Magazine
12 Habits That Will Make You a New Person
Resolutions don't work, but one new habit a month is something you can manage
Let's not fool ourselves. Every year we enter a new chapter with a pile of resolutions that gradually gather dust – some slowly, others at lightning speed. Resolutions therefore tend to be a source of much frustration at our own failure. So what can you do so that, a year from now, you don't have to note sadly that yet another year has slipped away?
It's much simpler than you might think. It takes just three steps:
Define who you want to be. If you create a picture of your future self in your head, you will automatically steer your actions towards the things your new self will be doing… And the sooner you will become that new self.
Turn the new activities into a habit. Your new activities have to become automatic. They have to be part of you. And you will only get there through regular repetition.
Act. Even the best plan is worth nothing if you don't follow it. Simply act. Throw away all the reasons why not yet, and ask your new self why yes…
To make the journey to your new self easier, choose just one habit each month to add to your life. If this approach works for you, in a year's time you will have 12 new habits. And those will certainly change your life radically…
01 · January
Set a regular sleep routine
Many motivational speakers and personal-growth experts advise getting up very early and devoting the morning to self-development, exercise and the like. Yes, that can be a way, but you shouldn't downright force yourself into it. If your body and your natural rhythm define you as a night owl, you won't easily become a lark.
It makes more sense to listen to your body and set a rhythm that suits you – but a regular one. Getting up at the same hour… And falling asleep, too. Regardless of whether it's a weekday or the weekend. That gives your body and mind a routine, which may benefit the quality of your sleep, and other activities will come more easily as well.
02 · February
Read
Reading opens up new horizons. Among other things, it lets your mind unwind and improves the way you express yourself. And perhaps something more: in a long-term American study, book readers lived longer on average than people who didn't read books. That is an observed association, though, not proof that reading extends life.
03 · March
Treat yourself to a daily facial massage
A facial massage boosts circulation in the skin and pleasantly relaxes it, so it usually looks fresher and more radiant afterwards. Whether it also stimulates collagen production has not been reliably shown. If you add a few facial exercises to the massage, it may contribute to fuller cheeks and a more youthful look in an entirely natural way – a small study suggested as much, although the women in it exercised for about half an hour a day. For a few minutes of your time each day, it is certainly worth a try.
04 · April
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to calm your mind, tidy up your thoughts and relax. And it needn't take hours of your time. Research and other people's experience suggest that even a few minutes a day may do you good – in one small study, 13 minutes of daily meditation showed up in mood and attention after eight weeks. Feel free to start with a shorter time and gradually extend it, for instance up to about 20 minutes a day.
When meditating, all you need to do is focus on your breathing and not think. Thinking of nothing is harder than it may seem at first sight. Thoughts will come to you. The important thing is to let them go and pay them no attention. Be their observer and explore where they lead you…
05 · May
Keep a journal
Keeping a journal is not just something for children and teenagers. On the contrary, the older you are, the more a journal will help you sort out your own thoughts and find a new perspective on problems. What's more, it's an excellent way to cultivate a positive mindset. Try writing down each day the things you were grateful for that day, and watch your mind and your reality begin to turn for the better.
06 · June
Go for a walk every day
The people of ancient Greece and Rome already knew that a happy life lies in the harmony of body and spirit. The classical ideal runs through the whole of human history, and the cult of the perfect body and perfect health has probably never been as topical as it is today. In our pursuit of perfection we are willing to spend thousands. But there is a simpler way…
To improve your physical fitness you don't have to rush off to the gym. It's enough to peel yourself off the sofa for 30 minutes every day and go for a walk. Experts from many fields agree that regular walking is good for both body and mind. Half an hour of brisk walking a day also covers the 150 minutes of activity a week that the World Health Organization recommends for adults.
07 · July
Remember to stay hydrated
We're not talking about beer, or wine, or coffee… Ideally, drink plain water. If you struggle with its taste, add lemon or berries. Your body needs enough fluid to work well – including the kidneys, which take care of excretion and ‘detoxification’ by themselves. There is no need to count glasses: needs vary from person to person, some of our water comes from food, and thirst is a good guide.
08 · August
Praise yourself
Everything will get easier from the moment you sincerely and wholeheartedly accept the fact that you are perfect and that at every moment of your life you are exactly where you need to be. A simple trick that takes no extra time at all can help you with that. Feel free to combine this exercise with brushing your teeth or any other activity you do automatically. Just look in the mirror and sincerely praise yourself.
Show yourself some love. Pamper yourself. Like yourself. There's nothing wrong with that. Quite the opposite. The more you love yourself, the more love you will be able to give to everyone around you.
It may feel strange at first. You may find it goes against the grain, but don't give up. You will always find something to praise about yourself. Whether it's your hair, your smile, or the fact that you kept your temper in check and didn't explode with anger when that man of yours didn't take the rubbish out… Again.
09 · September
Make time for self-knowledge
Only if you know where you are can you move on. That is why getting to know yourself continually matters. The good news is that many of the habits you have adopted so far will help you with it. Be it walks, meditation or your journal.
10 · October
Dream
‘Yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.’ – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
There is probably nothing more to add to this one…
11 · November
Help others
Helping others enriches us. Over time, many of us have forgotten this. We are so immersed in our own problems that we forget what makes us human: the ability to live in a community, the ability to share and to grow together. And that is only possible if we set our ego aside and start sincerely helping others. The energy you give will then unexpectedly start coming back to you. Even a small act of help counts. If it is sincere and given with an open heart.
12 · December
Smile
Have you ever noticed how few people go through the world with a smile? And have you noticed that when someone does smile, they earn suspicious looks? We have got used to the idea that smiles belong to children, fools and those who happen to be under the influence… And it makes no difference whether that's alcohol or love. As we have grown older we have forgotten how to smile, and everyday worries have wiped the smile off our faces. That's a pity. It's time to change it. Because if you start smiling more at the world around you, the world will start smiling more at you.
