psychology
4 exhausting habits that are really worth it
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Establishing good habits in our lives and really staying on track is anything but easy. These four things are quite difficult to implement – but are really worth it if we succeed.
These habits take a lot of effort – but are worth it in the long run
1. Say no
“Yes, of course, I can do it, no problem…” If you’re being completely honest, it’s definitely a problem, you just don’t have the courage to say it. Saying no to things that aren’t good for us or that we simply don’t want is often anything but easy. But very important so that we can do well in the long term. Otherwise we spend a lot of time on things that we don’t want in our lives or that don’t correspond to our values. Communicating your own needs is an important skill that we should acquire. It takes effort, but it’s worth it!
2. Consciously leave your comfort zone
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Has it been a while? This is certainly the case for many of us. We are so caught up in our everyday lives, in the same processes and routines. We take the same route to work or the supermarket every day and tend to travel to similar destinations every year. It would be so good for us to break out and consciously leave our comfort zone.
Maybe this year is the first time you’ve dared to travel alone or go to a restaurant without a companion. Or you can ask your dear new work colleague if you want to go out to dinner together. Or you can just take the other subway to the office. No matter how small the step is: the more often we do things that we’re a little afraid of and that are new to us, the more we realize that they aren’t so bad in the end. That we can overcome this challenge and that in the end it is usually worth it.
3. Establish a sleep routine
Science agrees: we feel best, both physically and mentally, when we have a regular sleep rhythm. When we go to bed at approximately the same time every day and get up again in the morning. Yes, even on weekends. Of course, this is difficult for people who work shifts to implement, but most of us have a similar routine every day – or at least can arrange it that way. The temptation to sit in front of the television for a particularly long time on the weekend because we can “finally do it” is great – but it’s not good for us. So it’s better to establish a healthy sleep routine with fixed times. It sounds unsexy, but it is crucial for our long-term health.
4. Stay tuned!
The last point applies to all of the previous ones as well as other habits, be it getting enough exercise, drinking enough water, or keeping a gratitude journal. The hardest part is often sticking with it. Initially, we are motivated when we develop a new routine. But after a while the initial euphoria fades, we skip the sports course or leave the diary in the closet for an evening.
Most importantly: This is completely human! None of us are perfect, we all feel uncomfortable after a workout or are too tired to list the things we are grateful for. But we shouldn’t let it become a habit – just forgive ourselves for our “misstep” and start again the next day. And we repeat this process every time we let a healthy routine slide, without pressure but with loving motivation.