: Summer Beauty Must-Haves For 2022

26. Do an Inventory of Your Subscriptions

Most of us have multiple streaming services alone. Add on Spotify/Apple Music, FabFitFun Subscription, and Adobe Cloud, those subscriptions can really add up every month. Last year I started taking inventory of all the subscription services I paid for every month compared to how much I used them. I realized that there were several services I paid for that I didn’t use all that much. This allows you to have more money each month to save or go towards your goals.

27. Keep Up On Your Doctor’s Appointments

Last year I decided I wanted my 30s to be the best decade of my life. Part of that is taking care of my health. I got kinda lax on making my annual doctors’ appointments between getting kicked off of my parent’s insurance and the pandemic. But in 2023 I’ve been really good about making appointments that I’ve missed. Preventative Health is an important part of staying healthy for years to come.

28. Floss

I haven’t always been the best at flossing, but I’ve gotten better in the last year. Flossing is one of those things that is easy to forget about if it’s not a part of your routine. I have to use threader floss because of my permanent retainer which comes in little packages (like this one) so I just place one on my sink after doing my skincare in the morning so I’ll be reminded at night.

29. Get Outside

This habit is really difficult for me during the cold winter months! But I try to get outside at least once a day even if it’s just to take the trash out. (Sometimes when it’s really cold I’ll go to my parent’s house and watch the birds with a cup of coffee which is a pretty decent substitute). I try to take advantage of the mild days and the warm months and go for walks on the walking trails near my apartment. Being with nature is a great way to put things back into perspective.

30. Meditate

Meditating is something that is overwhelming to a lot of people if they haven’t done it before. It’s really just about being still and concentrating on one thing whether it be a mantra or your breath. Don’t beat yourself up if your mind wanders or you get distracted. Meditating takes practice.

Your meditation practice can look different every day too. It’s not just sitting on the floor with your eyes closed. Anytime you take a few moments to focus on your breath you are meditating. I often will drink a cup of decaf coffee at work and take five minutes to just focus on the taste of the coffee and my breath. The result is I have more concentration and my production levels are much higher. People who meditate report being calmer, happier, and having more self-awareness.

31. Limit Processed Food

In number 23 I talked about how it can be hard to get your fruits and veggies while being busy. It’s also incredibly easy to eat processed foods when you’re busy. Throwing fries and vegan chicken nuggets (or the real thing for you) in the air fryer is so tempting after working an 8-hour day, but those are typically full of sodium and limited in nutrients. Once I started cooking at home more and trying new recipes, I by default stopped eating as much processed food. I noticed after a while how much healthier I felt. My stomach didn’t hurt as much and I had so much more energy. I also feel happier too. My diet now consists of grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It’s also a lot cheaper, despite what many people believe, to eat whole foods over packaged foods.

32. Establish a Bed Time Routine

As someone with insomnia, I used to really struggle to fall asleep. I would go straight from watching TikTok on my phone to laying in bed frustrated that I couldn’t fall asleep. Now I make sure that I take the time to wind down before attempting to fall asleep. I love reading before bed, putting my phone away from my bed, and playing thunderstorm sounds. The trick is to find something that works for you and relaxes you.

33. Wake Up Earlier

This is one that I have struggled with for years. I still struggle with this from time to time, but for the most part, I get up pretty early now. The thing that finally made it stick is putting my alarm clock way way out of reach of my bed. I also swear by using a Sunrise Alarm Clock (Like this one). Something that can help too is prepping your coffee the night before and timing it so that it’s just getting done at the time you intend to get up. It’s a lot easier to get out of your warm bed when warm coffee is waiting for you.

34. Do One Activity that Helps Your Career

Although I love my job and am proud of my accomplishments this past year, I’m nowhere near where I want to end up career-wise. I’m constantly trying to learn, network, and make myself better. Last year I really worked on my career. I added three certifications to my resume in three months while working full-time. There are so many things you can do that will improve you professionally. Whether it’s working on your blog, listening to a podcast about your industry, or getting a certification, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.

35. Have a Morning Routine that Makes You Feel Excited for The Day

So I talked about all the incredible benefits of waking up earlier already, but one thing that makes it worth it is having a routine that makes you excited to get out of bed. Having a plan of what you’re going to do with that extra time is essential otherwise it’s easy to spend three hours scrolling on TikTok. Every night I plan what I’m doing in the morning. I typically start my day with coffee of course and breakfast. Then I’m hitting the gym or a yoga class most days. Followed by getting ready and working on the blog, podcast, or social media. Find what works for you and makes you excited about life in the morning.

36. Review Your Vision Board

If you haven’t made a vision board, you definitely should. Vision Boards are a great way to figure out the life you want and what your goals are. Once you make your vision board put it somewhere that you’ll see it every day. I made a digital version of mine and put it as my lock screen. Now I’m reminded of my goals throughout the day and make choices that support those.

