There is a famous saying: ‘The small things are the big things.’ The meaning of it is simple: even the tiniest details matter a lot, it goes both for homebrewing and healthy living. Over time, you might reevaluate your behavior or views that don’t seem that influential at first.
This very much applies to the things we do daily, to our habits. Not all of them are easy to establish and keep, but once we manage to do it, we can see the positive changes in our lives. So, it is better to start with tiny habits, some easy actions that won’t require a lot of effort and can easily fit into any routine. Here are some ideas on what to implement in your daily plans to give them a positive boost.
Make Your Bed
Yes, this is rather trivial advice, but those who already do it know how much discipline it brings. Firstly, the room becomes much neater in no time. A messy bed gives an impression of disorder, even if everything else in the room is fine. Secondly, it sets you in the right mood to start a day with some little accomplishments that cheer you up and give you that inspiration to go on.
What’s more, if you have a pet and skip making your bed, you will have to wash it more often. Even if your cat or dog is forbidden to go on the bed, their fur can still fly around, going down on the sheets. Which, in turn, will surely lead to bigger water bills. Think about that!
Plan Minimum Daily Chores
As grown-ups, we have to take good care of our homes. Not just because everybody does it, but because it is more pleasant to live in a tidy space. When we try to stick to some cleaning routines, it usually goes like this: we dedicate half of our weekend to cleaning the entire house, feeling tired afterward, as well as a little disappointed. The amount of time spent on not-so-pleasant activities (and not everyone finds cleaning pleasant, let’s face that) is stronger than the feeling of accomplishment or relief. So, there is a point in trying to do it in a different way.
Consider doing a maximum of two chores a day. To remember it and not back up, use the wellbeing Liven app and its Routine Builder—the handy to-dos in there are a great help when it comes to creating a daily plan. Having clear intentions for the upcoming day reduces stress and creates the best circumstances for establishing a stable habit.
Besides, one of two chores is actually the realistic number, and not as overwhelming as the idea of wiping the whole place, so it will be emotionally easy for you to begin.
Try Breathing Exercises
There are a lot of breathing techniques for different purposes, but most of them are popular for helping you calm down and concentrate. The tutorials are easy to follow, and the effect is almost immediate. Breathing exercises are a safe practice you can try at home; no special tools are needed. And they don’t require much time, which means that you can perform those anywhere.
Breathing exercises, like taking 10 deep breaths, can reduce stress and help you stay present. More advanced techniques, such as Square Breathing, promote relaxation and improve focus. Incorporating mindful breathing into your routine boosts calmness and productivity.
Communication
Implement some genuine conversations in your daily routine. No, it doesn’t have to be a long talk with your distant relatives, but just a few words with your mom or a close friend will do very well. It is better to make a phone call or, if possible, have a real-life conversation. The chats on Facebook, WhatsApp, or other social media are not as emotional and have already become very trivial to us.
If you don’t have a chance to speak to a close person, do a small good deed by complimenting a stranger on a morning walk, or be friendly to your barista in the nearest cafe. Just speak!
This can make you feel less alone and realize that you are part of a community, even if you work from home and spend a lot of time on your own. And feeling like a part of some social group brings comfort and confidence, which is quite a good thing for your mental wellbeing.
Stay Hydrated
We have all heard about those necessary 8 glasses of water we have to drink in a day. However, now healthcare specialists claim that the amount of liquid is individual for every person, which really makes sense. So, you can drink how much you need, just do it consistently.
Watching your hydration levels makes you also review your ratio: what you eat, what your cravings usually are, and what gives you the most energy for the day. This, in turn, might lead to establishing more healthy, useful habits and increasing your energy levels all-in-all. Starting a day with a glass of water might sound trivial, but it still remains a good way to give a little kick to your digestive system, reminding it to begin the work.
Creating Habits That Stick, One Step at a Time
If you want to improve your life, don’t rush. Trying to make big changes simultaneously might lead to disappointment, so starting with microhabits is the shortest way to success. Try some of the habits from the list above, or create your own little rituals to repeat every day, build consistency and discipline, and feel happy with your routine! It’s a principle that even homebrewers follow — small, consistent actions like tracking fermentation, sanitizing equipment, or tweaking recipes over time can lead to incredible results.
