Cold showers, motivational podcasts, 5am alarms – I’m sure we’ve all been there. The internet is full of ‘quick and easy hacks’ to optimise yourself overnight, and really, we’re all in search of the one habit that will actually change our lives.
While we might start off with the best of intentions, it’s not always easy to stay on track. Life inevitably gets busy, motivation fades and before we know it, we’ve lost the momentum.
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But every now and then, a habit does stick. Maybe it’s the right place, the right time, or maybe it just fits perfectly alongside your other routines. Either way, it’s exciting to feel like you’ve cracked the code and uncovered a habit that does have the power to create change. Below, eleven FJ readers share the habits that have had the biggest impact on their day-to-day.
Jedda, 30, she/her
I’ve made it a daily habit to go for walks in the morning for around an hour. Getting sunshine on my skin first thing resets my circadian rhythm, which makes me sleep better. It clears my head and helps me plan my focus for the day, it’s also during my morning walks around the park that I have some of my best creative ideas! I’m always jotting down on my notes app. If I don’t do a walk in the morning it always makes my day feel a bit off and more stressful.
I made it something to look forward to – wrapping it up in layers and taking a big hot coffee with me on cold mornings, or lining up a really good album or podcast to listen to. Also putting my shoes and exercise gear by the door so I can roll out of bed and go without thinking.
Robyn*, 27, she/her
I swear by zero-dollar budgeting! Basically, you allocate every dollar of your pay, so at the end of the cycle, you end up with zero dollars. Once you’ve allocated your money to things like rent, bills and groceries, the leftover is assigned to savings or debt, That way, every dollar has a purpose.
Since implementing zero-dollar budgeting, I’m no longer horrified by opening up my banking apps. I now actually understand how much money I can spend and how to prepare for bills and other unexpected costs. It soon became a habit once I realised how satisfying it was to take control of my finances (and occasionally reward myself with a little treat).
Mia*, 24, she/her
Meditation – it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I turned it into a regular habit when I started to do yoga more regularly and read spiritual books. Since then I haven’t looked back.
Bonnie*, 20 she/her
One habit I swear by is setting my morning alarm much earlier than I need to be getting up. This makes sure I get up, either earlier because I feel like it or on time because I have snoozed enough that I’m satisfied and feel like I’ve had a sleep-in. Waking up earlier means I can take my merry time while waking up on time means I can do everything I need to do at a normal pace.
It’s habitual because eventually you have to get up, so why not make the alarm a bit earlier? It’s easy enough and fairly stress-free.
Ally*, 21, she/her
I love adding everything to my calendar. I’m so forgetful and having it has helped me remember things from hangouts with friends to work events and more. It has genuinely given me so much peace of mind knowing that if I’m not sure what’s happening, my calendar will have all the information I need.
I started by adding all the essentials like work rosters (which automatically update from my work app) and other commitments such as hobbies and university, and from there I just tried to add as much as I could every time something came up.
Lula*, 23, she/her
My favourite habit is to imagine that people are thinking the best of me instead of the worst. I made it stick through delusion and practice.
Liz*, 27, she/her
It sounds fairly boring but I need to take a drink bottle with me wherever I go! I notice a big difference in my skin and general health when I’m drinking enough water – which for me is at least two to three litres a day. It also makes me feel good to take time out of my day and do something I know is actually good for me.
I have a one-litre, insulated bottle stationed on my desk at all times and another permanently on my bedside table. And then I have another couple of bottles under my sink to take with me when I’m in the car, jumping on the tram or out for a walk.
Diana*, 25, she/her
I’ve become a better person by making sure I remember dates, birthdays, people’s allergies and all the little things. I pretty much live out of my Google calendar. I put in reminders to wish people happy birthdays and save their allergies and favourite foods under their contact.
Claire*, 49. she/her
I sleep with the blinds half open. I’m the queen of struggling to get up with my alarm and more often than not wake up groggy, grumpy and 15 minutes behind schedule. After doing some research (think circadian rhythms) I realised that a dark bedroom was contributing to the problem. Now, I leave all but the windows that are street-facing uncovered and my bedroom blinds half open. By the time my alarm goes off and I’m up, feeling rested. I have wooden venetians throughout the hose so it’s relatively easy to drop the bedroom blind without actually closing the window off to the outside.
Jenny*, 28, she/her
I have a dose of magnesium (spray on my body or have a drink) and read a book for about an hour every night before bed. Before doing this I would find it really difficult to go to sleep – my job can be stressful at times and requires a lot of screen time so if I got into bed and looked at my phone or even tried to go straight to sleep, my mind would always wonder and I would get stuck in a thinking loop. Doing this and sticking to a strict timeframe means that my mind is getting ready for bed even before I start to think about it and I put my other thoughts and feelings to the side.
The books I read are as far from being academic or educational as possible. If I was going to bed and reading a self help book or something that took a lot of concentration or brain power it would completely defeat the purpose of putting my brain to sleep before my body. So I read a lot of Lisa Jewel, Marian Keys and Freida McFadden.
Kyle*, 26, he/him
At the beginning of every work day, I use my commute (which is a 15-minute tram ride) to meditate. While I’m not necessarily closing my eyes and following a guided meditation, I find that the intention to slow the mind, take deep breaths and be present without any distractions has a hugely positive impact on the rest of my day.
I think meditation can be very customisable depending on the person and the context. For me, it’s about moving from the mental to the physical and starting the day right in an environment that is usually associated with stress. It’s quite empowering to exit the tram on the way to work and feel like it gave me more than just getting from A to B.
Emily*, 28, she/her
I drink Berocca every morning. I have terrible hydration habits and I don’t like the taste of water, especially in the mornings. Adding a Berocca tablet to a huge pint of water is something I’ve done every morning consistently for four years now. I feel better for it and I swear I get sick less!
I enjoy the ritual of dropping the tablet in water and watching it fizz. I also make a coffee while it’s dissolving and I can only drink the coffee after I’ve sculled the Berocca. Also stocking up on boxes when they’re on sale at Chemist Warehouse so I never run out!
*Names have been changed for privacy.
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This article Eleven life-changing habits that stick, according to FJ readers appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-03-18 07:35:00
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