51 Things You Can Do Today To Improve Your Life

1. Wake up early

It is essential to start your day right. Waking up early can help you stay focused and organized throughout the day. You can have some quiet time to focus on yourself and prioritize your daily tasks.

2. Stay hydrated

Keeping your body hydrated throughout the day has a lot of health benefits. Experts recommend drinking at least 8 glasses (2–3 liters) of water in a day.

3. Write on a journal

Keep a journal and write down your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and daily events. Do it every day. Journaling will help you track your life, stay organized, reflect on your past, learn, and create a better life.

4. Remove negative thoughts

You should eliminate negative thoughts and practice mindfulness. The most effective way to remove negative thoughts is self-awareness. If you recognize a negative thought, stop and become aware that you have a negative thought. Then, get rid of it. You may also track your thoughts in a journal.

5. Make a to-do list

To-do lists help you stay organized. Make a list of the things you have to do, select the most important things, and do them first. Once you finish a task on your list, cross it off. Make your to-do list either in the morning, before you start your day or the night before.

6. Move your body

Exercise should be a part of your daily life. You do not have to go to the gym and do intense workouts. All you need to do is move your body. Do some yoga, go for a run, and learn home workouts you can do without equipment. Exercise at least 20–30 minutes every day.

7. Meditate

Just like exercising makes you physically fit, meditation will make you mentally fit. The benefits of meditation are self-awareness, mindfulness, focus, calmness, elimination of negative thoughts, less stress, and so forth. Practice meditation for at least 15–20 minutes every day.

8. Read a book

Reading helps you learn. It helps you stay informed, increase vocabulary, and become smarter. It is also good for your physical health as it reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and fight depression. All the successful people in the world are readers.

9. Listen to podcasts/audiobooks

Podcasts and audiobooks are modern ways to learn. You can find podcasts on many topics. Pick the ones that are of interest to you. Subscribe to them. Listen while driving, cleaning, and doing other activities.

10. Visualize

You must dream and envision your ideal life. Visualization practice allows you to see things in your mind before they happen in real. It also allows bringing your life back on track when it is out of balance. Visualize your goals and see yourself achieving them.

11. Set new goals and reflect on old ones

Setting goals helps you determine your purpose. Do it every day. You must set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Reflect on your goals to make sure you are on the right track. Also, make sure to write your goals down with pen and paper. Research says that you are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.

12. Catch up with an old friend

We all have friends with whom we have not talked in a while. Give them a call. It always feels nice to talk to an old friend and chat about the old times.

13. A random act of kindness

Do something kind for others. Help your friend or someone in need, give a compliment, make a donation, leave a love note, write a letter, buy a gift. A small act of kindness can make someone else’s day and help them feel better. Spread love and compassion.

14. Clean your room

When was the last time you cleaned your room? Having a clean space around you will make you feel good. It creates less distraction. A tidy room equals a tidy mind.

15. Household chores

Clean more, feel good more. Mop the floors, clean the bathroom, do laundry, wash dishes, prepare a meal, feed the pets, mow the lawn.

16. Cook

Give yourself a break from eating outside. Prepare a meal for yourself. If you don’t know how to cook, learn it. Cooking is a mindful activity. Also, it helps you consume fewer calories as you are responsible for what you cook.

17. Eat healthily

Consume less junk food, sugar, oily food, and spicy food. Include fruits and vegetables in your everyday meals. Eat a balanced diet, and drink plenty of water.

18. Be polite

Be aware of and respect other people’s feelings. Being rude will you no good. It will only help you make more enemies. Say “please” and “thank you,” respect your elders, be on time, learn your manners.

19. Let go

Learn to let go. Live in the present. The past is gone, and the future has not come yet. The only moment you can truly experience is the now.

20. Express gratitude

Be grateful. It will make you happier and spread positivity. Gratitude practice also helps you improve your relationships with your friends, family, and partners. It is best to keep a gratitude journal and write at least three things you are grateful for every day.

21. Learn a new skill

Learn a skill that you are interested in. A few examples include cooking, designing, playing an instrument, photography, video editing, etc. You might not learn the skill in a single day. So practice it daily. You can learn almost any skill for free online.

22. Dress well

Dressing well can boost your confidence and make you feel good. If you need some new clothes, go shopping. Choose clothes you like and that are comfortable.

23. Meet new people

Meeting new people can be scary for most people, but it actually has many advantages. Being alone can cause unnecessary stress. So, you need to go out and socialize. It can be helpful to overcome loneliness and have new experiences. It can also be a career-building opportunity.

24. Love yourself

Don’t forget to love yourself every day. If you do not love yourself, how can you expect other people to love you? Be the best version of yourself. Every once in a while, take yourself out, get yourself some good food, and buy a gift for yourself.

25. Say “no”

You should know what you want. Saying “no” can be scary, but you need to understand that your time is valuable. You must focus on the things that matter to you. It also means you are distancing yourself from negative people or situations. You must learn to stand your ground and decide what’s important to you.

26. Watch a ted talk

Instead of watching TV, scrolling social media, and watching random YouTube videos, watch something that adds value to your life. A ted talk can teach you important things and inspire you to grow.

