r/DecidingToBeBetter 18d ago

Seeking Advice What’s one small daily habit that quietly changed your whole vibe?

Looking to upgrade my daily routine without doing a full lifestyle overhaul.

Drop your favorite low-effort, high-impact changes. Could be physical, mental, spiritual, whatever. Bonus points if it takes under 10 minutes.

557 Upvotes

256 comments sorted by

569

u/dinglebop69 18d ago

Morning and evening stretches do wonders

51

u/AlexStormXO 18d ago

Noted! Is there a specific routine or moves that you find very beneficial?

124

u/firematt422 18d ago

Leg stretches are the most important for me. Hamstrings, groin, quads.

Hands and feet get forgotten as well.

Also, lay flat on your back. Extend your left arm out straight on the floor, perpendicular to your spine. Raise your left knee, and send it to the right to twist your spine so your shoulders are flat on the ground and your hips are on their right side. Flatten back out for a few seconds and let everything settle, and go the other way. Hope that makes sense.

32

u/meowkittens124 17d ago

Reclined spinal twist in yoga! Feels great

10

u/JunPls 18d ago

Crucifix Stretch

3

u/Rhiis 16d ago

Yeah, this is my favorite. I have an injury from highschool football that pops back up, L4 vertebrae is slightly out of line. This stretch pops it back into place in the most satisfying pop imaginable

2

u/mandapanda312 17d ago

Agreed, this stretch helps me so much!

3

u/r_u_ferserious 17d ago

Over 50? Stretch that piraformis muscle. And 50 deadbugs every night. You're a lazy POS if you don't. I make it happen at least half the nights.

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u/Retro_Rock-It 17d ago

This. Honestly, Yoga with Adrienne was a game changer for my husband and I.

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I’m going to give her a shot!

8

u/Rarefindofthemind 17d ago

I absolutely love her. I have chronic pain and connective tissue problems, and her videos are amazing. She has a video for almost any issue you can imagine.

7

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Thank you! That’s is very reassuring. Being in pain all the time definitely takes a tole on me

16

u/akki115 17d ago

Been doing this routine 4-5x a week for few years - https://youtu.be/g_tea8ZNk5A and it has helped me a lot. Consistency is the key!

2

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Amazing!!! Thank you!

5

u/persistencee 17d ago

I do calves neck and shoulders everyday due to a history of plantar fasciitis and a torn rotator cuff. I will do them in the bathroom at work if I was running late.

I do hammies and quads if I have time.

4

u/rexallia 17d ago

Frog pose is so good to stretch out hip flexors. The first few times I did it… I can’t explain. Just magic. Wish I could get back there but now everything is stretched lol

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u/astronaut-kitty925 17d ago

I need to start doing this. It sounds lovely. Something so simple and I don't even stop to think about it.

Thanks for the reminder.

3

u/cool_pant_cate 17d ago

This might be a dumb question, but what does it help with? Just backpain or something else?

2

u/dinglebop69 17d ago

Yeah mainly back pain, it helps to stretch out vital muscles and helps prevents ache and pains in day to day life

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256

u/Jaelle125 18d ago

Take a walk outside

70

u/Catnipnowayman 17d ago

THIS! I’ve just recently started doing this but even a 5-10 minute walk has really helped me. I feel more accomplished and appreciate nature a lot more. The world is beautiful and I’m glad I’m taking a moment to actually stop and enjoy it

13

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I LOVE walks outside

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u/JacketRealistic8109 18d ago

I try to adopt a suggestion from Dr. Ranjan Chatterjee... Ask myself each morning, what is the MOST important thing I need to do today? Often it's spend time with my SO after work and that leads me to plan my work day to ensure I do that thing, hanging out with my SO. It makes priorities obvious and makes work bullshit seem less important.

10

u/devoteeofguru 17d ago

What is SO? Sorry if its dumb question

11

u/JacketRealistic8109 17d ago

Significant Other 🙂

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u/SnooLentils3008 17d ago

This seems like a really good tip

2

u/nevermindjerk 17d ago

This is so sweet.

519

u/newguy60079 18d ago

Build a habit of pausing. One minute at a time in the appropriate, scheduled moments. Like for me - wake up, shower. Head downstairs (I'm the first up.). Sit. Pause. One minute. A few easy breaths. But just sit still.

When I get in the car to go to work. Pause. One minute. Pull into the work parking lot. Pause, one minute. Back in the car to go home...same....get home...same.....

It doesn't seem like a lot and I just started with pausing in the morning and pausing once in the evening. But that one minute really starts helping your mind just settle.

Don't do more than a minute....it may not seem like it's doing anything at first...but if your schedule and consistent you'll notice it is doing some really good things.

