52 Realistic Microhabits to Live a Little Better Every Day

From turning off auto-replay to taking a deep breath before looking at your phone

Created by the author

I’m tired of lists of habits that I’m never going to actually do.

I’m not going to wake up at 5 a.m., run 10 miles a day, or fast for 20 hours a day. Let’s face it, most of us aren’t.

No single habit will magically transform your life if it needs too much mental energy from you. I try to make a habit as small as possible to nudge myself in the right direction, following BJ Fogg’s philosophy.

It’s unlikely you can maintain all 52 habits on this list. Yet if you can try a new one each week and some of the habits stick, your life may very well be a bit better. Go with the microhabits that feel right to you. Personal growth is acting in a way consistent with your goals, not anyone else’s.

1. Balance on one leg when brushing your teeth in the morning and the other leg in the evening. Standing on one leg is a great indicator of overall brain health, this simple exercise trains you both physically and mentally.
2. Turn off auto-replay. Ever sat watching hours of Netflix when you planned to only watch one episode? There’s a simple solution: Turn off auto replay. This gives you the time to break the…