We all have managed to get through 2020 and have arrived in a new year that is rich with possibility. After having to miss out on so much of the previous year, we all want to get the most out of 2021. To help you do that, add these 10 tiny habits to your repertoire to improve your health, wealth, and happiness in 2021.
- A Glass of Water
We all know how important it is to stay hydrated throughout the day. To help yourself stay on track with your body’s hydration needs, try starting and ending your day with a tall glass of water. If you put in the effort at the beginning and end of the day to stay hydrated, it’ll become easier to manage drinking water between the time you wake up and the time you go to bed. Drinking water has numerous health benefits such as flushing bacteria out of the body and keeping skin clear.
- Keep the Change
Many of us tend to disregard our loose change. Keep an empty jar where you can put your loose change. Over the span of a year, all that loose change might add up to more money than you might expect.
- “I Am” Affirmations
Affirmations are a great way to get yourself into the confident mindset you need to power through your day and achieve your goals. Some of my favorite “I am” affirmations are “I am strong,” “I am powerful,” and “I am courageous.”
- 5-Minute Breaks
If you work in an office, or even if you work from home, you may find yourself so entranced with the task at hand that you end up sitting in one spot for hours on end without even realizing it. Every hour or so, take five minutes to stretch, grab a glass of water, or just breathe. Your work is important, but so are you. Be sure that you aren’t neglecting your own needs for the sake of meeting a deadline.
- Invest
You don’t have to make millions of dollars to invest. Thanks to our friends in the tech industry, you can invest in stocks with no more than a few pennies (like the ones you’d be keeping in your loose change jar). Apps like Acorns and Robinhood make investing simple and cheap so that you can help build a strong foundation for a successful financial future.
- Small Acts of Kindness
Doing small acts of kindness not only brighten the day of the person you are being kind towards, but can also brighten your day, as well. Acts of kindness can be small like sending your bestie a “Good morning, beautiful” text or surprising your coworker with a sweet treat. Spreading a little kindness to those around you helps create a more cheerful atmosphere that uplifts those around you.
- Schedule Time with Loved Ones
Even if you can’t spend time with the ones you love in person, try to regularly schedule phone calls, FaceTimes, or Google Hangout calls with those you love. This will allow you to touch base with your support system to help you manage stress and maintain relationships with those you hold dear.
- Take the Stairs
Even if you aren’t one for an early morning workout, you can get your body moving throughout the day by increasing your step count. An easy way to get your steps in is to use the stairs instead of the elevator in the office. If you’re working from home, try to use your 5-minute breaks to walk in place or take a lap or two around the kitchen table.
- Floss
We are all guilty, me included, of not flossing as often as we should. Then we walk into our dentists’ offices and lie to their faces by telling them that we are flossing regularly. No more. In 2021 we are no longer risking gingivitis and plaque build-up. Take that extra time before you brush your teeth at night to floss. Your pearly whites and your wallet will thank you later.
- Pencil in Time to Clean
Do you hate doing laundry, or do you just get overwhelmed by it because you don’t do it regularly? When you let your laundry and other chores fall by the wayside, they pile up and it becomes even more overwhelming to get them done. Try to pencil in one day a week to get some chores done around the house. The clutter and disorganization in your living space can cause you stress, so cleaning your space regularly can help you cut down on stress and keep your place orderly.
Last year put even the fiercest of lady bosses through the wringer, but we’re going to get through this year while making new strides. Remember to keep being gentle with yourself and that the small changes you make today will make a world of difference tomorrow. This year we are moving (in)strength, (in)confidence, and (in)love for the women that we are and the even bolder and brighter women that we hope to be. We’ve got this, ladies! 2021 here we come!