12 Simple Habits That Will Definitely Improve Your Life

We’re constantly surrounded with “healthy” life hacks: think positively, breathe deeper, lose some weight, and do sports. If you think that they are incredibly trivial, and not very useful, then you’re going to love this article. We have found really functional life hacks you should try to make every day as useful as possible.

1. Wash your hands when you’re in doubt.

If you’ve made a decision, and then you’re tortured by the doubts of whether you’re doing everything right, try washing you hands. You will stop doubting. Studies show that after this simple procedure, people throw away the doubts.

2. Do some gardening.

Gardening is not some trendy eco-movement that celebrities talk about. Oprah Winfrey grows roses and vegetables, Sienna Miller grows fruit, and Jake Gyllenhaal takes part in a program that teaches kids gardening. It turns out that gardening is very good for you. The people that do it have lower depression and anxiety levels, and their body mass index is better. Besides, you’ll be more satisfied with your life, its quality, and you’ll make new friends.

3. Practice “downtime.”

The advice “Take counsel of your pillow” has scientific grounds. When a lecture or a book gave you too much food for thought, have some rest. Scientists found that downtime plays a big role in memorizing new information. But taking a break is not going to the museum, watching tv, looking through the social media, or meeting a friend. All these actions require you to process information. To let your mind wander, you need to do less: look through the bus window on the way to work, do something that doesn’t require processing, vacuum the floor, or cut the grass.

4. 12 minutes of yoga a day can protect you from depression.

If you want to feel a rush of energy, try doing yoga. Studies show that asanas increase the amount of energy in the body, and 12 minutes of yoga per day for 8 weeks decreases your risk of having depression. Yoga improves concentration, and aside from your mental health, you will improve your agility, flexibility, your blood circulation, and decrease your blood pressure.

5. Be the first to say hello.

You know that awkward feeling when you meet someone you barely know and can’t decide if you need to say hello? And it’s such a relief when they smile at you first, or nod at you. A friendly comment or eye contact from a colleague can improve the mood so much, especially when you are a new person in the group. So, why not become the person that gives other people confidence?

Studies show that making eye contact and smiling to strangers makes everyone feel welcome. Be the one who says hello first.

6. Smile not only when you are having fun.

The words “Joker: Put on A Happy Face” actually mean something. Studies show that even insincere smiles start a chemical process in the brain that leads to positivity. The movement of the facial muscles we use to smile not only make us feel positive emotions, but also help us see the world around us through a more positive lens. But scientists don’t recommend doing this if you are depressed, or when you want to hide your true feelings.

7. Sleep 30 minutes later before a hard day.

The importance of sleep can hardly be overestimated. If you’re going to have a hard working day, it’s better to sleep longer than wake up early. Studies show than an extra 30 minutes of sleep decrease tiredness and tension by 30%. Baseball players slept longer for 5 days and showed faster reaction speeds.

8. Chew gum to concentrate.

Studies show that chewing gum has a positive effect on the oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex, improving our concentration.

9. When choosing clothes colors, take your goals into consideration.

Color makes a big influence on us. The ability of color to influence our emotions and mood is used in advertisement, architecture, psychology, and other areas. So, use the power of color. If you are feeling romantic and want to find a partner, wear red or black, rather than yellow or brown. There are studies showing that people wearing yellow seem less attractive than those wearing red.

10. Think fast to feel better.

Scientists found that fast thinking can improve your mood for 10 minutes. Try reading fast, watching a video at a faster speed, and see how you feel. The experiment showed that the people that completed tasks fast felt a rush of energy and an improvement in their mood, unlike those that did the same things at a normal pace.

11. The smell of lemon will help you make fewer mistakes.

A study showed that thanks to the smell of lemon, people that type texts make 54% fewer mistakes. Lavender also helps, but it’s less effective: only 20% fewer mistakes. If you are afraid of making a mistake, and you don’t want to cut lemons at work, get some essential oil with lemon.

12. Listen to music before going to bed.

Listening to music before bed improves your quality of sleep. Studies show that people who have trouble falling asleep can listen to music and fall asleep in within 13 minutes. It turns out that listening to music decreases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. But experts don’t recommend listening to music with earbuds, as these can damage the ear canal and impair your hearing.

What life hacks and good habits do you have?