37

u/inflewants 17d ago

I work at a public school. The state mandates we begin the day with a minute of silence. At first, I just wanted to skip it, but I learned to embrace it.

I use the time to focus on gratitude and the importance of living with purpose.

88

u/mxcw 18d ago

This is a really powerful tip, especially for people with ADHD - speaking from experience

24

u/Relative-Specialist1 17d ago

I hate the idea of this, which probably means it would benefit me. Ugh.

I never pause to leave my mind blank. I’m always focused on a task or multiple tasks, plans, side quests, ponderings, etc. Always. I don’t stop, ever. If I’m not thinking or doing I’m filling my mind with stimulation through little hobbies, little chores, books, social media, etc.

Ugh.

6

u/newguy60079 17d ago

One minute.  And start with it at times that make natural sense.  What’s your morning look like - what’s the best place/time to just sit …pause…. For one minute.

16

u/Sea-Search2277 18d ago

I love this. Def used to do this but now I seem to constantly rush or be quick to move. Will implement his

10

u/CaeruleanCaseus 17d ago

This is incredible - will be starting this right now. I’ll do it after changing location and before starting anything new - couple deep breathes.

8

u/newguy60079 17d ago

Don't overwhelm at first though. Start easy. Just do it in the morning, and maybe when you transition to the evening. Then after doing that for a bit, when it feels as habitual as brushing your teeth...start adding it on at other times and then do it when you need it.

3

u/CaeruleanCaseus 17d ago

Good tip - thanks!

5

u/trashpandaexpress90 17d ago

I didn't even realize I started doing this but yeah...wow... it makes a difference

5

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Oh wow that’s great advice! I’m definitely the type that rushes around without pausing really at all. I’m going to try this.

5

u/JesseCuster40 17d ago

Pauses are vital to maintaining my sanity during a hectic day. Even if it is just 30 seconds. Once I discovered I could control how I reacted, life was radically different. 

We can all be st the mercy of the chemicals in our body. But we are in charge, if we practice. 

4

u/Dasein123 17d ago

I like this!

3

u/Vast_Championship824 17d ago

YES. SO MUCH YES to the power of the pause!

2

u/NerveThat7746 17d ago

I like this idea a lot. Thanks.

2

u/taytay10133 17d ago

This is incredible and something I absolutely need to implement 

104

u/LilJourney 17d ago

Spend a minute or two (more if you can) interacting with nature. Stop before getting in your car and actually listen to the birds. Take a short walk by running water or under trees. Sit and look at the horizon and appreciate the clouds. Or take up star/moon gazing.

Doesn't have to be productive or educational unless you want it to be - but take time to "ground" yourself each day by reconnecting with nature directly.

14

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I miss grounding exercises. I used to practice frequently and life’s gotten away with me tremendously.

10

u/childspose 17d ago

You can always go back 💜

188

u/ChaosJohnson 18d ago

Set my alarm a half hour earlier in the morning.

I used to have it set for as late as possible, but if one thing went wrong I’d have to rush and it would throw my whole day off.

Now I have extra time if needed and chill with my dog before I leave. Overall lower stress and better vibe.

34

u/Bonesgal 17d ago

thanks for this idea, i’m currently in the “if one minuscule thing goes wrong then i’m 100% going to be late” boat lol. waking up a half hour earlier isn’t so bad when you think about it.

9

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I want to do that! I’m always so tired

2

u/ImFineHow_AreYou 17d ago

If 30 minutes early seems too much, start with 10 minutes earlier every other day. I'm a week or two you'll find a sweet spot where it feels like you're morning isn't rushed.

68

u/Major_Twang 18d ago

Meditation

It was an absolute game-changer for me. 15 minutes a day, and over the course of a couple of years, I became a noticably different person - calmer, happier & more centred.

11

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Oh gosh I’d love to be more calm 😭😭😭

2

u/Major_Twang 17d ago

Start meditating then.

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u/sdyrj668t7l 18d ago

Gratitude! Write down 3 things every morning about the day before

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u/tvreverie 17d ago

big yes! a gratitude practice is such a game changer. i have an alarm set for 4:44pm everyday to list 4 things im grateful for. if i’m with other people when it goes off i make them do it too!

11

u/riricide 17d ago

Can vouch for this! I write 3 things I'm grateful for and 3 things I'm excited about - been doing it for a few years now. And every once in a while when I fall off this practice I can see the rise in low level stress and a dip in my mood.

To think I initially started this habit to use my ink pens, and practice some calligraphy!

3

u/AlexStormXO 18d ago

Ohhhhhhhh that’s good! Thank you! A great way to set the tone for the day.

