Day in and day out we come across a list of good habits or things people are doing to become a better versions of themselves and a lot of things on this list are very very common.

If you’re trying to adopt these habits conventionally you would try to do things by the book.

Example: When it says workout the first thing that comes to your mind is gym or a run or yoga.

When they say read, you think of reading things that are meaningful.

Meditation means sitting and closing your eyes and maybe following a guide.

All these things are good but you don’t have to do it the way it has been told or the way you think it is supposed to be done.

What I mean to say is there are many ways of doing the same thing at core or getting the same results. And I am not here to suggest the specific alternatives but to help open up the possibilities.

So what are some of the good habits that will 100% benefit you:

1. Regular exercise.
2. Healthy eating.
3. Sufficient sleep.
4. Drinking plenty of water.
5. Practicing mindfulness or meditation.
6. Reading regularly.
7. Setting and working towards goals.
8. Maintaining a positive attitude.
9. Practicing gratitude.
10. Developing good time management skills.
11. Being organized.
12. Practicing good hygiene.
13. Cultivating strong relationships.
14. Continuous learning and personal growth.
15. Regularly saving and managing finances.
16. Engaging in hobbies or activities you enjoy.
17. Being punctual and reliable.
18. Developing effective communication skills.
19. Regularly setting aside time for relaxation or self-care.
20. Being kind and compassionate towards others.

Now that are a lot of things but let’s get started with exercise.

You don’t need to go to gym but you need to move you body everyday and you can do this by walking, dancing, skating, cycling, hiking… you need to just pick one thing that makes you feel good. You could just go window shopping and that would be walking. It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as you do it.

Similarly you don’t need to read something that others read. Read the books that interest you. It could be fiction, romance novellas, children’s book… it doesn’t really have to be a self-help. Get my point?

Now, for sleeping I won’t say there are many alternatives but here is one thing you don’t have to be a 5am person and you don’t need to call it a day at 9. Let your body decide what is good for you. Don’t be unreasonable though…waking up at 1pm is not really good for you.

A lot of things like practicing self care, engaging in hobbies etc require time but in this case just give as much time you can. If you can’t do 30 minutes, give 10.

Other things like being punctual, grateful, compassionate, practicing good hygiene etc are nonnegotiables and so it may look like there is no way around it, remember there is always something you can do about it. Whenever you set an appointment or a time to meet, make sure you are not agreeing to something you won’t be able to do. Show gratitude, compassion, kindness in your own way and well just practice good hygiene (there is no shortcut here).

But all in all, I hope you understand that you don’t have to do things by the book. Do them your way and then you will be able to practice them longer and you will be able to cultivate a habit that will last a lifetime.

So, are there any habits you practice in your own way?