3 Daily Habits That Increases My Happiness and Inner Peace

Cultivating your inner peace sounds easier than it seems, especially if your day-to-day schedule looks different, and if you don’t exactly have a lot of time. I’ve tested several different habits throughout the last year and a half, and while some stick for a while, the majority of these habits end up disappearing after 2 months. I have to admit I gave up for a while but in the last 3 months, I finally found something that works for me and I hope it works for you too.

1. Meditate 10-15 minutes in the morning or evening. Simply find any type of meditation music from Youtube to play in the background while you sit on your favorite chair, eyes closed, and focus on your breathing. I like to count from 40 to 0 to get myself in a calm state, then I’ll proceed with some mantras and/or affirmations. Again, you can Youtube how to meditate and/or search Pinterest for some affirmations that personally suit you.

2. Read for 20 minutes (minimum). It doesn’t matter what book it is, but for me, I prefer self-care/help/growth books or motivational books like 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think. Reading puts your mind into a pleasurable trance-like state, according to an article by the New Yorker. I usually feel more relaxed after reading and become more inspired.

3. Journal for 20 minutes. Doing a brain dump allows me to clear my mind and better streamline my focus for the day. I personally enjoy journaling with a cup of coffee and a lit candle, just to set the mood a bit. If you have trouble thinking about what to write, search Pinterest for some journaling prompts. I find that I often release a lot of stress, anxiety, worries, and/or frustration through journaling, which leaves me feeling lighter afterward.

There are honestly no specific timeframes for you to do any of these 3 things, so do them when you can or have the time. You can even cut down the reading and journaling to just 10-15 minutes if that’s all you have time for as well. The point is to do these 3 things consistently and see how it affects your mood. If you find that it’s helpful, keep doing it. If you don’t see much of a difference, change it up and try something else that may be better for you. Good luck!