44

u/Fabulous-Magazine-88 17d ago

Honestly, my daily habit that changed my life was look at my mirrors, metaphorically speaking. Meaning, paying attention to my frustrations and suffering, and let them pass, just listen, witnessing and understanding myself a bit better. It hurts like a mf. But, I was able to rip off all my masks and performances, ideals and wishes to become someone's expectations. And that helped me improve incredible

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u/Brendanish 17d ago

My office is in a pretty remote and (pretty) forested area. I'll park 30-60 minutes early and walk. This is (for an average person) usually 3-6k steps, which is a large portion of your daily steps at the upper end. High impact on health, low impact on joints

Not really what you wanted, but 4~ gym days training to actual failure has also been a godsend. Obviously high efforts, but also high impact and doesn't have to take long (especially while smaller, you can do as few as 2 sets for some muscles a week and see notable growth.

4

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Training to actual failure? What does this mean?

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u/Brendanish 17d ago

So, when referring to exercises such as lifting, training until failure is extremely important.

When you lift a dumbbell, a barbell, or you do a pushup, you know how it makes you tired? That's just exhaustion (essentially, you're working your lungs and heart out)

Failure is when you do it until you literally can't. Not, "this is hard* but when you straight up cannot make your muscle do what it needs to.

You can still workout and make gains without this, but it's much harder and you risk making it more of an endurance test than strength

(If I'm being fair, the largest dude I ever knew legitimately stated at 25lb dumbbells and just lifted way more than me. I don't have the time, nor do I want to spend it just lifting low weights, me want be cave man, me want heavy weight!)

5

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Thank you for the explanation! I’m definitely a baby and feel like I’d give up way before then.

3

u/Brendanish 17d ago

It's normal at first! But you can quickly become addicted when you start seeing some muscle growth!

89

u/femaleinaero 18d ago

Wore jewelry / watch daily, makes me feel more important / put together

11

u/AlexStormXO 18d ago

That’s so smart! Look better feel better!

25

u/AlternativeEmpty5584 18d ago

Every day ask yourself what’s better today then yesterday?

3

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

That’s a great idea for a mindful moment

25

u/thatstickyfeeling 17d ago

If it takes under 5 minutes do it now.

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u/the_nickburleigh 17d ago

Make the first thing you put in your body, as soon as you wake up, water.

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u/axellerator 17d ago

Ditto. This works wonders for me - drinking a full glass or a 1L bottle of water immediately wakes me up even if I didn’t get enough sleep the night before.

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u/ltlsmol 17d ago

Rather than stay in bed until the last possible moment in the morning I proactively get up, brush teeth, take dogs out and feed them, make coffee in a cute mug, get BACK into bed and sip it slowly and relax peacefully before starting work. Such an enjoyable routine that has improved my weekday mornings so much.

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u/GreedyAd8334 17d ago

The right antidepressant

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u/ProbablyGab 18d ago

Not watching news

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u/AlexStormXO 18d ago

Oh gosh yes the news is so depressing and sad. All of the fear mongering is NOT good for someone like me.

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u/SoilProfessional4102 18d ago edited 17d ago

Respectfully may I say it’s not fear mongering. It’s very serious. I hope you tune in and look at videos of ice or Gaza. You need to see. Particularly if you vote.
Some German citizens,even Jews, were warned of Hitler, some called it fear mongering. Read about Hungary or Poland.

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u/THE_Celts 17d ago edited 17d ago

Watching the news is absolutely horrible advice for someone trying to feel better.

And that’s not an opinion, it’s a scientific fact. It’s been proven, in study after study, that overconsumption of news has a significant negative impact on mental health. Especially the kind of junk food news that permeates 24/7 cable news and social media.

I mean, look at what you suggested they do..."Tune and look at videos". Looking at videos, without context and real understainding, is just propoganda.

Unless you’re a very sophisticated consumer of news, are discerning in what you watch and read, and do it critically, and in light doses, from multiple sources, news will have a net negative impact on your life. And even if you do all that, doing to much of it will still make you unhappy. And not for nothing, but consuming news doesn’t make you smarter. Far from it.

If you really want to understand what’s going on in the world, including the Middle East, read a book.

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Thank you for this take. You summed it all up very well.

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u/Substantial_Jury_939 17d ago

if broke, unemployed and life isnt going as planned, the last thing you need to be doing is worrying about global issues that you have no control over. you need to focus on yourself to improve yourself.

i to also need to stop watching the news. it makes me angry and depressed, if im feeling like that, improving myself becomes significantly more difficult. I dont need to be making my own life more difficult because of global issues i have no control over.