27. Spend time with family

Make time for your family. Don’t get overly caught up with work. Family time is very important. Sit down with your family for at least an hour every day and talk about each others’ day or life-happenings.

28. Find a hobby

A hobby is something that you do for yourself. Find a hobby that makes you feel good. Play the guitar, listen to music, read, dance, sing, paint, cook, and so forth.

29. Put your phone down

Many people are addicted to their phones — scrolling on social media for hours, playing games, switching between apps, and watching random YouTube videos. Using your phones excessively is not good for your mental health. It can ruin your life. You can use a phone-usage-tracking app too.

30. Manage your finances

Track your expenses. Set financial goals. Make sure you are not spending on unnecessary things. Learn how to become financially intelligent. Spend less, save more, invest more. Save as much as you can. Invest your money in assets like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate. Seek financial advice if needed.

31. Live a minimalist life

Minimalism refers to living with only the things you really need. Get rid of the things that you do not need. Buy only the things that you need. You should live a simple, distraction-free life.

32. Do more things you love

Being happy and feeling good is essential in life. Do more things you love — sing, dance, play, read, write, go out, eat, or whatever.

33. Go outside in nature

Spend time in nature. It will make you feel good instantly, especially when you are stressed with work or other issues. Being in nature will make you feel refreshed and helps mental stimulation.

34. Smile

Smile, even when you don’t feel like it. You will be in a good mood instantly. Smiling is a significant aspect of better human communication as well. Carrying a smile with you will improve your personality. It also helps your appearance look good.

35. Develop a positive self-image

A positive self-image is very powerful. If you have a positive self-image and believe that you are confident, attractive, and successful, that’s what your outcome will be. It can boost your physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

36. Stop multitasking

You should avoid multitasking as it can reduce your efficiency and performance. Instead of doing many things at once and achieving average outcomes, focus on a single task and give it all you can. Your human brain can only focus on one thing at a time.

37. Do the difficult things first

Successful people do the difficult things first. We usually tend to do the difficult things last because we do not want to deal with them. But that can affect other things we do. Do the difficult things first so that you can focus properly on other things you have to do.

38. Listen more

Listening allows you to observe and learn more about people. It helps us understand and connect better with others. Nobody likes people who want to be the center of attention every time. Take the focus off you and listen to what others have to say. It will make you smarter and wiser.

39. Spend time with people who motivate you to do your best

The people you spend most of your time with can transform your life. If you are around negative people, you will attract negative vibes. Surround yourself with positive people. Dump your negative-minded friends. Friendships are about quality, not quantity. Your friends should motivate, inspire, and help you.

40. Be inspired

Find your inspiration. Everyone has a different source of inspiration. Some are inspired by talking and listening to people. Others are inspired by reading books. Identify your sources of inspiration and foster them to make your life better.

41. Listen to music

We all love music. It reduces stress, manages pain, improves mood, and is good for recovering from many diseases. Shut off everything, put on your favorite music, and relax. You will feel good almost instantly.

42. Start a side hustle

A side hustle will add an extra source of income. Start something which does not require much time and investment and generates extra money. Learn new skills if needed. Your side hustle should be something you are interested in. A few examples of a side hustle include blogging, starting a YouTube channel, selling old stuff, tutoring, babysitting, freelancing, etc.

43. Take a walk

Taking a walk in the neighborhood can have multiple benefits. It helps you clear your mind, think better, lighten your mood, improve circulation, lose weight, and improve sleep.

44. Write things down

Writing things down does not always represent journaling or setting goals. You can write down reminders, notes, inspiring thoughts, ideas, and many other things. A habit of writing can transform your life. Carry a pocket notebook and write down all the essential things that happen in life. You can also use your phone and use the notes or camera app to remember the things in life.

45. Do some creative work

Doing creative work is mindful as it requires practice and focus. It is a way to express yourself. You will feel accomplished and happy.

46. Less social media

Social media can cause mental problems. Things can go out of hand if you are obsessed with social media. You must understand that these social platforms are nothing but companies trying to hook you up and feed you with whatever they want. Don’t be a puppet. Develop self-awareness and limit your social media usage.

47. Do something special for your loved ones

Everyone loves surprises. If you are in a relationship, surprise your partner with gifts, love notes, chocolates, and dates. Make them feel better by doing something special for them. You can do it for your parents, siblings, and friends too. When they feel better, you will feel better.

48. Be positive

Life is not always easy. We all have difficult moments in our lives. You should stay positive, even during difficult times. Focus on the good things in life. Be grateful for what you have instead of being sad for what you don’t have.

49. Think big

Thoughts are things. What you think you become. Think bigger, beyond your immediate circumstances. Do not limit yourself. You lose nothing by thinking big. Instead, it will boost your confidence, allows you to enjoy the present moment, promote creative thinking, improve your self-image, and achieve higher goals.

50. Go to bed early

If you want to rise early, go to bed early. A good night’s sleep (about 7–9 hours) is very important for our body and mind. Develop a daily habit of going to bed early and waking up early. It will transform your physical and mental health.

51. Breathe

Taking a few deep breaths will make you feel good instantly. You will feel more energized and relaxed. Just calm down. Life is beautiful. Don’t make it complicated and stressful. Breathe!