Simple Habits to Start Before 2021

2020 has been a weird year and I know things have not gone as planned for most people.

However, despite all of it, we can still implement habits to improve our life.

You probably have some big goals in mind to start going after in January…but what are you waiting for??

Take advantage of these last few weeks of 2020 and start NOW. Get ahead on those goals.

You don’t need the new year, a new month, or a Monday to start. Take steps to reach those goals.

Time is precious and the longer you wait the less of it you have.

Below are several simple habits that you can begin implementing today to improve your health and life overall.

Gratitude

Write down at least 3 things you’re grateful for every day. You can think of things in your head, but writing them down is way more powerful.

I’ve been using my bullet journal to write down my gratitude list every day.

A lot of times we don’t realize how much we have to be grateful for in our life. The more you practice feeling it the more happiness you’ll find with what you have now.

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More movement

Sitting for too long has become an epidemic here in the US. In addition to that, many people do not exercise enough or at all.

I strongly encourage you to begin exercising in a variety of ways (weight lifting, cardio, yoga, etc.), but at least incorporate more movement outside of the gym too.

One of the best things that came out of quarantine for me have been my long walks. Since the pandemic began, I have been walking at least an hour outside just about every day. It’s my favorite thing.

Instead of sitting at your desk for 5 hours straight, set an alarm on your phone to get up every hour. Go get some water, use the restroom, whatever it is to get you standing.

Movement is so important for a healthy life, so take the stairs, park further in the parking lot, dance, just move!

Take vitamins

It’s possible to get all of your vitamins and supplements from food, but the truth is most people don’t.

Which is why you should start taking vitamins!

A good multivitamin is the easiest to start with. My multivitamin of choice is Ritual, I’ve been taking them for over 2 years now.

When looking for vitamins, be sure the company is trustworthy and uses high quality ingredients, otherwise you may be wasting your money and not reaping any health benefits.

If you can, get a blood test to determine your vitamin and nutrient levels. From there you can decide which ones you really need to focus on taking.

I also use a pill organizer which makes it easier to get into the habit of taking vitamins!

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Meal prep/Meal plan

If you’re trying to eat healthier and/or save money, meal planning is a must.

I meal prep every weekend. It takes me less than 2 hours (including dishes) to make 6 days of lunches and dinners.

It has saved me SO much time and helps me to stay healthy. I also never buy lunch out which obviously saves money.

The key is to plan YUMMY meals that you actually enjoy eating. My meals taste good because I incorporate lots of flavors. The more you do it the better you get at it.

If you can’t stand eating the same food over and over, try meal planning instead.

Plan 6 meals for the week. Make a list of the exact foods you need before going to the grocery store. When you make dinner, leave enough for lunch for the next day.

Less screen time, more reading

Between office work, our phones, Netflix, and our laptops we spend HOURS looking at a screen.

We don’t yet know the long-term effects of all this screen time, but it’s something to consider.

Be aware of how much time you’re looking at screens and be sure to take frequent breaks and use blue light blocking glasses.

However, start replacing unnecessary screen time with reading books!

If you sit on your phone during your lunch break or before bed, give it a rest and pick up a book instead.

I love reading. There is SO much valuable info out in the book world and I love that we can access it right at our fingertips.

Even if you prefer to read fiction books, the key here is to reduce screen time to prevent any side effects to your eyes and brain.

Start saving money/Create a financial plan

Healthy finances should be EVERY ONE’S goal because when your finances are in order you can focus on everything else in life. The pandemic has shown the importance of financial management even more so

There are lots of financial habits you can start now. Choose one or all.

And in case you didn’t know I have a personal finance channel on YouTube where I share my debt-free journey and many financial tips!

Start Saving

Almost 30% of Americans don’t have an emergency savings at all. That is why so many people struggle with debt and/or late payments. 

In 2019 I started sinking funds and that was one of the best financial moves I’ve ever made! A sinking fund is simply a savings account for something specific, such as gifts, car maintenance, travel, etc. So if you need money for that specific thing you have the cash.

In addition to my sinking funds, I have my emergency fund which I continue to add to monthly.

I also invest my money into a Roth IRA each month.

Start saving SOMETHING. Even if it’s just 1% of your earnings, every little bit counts and will add up.

Create a plan to pay off debt

Do you know how much debt you have? Who you owe? Your interest rates?

These things are important and many people don’t stay on top of it.

Add up your debt and create a plan to pay it off. How much extra can you put to your debt? Which loan will you focus on paying off first? Can you get any interest rates lowered? Is a balance transfer a good idea? Etc.

Debt can be overwhelming, but knowing you now have control over it should excite you!

Budget/Track spending

Create a budget for the next month and challenge yourself to stick to it.

Tracking your spending is also important so you can determine where your money is actually going and what needs to change. If you want to create a budget, I suggest going through the last 3 months or so and tracking where your money went.

Then you can decide which areas you really need to set a limit for, but that are actually realistic for you.

Make money

If you’re not taking advantage of all the opportunities to make extra money these days, you’re missing out!

You can start second jobs that are extremely flexible with apps such as Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart.

You can start an online business basically for free by blogging, posting videos on YouTube, selling things on Etsy, and much more.

I am SO glad I never gave up on my blog and other online ventures. My growth has been slow, but now I make extra income every month and it helps me to build my business even more and pay off debt. Not to mention all the amazing people I get to interact with and inspire. I love it.

There are many ways to make more money and it’s worth it to get started.

Deep breathing/meditation

Take a deep breath in and exhale slowly. 

That’s probably the deepest breath you’ve taken all day!

Deep breathing can really help to lower your stress levels and put you at ease. Also ensure that you’re breathing from your belly NOT your chest!

I mention meditation here because not only is it extremely beneficial for you overall but a session typically starts with deep breathing and/or a focus on the breath. 

Many of us tend to take shallow breaths throughout the day. If you improve your breathing and take deep breaths regularly you’ll improve your blood flow, increase your energy levels, and stimulate your lymphatic system.

Remove and replace

Similar to the habit above, less screen time, more reading, you can remove and replace other things too.

Less processed foods more whole foods.

Less sugar more natural sweets.

Less complaining more kind gestures.

Less negative thoughts more positive words.

Less talking more listening.

Less passive action more massive action.

Find something unhealthy in your life to intentionally remove and replace it with something more positive.

Don’t make any excuses as to why you can’t start developing new healthy habits now.

Try some of these out and you’ll see how easily they fit into your life and improve your life.

Take advantage of these final weeks!