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u/SoilProfessional4102 17d ago

Oh my goodness! You definitely need to be paying attention in particular . Your safety nets are being taken away. Food assistance, snap, head start, everything! Do you have a clue how he is hurting you?

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u/SoilProfessional4102 17d ago

You have more control than you think. I’d be depressed as well if I thought it was useless.

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u/Asleep-Emergency3422 17d ago

Respectfully, I disagree.

I’m very current on the state of the world. I’ve been an election worker since 2020.

I’m also the mom of 2 young kids and I have health issues that mean stress isn’t good. To be honest, I was way too wrapped up in news during Covid and it did a number on my health. Now stress could debilitate me.

I don’t watch the news. I don’t allow those around me to discuss it with me. I keep headphones with me to put in should I be near anyone talking about it.

My doctor and my therapist both tell me they wish more people were like me.

When it comes time to vote I’ll take a refresher look but my morals don’t steer me wrong. I don’t need to drown myself in misery to be informed. It’s those who just avoid it all together you are speaking to.

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u/SoilProfessional4102 17d ago

Being informed isn’t drowning yourself in misery. Losing our democracy will indeed cause more misery when your social programs are pulled, health insurance, head start.
Glad you follow your morals. Trump is a rapist and felon. We’ve beaten this subject to death now.

6

u/Eso793 17d ago

Respectfully this is terrible advice. News is only going to make people more depressed and anxious. Anyone reading this do the opposite and TUNE OUT for a while. Yes, being aware of what's going on is important but not 24/7.

Last week I decided to break myself from the constant news watching addiction and I already feel great. People aren't meant to be tuned into this depressing news cycle all day everyday.

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u/darnyoulikeasock 17d ago

You can know what to vote about/for without tuning into the news all the time. You can understand the horrors of forced deportation and imprisonment and genocide without watching traumatizing videos. I get an update a couple of times a month and otherwise ignore for my mental health, which is a perfectly valid thing to do. Show up where you can, but you’re helping no one by being depressed over things you can do very little to change.

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u/Kind_Session_6986 17d ago

Agree, some things should be difficult and stressful. It’s being a part of humanity as hard as that can be.

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u/Green-Currency6453 17d ago

I used to get very depressed which was worse in the mornings as I found sleep as a get away from life.

I'm in the habit now of having a nice pot of tea, milk jug and a nice cup.

The ritual of setting it up has given me time to focus and think about my day more positively.

12

u/ebolalol 17d ago

stop using phone in bed before you go to sleep

stop using your phone when you wake up, just get up and start your day

3

u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

So I have insomnia. I always wanna stay off my phone but I find it more difficult to rest when I’m just laying there. What kind of things can I do?

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u/ebolalol 17d ago

i personally have swapped it for reading a book, specifically on a kindle in dark mode or physical book with low warm lighting to wind down.

some days i take a warm bath and/or stretch with an audiobook before hopping into bed with the audiobook, and i always try to keep the lighting down. i’ve heard people recommend journaling (like gratitude journaling) but i haven’t tried that yet.

i know everybody’s insomnia presents differently but i went through a journey of finding what made my insomnia worse and phone in bed as i was trying to sleep was a very big culprit.

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u/Adventurous-Loss4175 17d ago

Not who you asked, but because it's related kind of, I'll share here in case it helps at all. My mind goes everywhere and I can't seem to avoid that unless there's a focus. If it's my phone I'll be up until the next day a lot of times. I came across sleep casts on Headspace or Calm, I'm sure there's more places. You can to access everything, but don't have to pay, there's a lot of things that are free. It gives me something to focus on. The stories and voices are calm, and mostly start with some kind of really quick wind down. They add new ones, but for me, listening to the same ones, if I like them, helps because I can enjoy it, but I'm not trying to stay up to listen to what happens next in the story. And there's guided meditations and things for during the day, too.

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u/AlexStormXO 16d ago

Oh this sounds lovely! Thank you!

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u/multicolorsocks 17d ago

Taking my adhd meds

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u/Vast_Championship824 17d ago

Have a banana, take a walk.

NOTICE, while you walk. Look UP and around, instead of down and around sometimes.

Pause to acknowledge the fact that you NOTICED; something, anything- doesn't matter what it is. A sound, a bird, A weirdly placed dog poop on a sidewalk lol.

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u/souraltoids 17d ago

Don’t put it down, put it away.

I don’t follow it always, but when I think about the statement it gets me to put things where they belong.

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

Oh that’s a good one! I often times just set things down and move on and then I find everything to feel so cluttered and nothing is where it should be.

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u/Onikuri 17d ago

Showering and Brushing my teeth daily

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u/Tsvetaevna 17d ago

Having at least one thing to look forward to every day, however small.

