12 Life-Changing Habits You Can Honestly Start Today

Ridiculously simple. H/T Quora

1. Write down three things you're grateful for every morning.

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"Gratitude has the power of setting your brain to positivity mode. Experiments have confirmed that it's enough to come up with three new reasons for being grateful every morning for one month to change hardcore pessimists into optimists. Here what happens when your brain is positive: Every possible outcome we know how to test for raises dramatically."

2. Drink a cup of water as soon as you wake up.

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"Drink a cup of cold or hot water after you wake up to flush your body out. Then feel good about yourself and plan your day."

3. Write something every day.

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"Write daily, at least 50 words, no matter what. Just write — either on paper or on a digital device is fine — and write about anything you feel like. I have been doing this for nearly a year and since then my life's been completely changed. My writing and ability to structure my thoughts have gotten much better with time. Plus, I've discovered another awesome way to express myself."

4. Pay it forward.

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"Even if you don't have change to spare, try to compliment someone at least once a day. There really is nothing to lose here, and the habit will make yourself and the other person feel a lot happier while going about their day. I first noticed the impact on myself when someone in front of me at a drive-thru paid for my meal and I decided to start a chain after that — Humans should be nicer to each other!"

5. Look in the mirror once a day and laugh at yourself.

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"It will remind yourself not to take yourself too seriously."

6. Write an old friend a message once a week about a memory you shared.

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"Rekindling an old flame is as easy as typing, 'Remember when…'"

7. Mount a pull-up bar and do a pull-up every time you pass it.

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"Get a pull-up bar and mount it to your bedroom door frame. whenever you pass through the door frame, do a quick pull-up or chin-up. It takes just a moment, but over time you'll see the following benefits: 1.) Reduced stress thanks to brief moments of physical exertion. 2.) Improved posture and reduced strain on the back. 3.) A stronger, sexier body, especially shoulders and arms. 4.) Increased confidence due to being in better shape and knowing that you have the self-discipline to follow your tiny habit every day."

8. Consciously take deep breaths throughout the day.

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"Most of us breathe into the upper chest, which is not the best way to breathe because it signals to the body that we are under stress even, when we are not, and activates the sympathetic nervous system (the fight-or-flight response).

Instead, practice relaxed diaphragmatic breathing, which is a slow and calm movement of your diaphragm, not your upper chest. This stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which causes the brain to release endorphins which in turn reduces muscle tension and feelings of anxiety. In order to fully realize the tremendous benefits of deep breathing, aim to consciously take deep breaths throughout the day."

9. Listen before you speak.

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"You learn nothing when you’re the only one speaking."

10. Read a book for at least 30 minutes every day.

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"Notice that I say 'books', not some random Internet articles. Reading, especially in long form, can help you develop your intellectual and deep understanding in a much better way than scanning a five-minute 'X way to do Y' kind of news. Also, the more you read, the better you write. So get some books and start reading right away!"

11. Hold a plank for a few minutes every morning.

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"I have a busy schedule so every morning I spend around 1-3 minutes doing planking. This sole exercise can help maintain your body in shape and gives you an adrenaline boost for an awesome day to come."

12. Reach out once a day to one Instagram influencer who lives a life you find interesting.

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"There are so many cool people out there that aren’t on an online dating site that you can connect with. The effect of reaching out to that many people will have you forming relationships with people that you can help you in unforeseeable ways."