Healthiest Habits in 10 Simple Steps

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Tracey McGrath

The best way to stay healthy is by making small changes in your life that will add up over time. Here are some simple steps to take every day to create your healthiest habits.

Here’s how to start making healthy changes today.

1. Pick one thing.

Creating your healthiest habits can be as simple as choosing just one thing to focus on.  That is true in our personal lives and our work.  Gary Keller’s book “The One Thing” speaks to this concept.  He talks about focusing on one thing that you can do to make everything else easier or unnecessary.  

Oftentimes we overcomplicate things.  For new habits to stick, it’s best to choose one to focus on first.  I know it can seem like you’re not doing enough or you won’t see the impact of it but you will.  Trust me.  One small thing repeated over and over again will add up to BIG results.  What will you choose as your one thing?  Make a list of the healthiest habits you can think of and then select one to focus on right now.  

Don’t know where to start? Your healthiest habits will be something that truly matters to you. I’ve listed some great practices to incorporate into your daily routine. Follow the links below to learn more about each practice and its benefits! You can also grab a FREE copy of my Healthiest Habits Workbook!

• meditation
• journaling
• doing creative projects
• gardening
• drinking water
• exercising
• getting more sleep
• decluttering
• eating healthier
• practicing self-care
• reading more
• thinking more positively

2. Choose Easy.

Yes, it’s ok to do the easiest thing on your list first!  Choose the easiest healthiest habit you can think of.  You’re much more likely to actually be successful.  That builds up your confidence.  Now you are more likely to be successful at the next habit you choose.  By proving to yourself that you can in fact achieve a new habit you can now move on to the next one with greater ease.  

3. Consistency is the Cornerstone of Habits.  

It is in fact what habits are all about.  You repeat a behavior or thought over and over again until it sticks…literally.  Your brain’s neurons become wired together so this behavior or thought is stuck in you.  This is great for healthy habits like brushing your teeth or locking your car door.  Unfortunately, it also works for not-so-healthy habits too.  An unhealthy habit is simply something learned. You can choose to replace it with a new healthier habit.       

An easy way to start a habit is with habit stacking.  James Clear talks about this in his book “Atomic Habits” and you can read more about it in his article.  

He proposes taking the new habit and attaching it to something you already do.  For example, you want to drink 64 ounces of water per day.  Then attach drinking water to something you already know you will do like washing your hands.  Every time you wash your hands you decide you will drink 8 ounces of water.  Now the new behavior will be built into something you’re already doing.  Lean on the consistency of your already ingrained habits.  This makes the new habit more likely to stick.  

4. Be Mindful.

One of the best ways to create your healthiest habits is to practice being mindful.  Habits are our default behaviors.  But they have all been learned.  Being mindful of your current behaviors allows you to notice when you default to certain behaviors.  When you become aware of, or mindful of, your current habits you can make more effective changes.  You can practice mindfulness in many different ways.  Check out my article on “What Mindfulness Is” to learn more! 

5. Give Yourself a Timeline.

We may tell ourselves that we don’t like deadlines but we tend to function much better with set parameters. 

Without a timeline you may continue to tell yourself you’ll start tomorrow.  But you know the old saying about tomorrow…it never comes.  Choose a time to start and a goal for how long you will continue the habit.  You may see at the end of your chosen timeline that you want to keep going.   Or suddenly the new behavior won’t seem so difficult.  It may have become automatic.  

There are different theories on how long it takes to create a habit.  Some say 21 days, others 60 days.  It’s most likely specific to the person.  

Choose something that’s going to stretch you just a little bit.  It should feel like a challenge but also achievable.  This will build your confidence even more.  At the end of the 30 day or 60 day stretch you’ll know that you can achieve your goal!  

6. Be specific.

Setting a timeline for your habit creation is important.  But you also want to be specific about exactly what your habit is.  For example, look at the difference between the two following goals:  Doing yoga everyday vs. doing yoga for 15 minutes every day as soon as I get up for 30 days.  

The second one is much more specific and thus leaves less room for interpretation.  With the specificity of your goal in place you are more empowered about how to achieve it.   This gives you more confidence when you do get there.  You know you did 15 minutes of yoga every morning for 30 days.  Instead of wondering if it really counted that day you did a warrior 2 pose for 30 seconds.    

7. Track it!

Use a habit tracker to measure your success.  It can be a simple spreadsheet, your calendar or a notepad.  By tracking it you remind yourself to actually do it and what it is you’re working on.  When life gets busy it can be easy to forget a new behavior until it becomes second nature. Day Designer has a wonderful free habit tracker along with lots of beautiful calendars and notebooks you can use.  

“What gets measured gets improved.”

-Peter Drucker

8. Get Support.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people will help you achieve success.  This is true in setting healthy habits and achieving any life goal.  You’re going to need support.  Will it be difficult to get up early and exercise first thing if your partner is laying there snoozing away?  Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.  Will it be easier if your partner gets up with you?  Of course.  But it may not be their goal right now.  So, find an accountability partner.  Send a message to your neighborhood about a morning walking group if you want to exercise.  Text a group of friends about a water challenge.  

Plus, spending time with friends is one of the best things you can do for your health. Socializing boosts endorphins (the “happy hormones”) and reduces stress. 

9. Give Yourself Grace.

Creating a new habit can be a challenge.  Give yourself grace when you slip.  You are human and humans make “mistakes”.  But mistakes are simply a lesson that gives us information.  Get curious and ask yourself why you slipped?  What happened?  Are you still committed?  Does this habit seem to be helping you?  Be honest with yourself.  Let your slip up go and start again.    

10. Set Boundaries.

Learning to say no is perhaps one of the hardest life lessons. Saying yes to too much can lead to burnout and overwhelm. Set boundaries so you can say yes to what’s important to you. 

Think of the analogy of an empty cup.  You cannot pour from an empty cup.  Make sure to fill yours first so that you feel energized and invigorated.  This includes making time for things that bring you joy and lift your spirits. 

When you’re creating a new habit you may feel more tired than normal.  Allow yourself to rest if you need to.  Some feel energized when they know a new habit is helping them achieve their goals.  Remember to be mindful of how you feel and respond accordingly.      

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Keep going!

Now that you’ve achieved your first new habit you’re ready to stack the next one.  You can achieve anything you believe you can.  If you want to run a marathon, but have literally never walked more than a block you can get there.  It will take time (and the guidance of maybe a personal trainer and your doctor).  You just have to start.  Take the first step and then the next and the next.
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Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.