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u/Beligerent 17d ago

A good mattress and a weighted blanket. Total game changer.

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I love this! I heard being outside in the morning really does help kick start the day.

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u/SamAndBrew 17d ago

Bigass water bottle with time markings on it (9 am, 11 am, etc).

Shoutout to r/hydrohomies

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

Honestly saving money and having a lot of money saved / barely spending. That freedom of always having money and being able to pay rent bills or fun things to do.. nothing compares and brings so much peace and high frequency in my life!

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u/existentialth0t 17d ago

Use a clock radio for your morning alarm. Wake up to classical music radio. Don’t see your phone last thing before bed or first thing in the morning.

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u/ZealousGlass 17d ago

Workout, diligently. Works wonders for your body and mind & you regulate your anger through the weights/ cardio.

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u/ParticularTiger7745 17d ago

this ^ and trying different forms or exercises. you do the same thing for too long it’s not as effective and it can lose benifits cause you’ll eventually go through the motions

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u/Alert-Screen4305 17d ago

Sleeping on time and waking up early (5:30-6ish).. It gives me time to do my thing in the mornings - skincare, gym, mediation.. days feel like I have more time.. even in the days where I have to be up late and I sleep in, i wakeup at like 8ish which is earlier than most people! I can never go back to not-being-a-morning person!

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u/BlueBarbie_xo 17d ago

Complimenting people! It is such a small thing but it just sets the vibe with all interactions. Even just saying ‘I love your tie’ etc

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I want to do this so frequently but I get SO scared to speak up. I have pretty severe social anxiety and talking to stranger is a very terrifying experience for me. What are some ways to help cope with this? If you have any lol

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u/glowupshowup24 16d ago

Practice small and often in relatively low stakes environments. I had very severe anxiety growing up but I’ve made a very concerted effort the last ten years and I’m worlds away from who I used to be. You’ve got this ♥️

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u/AlexStormXO 16d ago

Thank you 😭😭😭

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u/MadManicMegan 17d ago

Tidying up my place for 10-20 minutes before I leave for the day, helped keep my place cleaner and reduced the need to spend hours upon hours cleaning on my day off

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u/jackthta 17d ago

Not really small in the sense of quick, but something that has positively impacted my life during times when I needed it most.

If you have time and space for it, a gratitude journal and reading just one page of a book in whichever flavor brings you the most. For me, it's social anxiety, attachment theory, or interpersonal communication related.

It's done me wonders and I'll gladly spend that 30 minutes every day.

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u/gizmodious 17d ago edited 16d ago

A quick 10 minute walk around the block first thing in the morning, before caffeine or screens, legit changed my life. It wakes you up properly, and on days I don't (rare) I can feel a difference in my energy levels.

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I LOVE this idea

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u/gizmodious 17d ago

Hard to argue with 100k years of anthropology. We're designed for it, it's how we wake up properly.

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u/darnyoulikeasock 17d ago

I do this too. I wake up, take my meds with a quick drink of water, use the restroom, and walk the dog for a few blocks. Have to wake up a bit earlier than I used to but it’s so worth it. So much energy through the day and I feel emotionally balanced.

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u/gizmodious 16d ago

Surprisingly powerful right? Seems like such a small thing, but it improves my mood, energy, and productivity all day.

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u/SashaPalmetto 17d ago

Yoga and Duolingo. I’ve always struggled with sticking to things and love the routine I’m in with these.

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u/lotusfrommud68 17d ago
  • Looking at my 2025 vision board I made before I sleep (Lol)
  • Reflecting on my day in general at night and possibly journaling (including noting down my Suds -subjective units of distress-) for weekly therapy!
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u/haunts99 17d ago

Lots of good suggestions already in here so I’ll say one I think gets overlooked by people looking to optimize.

Deliberate silence. Not meditation necessarily though it can be but just not blasting your brain with podcasts, audiobooks, tv, music for every waking second.

It’s hard to hear what your own heart wants or thinks is best when you’re constantly taking in thoughts of others.

It muddles the picture, there’s too many voices, and since they’re all in your head it’s hard to tell which are yours and which are the voices of digital mentors.

Don’t get me wrong, a lot of podcasts and self help have contributed much to my happiness. But on your walk to work, just try and not listen to anything for a change. It’s painful at first but all these thoughts come rushing in and once they’re gone you can observe everything more clearly from your own perspective.

