Alright, so…who’s ready for 2026?
The new year is the time when everyone goes a little crazy, making resolutions, the same ones we all know will be forgotten by February or March.
But what if this time, things were different?
if you’re looking for items to add to your New Year’s resolution that won’t leave you feeling the burnout a few weeks later, I’ve got you. Here I share 16 simple habits you can start today to prepare for the new year and slowly but surely modify your life for the best.
Ready? here we go!!
Healthy Body Habits
Wake up and go to bed at a set time every day
Setting a sleep schedule might seem like an impossible task, but it’s actually one of the simplest ways to get better sleep. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps to regulate your body’s natural sleep rhythm.
Waking up at the same time every day also helps to get your body into a routine. When you have a set time to wake up, your body will start to produce energy at that time, making it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
I know it’s tempting to stay up scrolling at 1 AM (I’ve been there), but a good night’s sleep really changes everything. It’s important to make sure you get enough sleep. Most people need around eight hours of sleep per night.
Drink plenty of water
I know, I know, you’ve probably heard this a hundred times before. But hear me out: water really does make a difference. The body constantly loses water throughout the day. To prevent dehydration, you need to get plenty of water every day.
There are so many reasons why you should drink a lot of water: It helps you increase energy and relieve fatigue, and also keeps your skin hydrated, fresh and smooth. It’s the best anti-ageing treatment ever.
Now, I’ll be honest… I forget sometimes, too. There are days when I down two bottles before noon and then totally forget the next day. Balance, right? But building the habit is what counts.
The quantity of water you should drink varies between 2 and 3 litres. One trick I use to drink more water is to keep a bottle next to me at all times, so I develop the habit of sipping throughout the day.
You can also make drinking water part of your daily routine. For example, have a glass after brushing your teeth in the morning, another 30 minutes before lunch, and so on. Make it effortless.
Stretch and move your body
Make it a goal to move more throughout the day. Stretching and moving your body have so many benefits, like helping you improve your flexibility, range of motion, and circulation.
Taking a few minutes to stretch and move your body every day can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
So why not give it a try?
There are a lot of easy ways to move and stretch your body throughout the day. You can do some basic stretches when you wake up in the morning, take a brisk walk during your lunch break, and do some simple yoga poses before bed.
Additionally, you can make a conscious effort to move more often throughout the day by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from your destination, and walking or biking to errands instead of driving.
And, of course, you can always add in a more formal workout routine a few times per week to really get your body moving.
Cook your meals yourself
It can be awkward if you’re not used to cooking (we’ve all burned a thing or two). But it’s totally worth it. Cooking for yourself gives you control over what you’re consuming. You’ll know exactly what is good for you and tend to be careful with what you’re eating, drinking and care a little bit more about your health.
How do you learn how to cook?
Start small. You can start by looking for free tutorials, like YouTube videos, to learn basic knife skills. Visit your local library or a bookstore, look for beginner-friendly cookbooks, you can even buy cooking books, or you can take cooking classes, etc…
Mind & Mood Habits
Start a new hobby
Making time for activities you enjoy is an easy way to improve your mental health and emotional well-being in general.
Hobbies decrease stress by relaxing you and taking your mind a break from the concerns of daily life. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some fun hobbies to try:
- journaling
- digital drawing
- watercolour painting
- colouring books
- bracelet making
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to start a new hobby. Most of these hobbies are affordable and easy to start at home on your own.
Limit social media
Technology can be a wonderful tool for improving yourself, but mindless screen time can have a negative effect, so make it a habit to limit your screen time.
I am also guilty of mindless scrolling more often than I’d like to admit.
You don’t have to quit social media altogether; you can just set some limits for yourself!
When you think about it, setting limits is a great way to improve your life. It’s fairly easy to make habits into positive ones, but stopping a negative habit can be tricky. So why not start with a positive one?
Here are a few tips I’ve picked up to help you establish a good habit of limiting your screen time.
- Take a few extra minutes every day to look away from your phone, computer, and other devices.
- Take care of your eyes, pay attention to how long you spend looking at your screens.
- Set a “no screens after _ PM” rule.
- Have one “digital detox” day per week where you stay mostly offline.
Productivity & Lifestyle
Be organised
No, literally. I’m talking about your actual home. Once you get your space in order, everything else will start to fall into place. Let me give you some statistics. The average person spends 60 hours per year looking for lost items. That equals 150 days throughout a lifetime! Just think of what you could do with 150 additional days!
The Solution? Don’t leave anything without a home. Give everything its place and keep it there, no more searching or frustration. You won’t be looking for something when you know where you’re used to putting it, and it is still here.
Go for a walk and stay outside
I am sure you’ve all noticed this phenomenon. Everywhere you go, people just seem to be lost in their screens and unable to put them down. Walking down the street? Phone. At a cafe? Phone. Hanging out with friends? Yep, phone again.
We are slowly losing our habit of actually talking to other people and enjoying a few hours with other people. Mom was right; it’s the damn phone.
I know it’s more fun to stay in your bed and binge-watch 3 seasons of your favourite show, but going outside is literally good for your body and your mental health.
So how can you make it happen? Go for a walk, take your pet for a walk, play tag with your friends, or just sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Set goals and do something toward them every single day
I might be the only person who feels this way, but not having goals in life sometimes feels like driving a car without a clear destination. I admit I like long, mindless car rides, but in life? Not knowing where I’m going makes me anxious sometimes.
Goals give me a sense of direction, something to look forward to, something that reminds me I’m building towards something, even when it’s slow.
A goal can honestly be about anything, no matter how small it is: a career goal, a personal goal or a new habit you want to form, a new activity to try, anything that makes you feel like you are growing and becoming better at something and better than your past self.
One way to make sure you reach your goals is to set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly ones. You can also have long-term goals that you are working towards. Having a goal in each area of your life will help keep you on track, and doing something every day that helps you reach your goals will ensure success.
There’s something powerful about seeing your goals in your own handwriting; it makes them feel real. Writing down your goals and ambitions gives you a clearer picture of what you’re doing, and tracking your progress over time gives you that little sense of accomplishment we all love. You can start small — maybe set a goal to build one new habit this year and commit to working on it.
Self-Care & Mindset Habits
Keep a positive attitude
Let’s be honest, staying positive isn’t always easy. Life happens, things go sideways, and sometimes it just… sucks. But trying to look for something good, even a small thing, can make those hard days a little lighter.
Instead of beating yourself up or staying stuck in a bad mood, take a breath, learn what you can from the situation, and keep going. You deserve peace more than you deserve to replay every mistake in your head.
A big part of keeping a positive attitude also comes from taking care of yourself. Getting enough sleep, eating well, moving your body, and giving yourself moments to rest and reset. When you feel good inside, it naturally becomes easier to see the good around you.
Wrapping up…
This small list might not look impressive or life-changing at first glance, but it’s the little things and little habits that you have in life that help your life become more manageable.
So go ahead; pick one habit, try to adopt it slowly and don’t push yourself. Track your improvement and remove obstacles from your way.
Let me know how it goes in the comments. We’re in it together !!
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’til next time
