7 Habits That Make a Difference

I like setting goals. It’s exciting to write down what I want to do and where I want to be in the future.

I always get super turnt up about it and feel this rush of energy when I write them down. Unfortunately, that’s usually where it stops. Just some words on a page. Basically a fancy way of procrastinating because it makes me feel like I’m doing something cool and productive when I’m actually not.

So I decided to do something weird this semester. I intentionally didn’t set any goals. It’s not because I think goals are useless, but because I need to focus on something more important: Action. I think our actions speak louder than our goals.

Instead of writing down stuff like “make all A’s” or “read more books” or “start this idea”, I wrote down a bunch of simple things I think are worth doing each week.

Funny thing is, some of them really don’t have anything to do with my typical goals. However, I know that if I do them, I’ll be more focused, energized, and productive than I ever would by simply writing down some goals that I think are cool.

So here they are. I somehow decided on 7. I promise it had nothing to do with Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits book. Maybe you’ll benefit from trying them out!

 1) Read the Bible every morning.

For me, this is the habit of habits. My relationship with Jesus rises above everything else, and defines how I view the world, others, and myself. Spending time in the scriptures each morning is critical to setting the tone for the day and recognizing what a gift it is.

 2) Lights out by 10:15pm each night.

I know I know I know. Crazy isn’t it?   Five 8am classes will do it to ya though. I normally have a couple “cheat” nights where I’ll stay up till 11 or so if I have something going on, but most of the time I try to stick to it. It’s amazing how much you get done in the morning when you wake up fully rested.

3) Weekly accountability.

If people don’t hold us accountable to our actions, it becomes much more difficult to form good habits and break old ones. I think it’s important to surround ourselves with people with whom we can be vulnerable and honest around, and to meet with them on a weekly basis.

 4) Keep my room clean.

When my room is clean, I can “breathe” better if that makes any sense. My mind is more focused and I’m more productive.

5) Workout 4 times per week.

For most of us, if we don’t make time to do something active, it ends up hurting other areas of our life. I know personally that if I don’t run around or lift something heavy or do something that makes me sweat, I get to feeling a little down and super tired. Having a workout partner is a great way to apply accountability as well.

6) Layout my clothes each night before a school day.

Just one less decision I have to make when I’m up early and I’m still sleepy. It makes my morning routine much smoother.

7) Pack a snack each night before a school day.

I’m always hungry. Like actually always. And if I don’t pack it the night before, I’ll forget in the morning. Having a snack in my backpack during the day keeps my energy level a little more constant. Without it, that 3pm feeling makes me wanna lie down in the middle of the SLC and go to sleep.

 

What are your essential habits?