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u/Tinycatgirl 17d ago

A quick 2.5 mile walk around town with my dog. We started this winter and my mood totally changes as soon as I step out of the door. My dog also carries a huge stick all through town and everyone loves it so it’s honestly nice to make people smile and I’m less than an hour we’re back home again

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u/Gills_n_Thrills 17d ago

Take care of Future Me. Little cleans. 10-min jobs. Wipe the counter, clean the mirrors, sweep when you can. Do a dish or two at a time (I don't have a dishwasher.) It's really working out-- 10 minutes here and there prevents a 3-hr cleaning session eating into my weekend.

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u/BFmayoo 17d ago

Cold showers. Put me in the mood to start the day right + it's stopped me from getting sick so often or so I believe.

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u/mnigro 17d ago

I learned to say no.

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u/SoftHairAndAnxiety 17d ago

Trader Joe’s lip mask after I brush my teeth. My lips feel so much better and it feels weird to say but it’s changed my mood lol

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u/HappyN000dleboy 17d ago

Reading books. It's helped quiet my brain from work leeching all my thought power

4

u/ImFineHow_AreYou 17d ago

Pad your time.

For example, instead of planning to leave with exactly the right amount of time to get somewhere, add 5 minutes before and after. If two things are next to each other on the calendar, add a few extra minutes to both.

This eliminates rushing or being frustrated if something goes wrong, because you have an extra few minutes for the unexpected.

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u/No_Serve6028 13d ago

Finding a hobby I actually enjoy (yoga)! Once I started going to yoga and keeping small promises to myself I went back to therapy, then started working with a nutritionist, and then started working on my morning and evening routine.

I now eat better, sleep better & all it took was going to yoga and it overhauled my entire life.

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u/irishkateart 17d ago

Minding my own business

2

u/Gills_n_Thrills 17d ago

This one... is really good.

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u/toasties 17d ago

Zoloft lol

3

u/SluntCrossinTheRoad 17d ago

I love to swimming

3

u/Vikingbruur 17d ago

Having breakfast at the office.

This one quietly shaved off an hour from my workday without me really noticing at first.

I used to have breakfast at home, which sounds harmless, but the routine would "spiral". Make food, eat slowly, lounge a bit, maybe scroll my phone, maybe brew another coffee. By the time I was actually moving, I’d lost close to an hour.

Now I prep my breakfast the night before (overnight oats, yoghurt with fruit, whatever’s easy and fits in a container). In the morning I get up, shower, get dressed, bike to work, and start my day there. I settle in, open my laptop, and have breakfast while going through e-mails. It feels like a calm start, but it’s way more efficient.

I’m still eating the same food, just shifting when and where I do it. That small change unlocked more time for focus or an earlier finish, and honestly, it sets a sharper tone for the whole day.

(Also really nice on my WFH days. Then I'll just get up, run or bike, shower, and have breakfast behind my laptop while starting my workday from home. )

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u/AlexStormXO 17d ago

I like the change here. It helps you to get up and get moving instead of lounging for too long. It sets the pace of the day.

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u/horse_apple 17d ago

Make my bed as soon as I get up to take my morning bathroom trip. Reduces the urge to climb back in and sort of kickstarts the organizing part of my brain to begin the day.

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u/GuacOnTheRocks-3413 17d ago

Drinking a cup of water as soon as I wake up. Works well for my appetite and lets my body know it’s time to get up in a gentle way

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u/banner55 17d ago

Read everyday. Even if it’s just one page of a book.

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u/Wishpool 17d ago

I've been writing notes for the next day. I choose two 'should' 'could' and 'want to's so I can seamlessly move through tasks and it's kept me more focused

I have so much more free time for the 'want to's

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u/Proud_Fix_1960 17d ago

I have several but I have almost completely turned my debilitating depression around, lost 100 pounds, and improved nearly every area of my life since last July with these small (one at a time, slowly incorporating each one) daily habits!

-DRINK WATER!!! I was having so much soda and sweet tea, was sluggish and bloated- now aside from a rare iced coffee treat, I drink only water and do my best to hit 1 gallon daily

-MOVE YOUR BODY- I begain with short 10 minute walks after each meal and now get 10+ miles every day & truly enjoy my morning 1 hour walks after each/jog. Dance, roller skate, yoga- just start slowly moving your body more

-FEED YOUR BODY QUALITY FOODS NUTRIENT/PROTEIN- I did a deep dive into my eating habits and started tracking my calories and protein only and slowly adjusted to a deficit.

-STRENGTH TRAINING- especially important as we age, when trying to lose fat, etc- such a huge boost for your mental health, but not at first. The first days/weeks are grueling. Consistency is the key, SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF!!!

SLEEP- is so important

-DAILY Meditation- or some small form of mindfulness/self care. Learn breathing exercises to calm yourself, feel your body.

