These Seemingly Insignificant Daily Habits Have Actually Changed People's Lives, And I'm Full Of Gratitude For The Free Advice
There's nothing better than discovering life hacks, especially when they're easy, small habits that deliver big results. So, for the people, someone asked on /r/ask, "What's a small habit you picked up that completely changed your life? Not a big life event, but something tiny you started doing daily that unexpectedly made everything better." Here's what people had to say:
1."Take a genuine interest in people. People notice when you're not just a passive person, and suddenly more opportunities open up."
— coulls
2."Saying 'NO' to the things I don't want to do, listen, know, or buy. I should have done this earlier."
— Dinilddp
"I have suffered so much because I did not do it early in my life. Saying 'no' to conversations, saying 'no' to social gatherings, etc., that were just plain brain rot."
— hellomouse1234
"Sometimes it's peer pressure. I've lost some friends because of this before. I guess they weren't the right people for me."
— rogfy_dot_com
3."Stopped talking, and started asking people questions."
— Duke-of-Surreallity
"This!! You cultivate so many relationships when you can truly listen and ask questions."
— haley520
4."Being curious, not judgmental."
— clemoh
5."I (64-year-old female) have this habit of saying to myself, 'No time like the present,' whenever I'm faced with something I could procrastinate on. For whatever reason, it inspires me to act."
— AmexNomad
6."Doing the dishes after I finish eating."
— Uu-Sr
7."I stopped impulse shopping. I'll give it a few days, and if I still feel like it's necessary, then I'll buy it."
— Classic_Text4557
8."Walking."
"Walking around my neighborhood for 2 miles after dinner helped a ton with my lower back pain and general stiffness."
— blksmnr
Related: 25 Life-Changing Habits People Added To Their Everyday Routines To Improve Their Lives For The Better
9."Walking after eating, but also weight lifting. Nothing wild. I started with three days a week, doing half-hour workouts. Now, it's four days a week, but both together have made a HUGE impact in my life."
— doublenickels_55
10."Never snooze. Ever. Wake up at the first alarm. Stretch everyday."
— lostpassword100000
"Stand up to turn the alarm off. If necessary, turn your alarm to max volume and place it on the other side of the room."
— Total_Grapefruit_785
11."Hara Hachi Bu. Stop eating when 80% full. Eat The Frog. Do the quick, tedious stuff first."
— MissingInAnarchy
12."After a year of doing Duolingo lessons daily, I liked the idea of a self-improvement streak. I added one set of max push-ups daily. When I got used to that, I added flossing to my daily routine. Eventually, I added crunches and leg raises for my daily ab workout. Recently, I completed two years of daily push-ups. Kept everything in the routine. Adding a small bit to your daily routine and sticking to it definitely adds up."
— Grouchy-Step-7136
Related: Women Are Revealing How Their Lives Have Been Affected By President Trump's Policies, And They're Not Holding Back ANYTHING
13."Drinking more water often."
— SecretUnlikely3848
14."Put your keys in the same place every time you come in."
— TheNinjaPixie
15."Doing small tasks exactly when I notice them. Brush lying on the living room table? I'll bring it to the bathroom where it belongs. A used tissue? The trash can is 10 meters away. Full hamper? Takes about two minutes to start a load in the washer. In the long run, that's so much easier than looking at that tissue 15 times, thinking I should throw it away soon."
— Idum23
16."Not gossiping. Lost a lot of friends because of this."
— Important_Year_7355
17."Conversing to understand, not to respond."
— Not_burner_accountt
18."Getting a daily pill box."
— Elegant-Expert7575
"Turned 40 (cliche, I know) and started taking more supplements and vitamins in addition to a few prescriptions. I also started traveling more, and it was getting to the point that halfway through most days, sans the vitamins, I couldn't remember if I had taken my Wellbutrin (a 90-count bottle), so it wasn't like I was going to stand there and count back like maybe you could with a 30-count. Anyway, it just keeps me accountable whether at home or traveling."
— DowntownCountdown
19."Sobriety."
— Hickey613
20."Making my bed in the morning."
— Lower_Alternative770
21."Keeping a consistent sleep schedule."
— Latkavicferrari
22."Accepting compliments rather than rejecting them."
— ShaxXxpeare
23."Guarding what thoughts I allow into my mind."
— dreamed2life
24."The first 10 minutes when I get home after work, I don't allow myself to sit. I do laundry, dust, and do whatever needs to be done. Also, the last 10 minutes before bed, I'll load and unload the dishwasher or finish up whatever I started earlier. On my days off, it's the first 10 minutes after breakfast. This has made it incredibly easy to keep the house tidy. My mind used to focus on chores and forget to relax. By knowing I'm committing that time, I can actually relax."
— shers719
These are too good! I'm definitely taking notes. Have any small life-changing habits to share? Drop them in the comments below!
Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.
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