37. Find Ways to Give Back

I try to find things to do to give back to the community regularly. Whether that is donating to a local cause, volunteering, or even supporting a small business in your community. All are ways to make the world around you a better place.

38. Take One Step Toward Your Goals

Having a vision board and reviewing it every day will help you be motivated to do this one. I try to do one thing each day that will help me live my life/be the person I want to be. It doesn’t have to be big. Just waking up and deciding to do something healthy or work on a side hustle for 30 minutes. Just doing one thing each day will help you stay motivated and will really add up.

39. Plan Your Meals

This is the key to avoiding processed foods and cooking at home more. I try to plan my meals for the week before I buy groceries. I try to think about what I have going on that week so that way if I’m super busy one night I can plan to have a crockpot meal. Every few months I will prep a bunch of food and put it in the freezer so I have meals ready to throw in the oven, crockpot, or Instant Pot.

40. Choose an Affirmation

I’ve talked on my podcast about my journey of positive self-talk (You can listen to that here: Pink and Pineapple Podcast: Self-Talk and Your Well-Being). One thing that really helped me was picking a new affirmation every day! A phrase to remind me that I am capable, successful, loved, or whatever else I am struggling with at that moment. I have always struggled with speaking kindly to myself so reminding myself every day to think of one nice thing has been amazingly helpful. Since doing this I have had so much more confidence and things open up for me.

41. Address Any Limiting Beliefs that Hold You Back

This goes along with thinking of positive affirmations. I’ve realized in the last year that I have been the one holding myself back. On top of doing positive affirmations, I also have been working through my self-esteem issues in therapy. Just working through these issues has made it easier to challenge those thoughts. Everybody has limiting beliefs that hold them back if they don’t deal with them. Once you identify them it’s important to overcome them.

42. Try Something New

Life is too short to do the same things every day. Try to do something new every day. Whether that be trying a new recipe or a new workout. It doesn’t have to be a huge change. Just breaking up the monotony of life lets you learn and grow as a person. I am constantly trying new recipes and it makes cooking at home so much more fun.

43. Just Do the Thing You’ve Been Putting Off

Why does it feel like the most basic things are stressful? Often the things that I am putting off would only take five things. I’ve started saying to myself out loud that I’m going to do what I’ve been putting off once I finish whatever activity I am currently doing. Doing this has made it so much easier to stick to it.

44. Waste Less

One of the hardest things about eating at home has been buying produce for one recipe and then often having to throw the rest away. As a person who lives alone, this is a problem that has frustrated me for a long time. I’ve been challenging myself to not do this as much. This means planning recipes around the same ingredients and occasionally finding recipes throughout the week to use that last bit of celery or kale. This not only saves money but also gives you the excuse to try new recipes.

45. Limit Impulse Purchases

I’ve talked before about how I’ve been taking care of my financial wellness. This means saving more and spending less. I’m a person who loves shopping and I love buying new clothing or makeup. I’ve had to put a limit on impulse purchases. I still buy clothing and makeup, but I plan for it. I try to stay away from situations that are tempting. I don’t go to stores that are tempting. When I need something from the store I will order it online for pickup so I don’t get tempted to buy more than I need.

46. Talk to Someone Who Makes You Feel Refreshed

You know those people who feel like sunshine? Or those people who just seem to understand where you’re coming from or what you’re going through? Try to seek more of those people out. Being around positive people really does make a difference. When you feel that you are heard, supported, and motivated by the people around you it’s amazing how much can change.

47. Think of at Least One Thing to Be Grateful For

Sometimes life gets tough and it’s hard for us to see the good things. When we get caught in the doom and gloom it’s a difficult cycle to break out of. Every night before I go to bed I try to think of at least one thing to be thankful for. Even if the day is horrible I can usually think of one thing, person or place that I am thankful for. It helps put and keep things into perspective.

48. Take Care of Your Physical Appearance

I’m not saying you need to spend hours on hair and makeup, but taking the time to put care into your appearance really does make a difference. Aim to at least put a comb through your hair, wash your face, and put on a pair of clean clothes every day. If you’re into makeup and fashion then that’s great too. I feel so much more motivated and confident when I take the time to put together a cute outfit and do my makeup.

49. Say Something Nice to Someone

One thing that has made my life much happier is making it a point to make someone else happy every day. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing. Just telling strangers you like their sweater or a coworker that they did a great job will help you make your world a better place.

50. Save and Plan for Big Purchases

It can be hard to save when we really want an item. But it’s worth it. Putting it on a credit card is only going to keep your further from your goal. Try to plan how much you’re going to need to put aside each month/paycheck to get that big purchase.