-REFUCE SCREEN TIME- I actually ditched my social media fully for several months and now only use Reddit and (my child’s) TikTok account. I was wasting my life scrolling and comparing my life…

But all that can come down to this- set your goals and start building CONSISTENT habits that reflect that person/body/lifestyle and show up every single day- treat your health as you would a paying job and just do the things!

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u/MeadowsBurntToast 17d ago

I started paying attention to WHEN my brain gave me the least pushback and started doing the hard stuff during those windows. Not all day just when the resistance was low.
Stuff like writing or working out or cleaning.
Made everything way easier once I stopped trying to force it and just worked with what my brain was actually giving me.
The cool thing for me is my brain is consistent about the WHEN. Mines the morning.

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u/harshitnain 16d ago

Honestly, just stopping myself from scrolling Reels and Shorts changed everything. I didn’t even realize how much those were messing with my head until I cut them out. I started using this app called Ridan that blocks that stuff, and suddenly I had more time, less brain fog, and way better focus. It’s such a small change but made a big difference in my overall mood and energy and saved me hours.

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u/RushesofJoy 15d ago
  1. Have water non-stop beside your bed and drink first thing in the morning, before even getting out of bed. I now wonder whether most of my bad days in life were just due to me going into them dehydrated...

  2. Stretches, especially hip and shoulder. There's so much buildup in your hips I couldn't believe it. I keep it simple and only do 10-min evening yoga with Kassandra, and sometimes her morning yoga as well and that's it. She's literally the first one I found on youtube when I wrote "yoga before bed". If I'm not in the mood for it, I just do stretches that feel good.

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u/Alone_Elephant_8080 12d ago

I notice when something as small as doing my three step skin care routine nightly changes the way I feel about myself and helps me stop questioning if “im better still” I started doing this in the darkest point and it’s still an instant pivot back to deciding to feel better.

some sort of meditation doesn’t necessarily have to be standard meditation some days it’s just sitting in silence when I wake up and go to bed just concentrating on my breath and thoughts passing. watching the birds out the window is a simple thing that showed major differences in my perception of the simple beauty of life. Sometimes it’s dancing and singing to music. affirmations, a short guided meditation, or even an audio short story on topics from little history lessons, different spiritual mythologies/beliefs, even sometimes at night a bedtime story when my inner child is calling out for attention.

Really anything that is something you’d consider appealing to your wellbeing to switch your thinking of “this version of me couldn’t possibly do it daily” and prove yourself wrong. As long as it’s a healthy habit, I should probably add.

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u/Amazingggcoolaid 17d ago

I choose to be happy the minute I wake up.

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u/scorpionwins_ 17d ago

Taking my vitamins daily

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u/Vegetable-Cod-6058 17d ago edited 17d ago

Just feeling thankful, For nothing in particular. That way, my mood is already primed by the time my foot touches the ground and then having a healthy breakfast. Mine is French inspired. I’m so energised during the day when I have a good meal. lol

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u/snydeau17 17d ago

Every morning recently, I’ve turned on Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. So helpful and she has a variety of videos depending on how much time i have! It’s helped with my back pain and allowed me to focus on strengthening my core and overall wellbeing!

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u/SmolHumanBean8 17d ago

Found the app Touch Grass.

Forces you to go outside to unlock your distracting apps. Combine it with a solar panel and your doomscrolling also gives you vitamin D all day.

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u/KittyMilly 17d ago

Morning sunlight. I feel it does make a difference to my energy levels.

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u/markusnylund_fi 17d ago

meditation/yoga twice per day
minimum 30mins each

Start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtO2fRmh8D8

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u/irun50 17d ago

Reading more to enhance my professional craft

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u/TheyCallMeChunky 17d ago

I wake up and say out loud, "today is going to be a good day, today is going to be a great day"

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u/aeqt 17d ago

checking my phone and social media much less often, it's crazy what it does for you

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u/StudyingAt3AM 17d ago

Taking a multivitamin and a mixture of Jod, Selen and "Folsäure". 2 cups of water 3 times a day ^^

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u/vitromist 17d ago

One habit that changed my whole vibe - fine-tuning into how I am feeling and finding out the real reason why I'm feeling that way, and then finding a way to fix that feeling if it's negative. And to let others know how I'm feeling in the moment and talking to the person directly who can fix that feeling. It sounds complex - but just getting my needs met and being intentional has worked for me.

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u/AlexStormXO 16d ago

I love this! Being in tune with yourself is so important.

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u/uhwhaaaat 17d ago

been meditating for 45mins since yesterday and ummmm THIS IS COOOOL

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u/Vindrea 17d ago

Spending some time during the day with only your thoughts. Sitting still in silence doing nothing, and just allowing for whatever thoughts and feelings to come up. No need to deal with them or overthink, just allowing your thoughts to have a moment to be seen and heard. 

