Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Hear me out. I know you’ve seen this headline literally everywhere, and you’re probably thinking, “Ah, this is just going to be another one of those self-help articles”, but I’m writing this because I wish I found something honest and realistic about this topic instead of something so romanticized and worse, preachy.

I do not have the scholastic credibility to write about habit formation, but what I actually want to emphasize is the process of getting to this list. I want to talk about the things I wish I knew before trying out every single thing I read and heard on books, podcasts, and other forms of content on this topic. I have nothing against those materials, in fact, they also helped me find what works and doesn’t for me, but I hope more people understand that there’s really no one-size-fits-all formula to be happy and healthy.

Here’s what I learned—it first takes self-awareness and a deeper understanding of your needs to really find what habits work for you. I found that it’s useless to dive into what the world dictates as “effective” without first knowing your true self. Maybe ask yourself questions like “What activities give me life?” or “What are the things I truly value?” before letting someone else reveal to you the so-called recipe to “happiness” and “success”.

I might already sound like a broken record when it comes to self-awareness, but I strongly believe that it’s where self-care and healing begins. It’s the start to becoming healthier and it also encompasses every aspect of our lives.

It took a lot of trial and error for me to get here, and I’m aware that it’s always going to be a work in progress because seasons come and go and we’re always evolving. I’ve kept an open mind and when something no longer feels right, maybe it’s a sign that my priorities have changed.

At the end of the day, these daily habits should be seen as pockets of joy that contribute to our overall well-being, and not some sort of checklist to accomplish. They’re supposed to give us life and feed our souls instead of making us chase after gold medals in our world’s ridiculous race for “success”.

That’s all I actually really wanted to say, but I guess I’ll just have to write down my list after click-baiting you! Just kidding. I’d love to share what I’ve been working so hard to practice, but again, please know that these are what give me life and have personally worked. If you find yourself resonating with any of them, that’s great! Maybe you could also give them a try. If you don’t, I’m glad I was able to at least offer something to think about before practicing healthy habit formation.

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1. Reading the Bible

My journey of self-discovery wouldn’t have even started if not for the work that God has done in my life. I’ve always been a believer, but the past few years have been utterly transformative in a sense that I’ve been stripped off of so many treasures in my heart that were actually separating me from my true identity—the one I have in Christ. My continuous restoration and transformation is ultimately God’s work, but I know I also have to do my part.

This is why it has become my priority to ground myself in faith every single day, and to no longer succumb to the lies and ways of the world. I now draw life from the Bible, and reading it every morning has helped me set the tone and intentions for my day.

My relationship with God is my utmost priority and what I value above all things in my life, therefore reading the Bible has become the first habit on this list and a non-negotiable for my day.

2. Journaling

I’ve always kept a diary ever since I was a kid, but therapy helped me understand the true value of journaling. It is essentially a time for you to sit with your emotions and process them, really getting to the root of how you’re feeling instead of trying to escape.

It was honestly very difficult for me to start this habit because I found that I was running away from very painful truths and emotions. Who would want to put themselves through all that heartbreak, right? I genuinely thought it was borderline self-mortification.

It was only when my therapist explained to me the healing power of actually writing down your feelings and bringing them to light that I knew I had to muster up the courage to face my demons and sit in my discomfort.

Mental health is my priority and journaling has continued to be a vital tool in my healing, which is why I make it a point to carve time for it every single day.

3. Sleeping before 11:00PM

This did not happen by choice. It wasn’t because I read an article called “Habits of Successful CEOs You Should Try” (although I am guilty of doing this for the heck of it), but a result of me bringing home a new CEO in my life—my dog Moon.

Ever since I adopted her at around mid-2021, I was forced to adjust to her routine of waking up every single morning at 6:00AM. At first I despised it and somehow made me question why I got a puppy in the first place, but I soon found that it has dramatically improved my productivity and overall mood. I stacked my habit of waking up early with a quick walk outside for Moon to go potty, but also to get a bit of movement and bask in early morning sunlight and dew.

Waking up early gives you more time to slow down and set intentions for your day. I found that there’s so much I can do while everyone’s still sleeping or getting ready, which then gives me more time for other things I enjoy in the afternoon. It also allowed me to eat a proper breakfast and not just grab whatever leftovers or quick bites were available—something that has also improved my gut health and eating habits.

I’ve never looked back from joining the early to bed-early to rise club since then, and I don’t think I ever will.

4. Consciously eating healthy food

Quick story time: I was diagnosed with H. Pylori gastritis two months ago because of debilitating gastric pain and hyperacidity. I’ve been battling with tummy issues since my college days, but I never really took on proper measures to mitigate it. My last straw was an episode of extreme stomach pain for almost an entire week this year (even on strong medication), which led me to finally becoming more conscious of what I eat and drink.

I know exactly why it led to that point because I used to eat a lot of fast food, dairy, and fried meat, and also drank a lot of alcohol and acidic beverages. My body just gave up, and rightfully so.

I also found that my gut health is substantially connected to my skin and mental health, because I broke out at the peak of my gastritis and felt very mentally unstable. I then adapted a completely different perspective when it comes to my health, and now see it as something holistic. Everything in our body is connected and it’s so important to see it that way to understand ourselves better. The body keeps the score.

Ever since I started eating healthy to not just heal my stomach, but to practice a better lifestyle, I’ve felt so much more energetic, confident, and stable. We are stewards of our own bodies and it’s our duty to take good and utmost care of them.

5. Making time for safe relationships

I am an only child and have become so used to doing things on my own. My introversion was also amplified in the pandemic, so I’ve unapologetically become a homebody and a stay-at-home kind of gal. It seemed like I was at peace with this, but we all know that too much of anything can never be healthy.

It was when I found out that one of my coping mechanisms was to self-isolate and take control of everything on my own that I realized I needed community.

My grade school teacher used to tell us that “No man is an island”, and it still sounds so cheesy to me to this day, but I couldn’t find a more appropriate statement to support this habit of making time for safe relationships.

We’re created to commune. We’re social beings and intrinsically find meaning in the relationships we foster with other humans. We’re meant to draw life and inspiration from one another, and to learn from each other. Life is already so complex as it is, so we need people who can hold our hands and journey with us every step of the way. I talked more about safe relationships here.

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That’s it for the top 5 habits that have drastically improved my well-being! I try to be consistent with these in the past 1.5 years, but I think it’s very important to mention that there are always going to be difficult and lazy days. We just have to continue giving ourselves grace because we know what’s best for ourselves.

I also wanted to share some that didn’t make the list and that I need to put more effort into because, why not? It’s good to have a bit of accountability in here.

1. Exercising at least thrice a week

2. Putting a limit to my screen time and actually following it

3. Reading at least 4 books a month

4. Setting proper time to eat

5. Finding time for Mother Nature

I’d also love to hear about yours! Feel free to share them with me via comments or on Socials. Like I said, it helps to be accountable for one another and to journey together. ❤