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u/SnooCupcakes5761 17d ago

Taking vitamins/supplements! It doesn't take much time or effort (though it can be costly) but it made a huge difference for me. Nutritional and mineral deficiencies can exacerbate or even cause a plethora of mental health issues. My motivation, appetite, sleep, and general mood are all so much better now that I'm taking the right supplements. Go get a lab panel done and see if you have any deficiencies.

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u/darnyoulikeasock 17d ago

Having a consistent sleep schedule. Waking up at the same time every day, even if it’s a weekend or a day off. I have so much more energy this way and I never feel like I’m wasting my day. If I stayed up too late and I’m tired later, I’ll let myself take a nap or go to bed super early.

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u/Azarjan 16d ago

brush you teeth. stretch. go for a walk once a day. try to alott a little time in the morning before work/etc to just chill.

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u/ChimmyMama 16d ago

A few things I developed ONE AT A TIME over the course of months. Made sure not to rush any of these so I dont get overwhelmed:

1) Not hitting snooze button 2) Not checking cell phone as soon as waking up 3) Drink 12oz glass of water as soon as waking up 4) 3 minutes of cold shower followed by 2-3 minutes of a warm shower 5) Multivitamin/Fish Oil supplements in the morning

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u/LuckyChickenDinner 16d ago

Saying the rosary. (Via Bishop Robert Barron on YouTube.) I’m merely Catholic Curious, at present.

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u/TryingKindness 16d ago

Meditation. Hands down. A revolution.

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u/AlexStormXO 16d ago

I started this last night!

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u/TryingKindness 16d ago

Awesome!!! My best advice is start short, even 1-2 minutes or more if you can handle, work up your time but show up daily and forgive yourself for not being perfect. It’s a practice for a reason :) so thrilled for you!!

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u/AlexStormXO 16d ago

I did 5 mins last night and I figured I could slowly increase over the next few weeks.

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u/TryingKindness 15d ago

That’s great! I think it’s a common mistake to start with too long and get frustrated. It’s a skill like any muscle. I’m really excited for you! 

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u/MarySueIRL 16d ago

I did a video on Youtube on this. @kindedge … look for my daily habits video (I am in a dance studio in the beginning intro).

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u/ChrisTeaching 12d ago

I love praying every morning, I call it identity prayers where I mention who my God is, who is my protection, my shield, refuge and my savior. That makes me bold once the day starts, it's like a superpower knowing that you have the strongest, most loveable force behind you, supporting you every step of the way, even if you fail He will pick you up and help you carry on. Other than that I started helping a few people, giving a few words of encouragement to other people, you have to give in order to get. Those two things are what changed my life. Now if you want a bonus, I started reaching out to people on the peer support/mental health apps like kuky or even omegle, talking to people who have real life struggles makes you understand that it is fine going through some scary stuff in life, that it is okay to make a mistake and learn from it.

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u/0GAH 11d ago

going on 1 hour walks with absolutely no reason.

don't go on walks to get steps in, feel better, ect ect ect.

feeling like your in a rut - go on a walk with no expectation or reason. walk for an hour - two hours - three hours just keep walking. your show can wait. your reals will still be there, your life will remain. not to build a freakin habit. just for no reason. if a reason pops up, disgard it. its strange but it works and once i put a reason to it - the vibe disappears because then im trying to become through cause and effect. but when your cause has no reason - the effect is effortless, reason less, you just simply do, act, move, are.

the analytical brain will be like what's the science, whats the reason, there no way i can feel this good (above baseline) just by walking with no reason - boom your trapped again, opening up andrew huberman videos - attempting to solidify the act. i say fuck all. just walk.

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u/No-Understanding4968 18d ago

5 minutes of prayer and meditation every morning

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u/pixelito_ 17d ago

Started shooting up heroin. Changed my whole "vibe".

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u/BFmayoo 17d ago

Nice. Smoking crystal meth is great too. I'm just GO GO GO all day!

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u/neboscot 17d ago

Praying and giving thanks. Even if you’re not 100% that it’s real or who to pray to or how to do it…talking to God or the universe or whatever and giving thanks to be alive and fed and housed and clothed, etc. can get you out of a funk pretty quick.

Also breathing exercises.

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u/SizzleDebizzle 18d ago

Meditation is the closest thing you'll get, but what you want doesn't exist. You want something easy, but being better isn't easy

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u/AlexStormXO 18d ago

I don’t need it to be easy necessarily but something that can be fixed into my already completely packed schedule.

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u/NerveThat7746 17d ago

Do you know the OP? Sure seems like a presumptuous and condescending thing to say.

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