One of my closest friends shared a quote with me recently that made me think what it means to become our ‘best self’. When talking about our habits, she said: “What you’re not changing, you’re choosing.”
If we want to become a better version of who we are but aren’t actively making choices to improve, then we’ll continue staying stuck where we are. Instead of making a list of New Year’s Resolutions, I’ve picked a word to live by the last few years. I realized instead of trying to drastically fix every area of my life, it became a lot easier when I focused on making smaller changes each day to bring me closer to the person I want to become.
Each choice we make has a direct influence on our daily habits and intentions. Building small, meaningful habits and working toward change doesn’t have to look like a long checklist that you need to complete. It’s more about learning how to create a routine that works best for you. I realized the importance of living our life by how it feels, rather than focusing on how it looks.
If you’re looking to prioritize self-care and become a better version of yourself, here are 10 easy habits to develop in 2026:
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1. Start Your Day With Intention
As soon as we wake up in the morning, we have a choice on what our mindset is going to be for the day.
I know personally, there have been plenty of mornings when I’ve woken up either already irritated because I was carrying something over from the day before, or feeling anxious about something that didn’t even happen yet. But what I realized over time was that holding onto a negative mindset never brought me closer to where I wanted to be, both mentally and physically.
Prioritizing self-care taught me that nothing will change unless we actively make the choice to make a change. And sometimes it’s as simple as starting our day with an intention.
Setting an intention doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your time. Maybe it looks like waking up a little earlier so you can take that extra 15-20 minutes to yourself. I love starting out my day by reading a passage from a devotional book because it always lifts me up and helps set a positive tone for the day, regardless of what’s waiting for me ahead. My personal favorite is Closer To God Each Day by Joyce Meyer. I usually open to a random page each morning to see what I flip open to, along with reading the entry dated for the day.
Another helpful way to set an intention for the day is by journaling, whether it’s writing in a guided morning journal, or getting your thoughts and feelings out by writing them out in a plain journal. If I’m journaling without prompts, I usually write down how I’m currently feeling and ways that I can work toward changing or improving those feelings. A helpful intention to write out is: “Even if today doesn’t go according to plan, I’m still going to try and have a positive attitude no matter what happens.”
Once you set an intention and commit to sticking to it each morning, it becomes a lot easier to make it a daily habit.
2. Focus On A Routine That Works Best For You
What’s one habit you can change in your daily routine now that would help bring you closer to a better tomorrow?
Rather than getting caught up in what a routine ‘should’ look like, map out what an ideal routine looks like for you.
I know that forcing myself to wake up at 5 a.m. to start my day isn’t going to make me any more productive. If anything, it only leaves me feeling more exhausted and unmotivated, especially since I’m the complete opposite of a morning person.
Creating routines and building habits should be based on what works best for you, not others. I used to try to work out immediately when I woke up in the morning because I thought it was what I should do, but what actually worked best for me was working out later in the afternoon or at night.
Your routine should be adjusted to what you need, and remember that it’s okay if it changes over time. What’s most important is finding and focusing on what makes you feel at your best.
3. Stay Active
Since I live in Michigan and always find it harder to stay active in the winter months, I’ve found that it’s most important to focus on consistency rather than intensity when it comes to working out.
I’ve never been a person who loves lifting weights, but I’ve always enjoyed cardio, especially running. Whether it’s going outside to get fresh air, using a walking pad, or doing a workout routine (I’ve been loving the Peloton app workouts lately), staying active can help you prioritize self-care and step into a better version of yourself.
This past month, working out and staying active has taken a backseat as I’ve been dealing with personal things in my life, but I remembered that it’s okay to take a break when needed.
Just as it’s important to adjust our overall routine and schedule based on our own needs, it’s also okay to listen to our bodies when we need rest. It’s not only the intensity of the workouts that we do but rather staying consistent with knowing what we need and when.
4. Remember That It’s Okay To Rest
A quote that always stuck with me is: “If you don’t make time for rest, your body will make it for you.”
I’ve always been big on the importance of prioritizing mental health because I’ve felt the effects of what it looks like when I haven’t put myself first, whether emotionally or physically.
You don’t have to be ‘on’ all the time to be productive. When we give ourselves the break that we need mentally or rest when we physically can’t do something, we’ll find that we end up being more productive in the end.
Balance is the key to consistency, especially when it comes to productivity and rest. It’s okay to schedule downtime for yourself or do something that you enjoy, even while consistently working toward what you want.
Just as I mentioned that I prioritized rest this last month, I realized that building better habits isn’t just about working 24/7 or trying to consistently do more. It’s about learning how to listen to yourself and knowing when you need to take a much-needed break.
5. Declutter Your Space And Mind
I wrote an article a couple months ago about the importance of spring-cleaning every area of your life to create more space for growth, positivity, and personal development.
When it comes to learning how to declutter your physical space, start small. Rather than trying to do everything at once, break down tasks by committing to one room or task at a time: whether it’s organizing drawers, purging old clothes, or cleaning a physical space. Set aside time for each task without putting too much on your plate at once.
While it’s important for us to declutter the physical spaces in our homes to be more organized and reduce stress, it’s also important to learn how to declutter our minds. I know that when I’m overwhelmed with anxiety or negative thoughts, I’m not able to feel at my best.
Decluttering your mind starts with learning how to let go of negative thoughts or feelings, and replacing them with something positive.
For example, instead of thinking: “This situation feels impossible, things are never going to work out in my favor.” Replace it with: “This situation may be hard, but I know everything will work out how it’s supposed to.” Decluttering your physical and mental space takes time, but you’ll always feel lighter when you let go of anything that you shouldn’t be holding on to.
6. Practice Mindfulness
When we’re mindful of the present moment, we learn how to fully enjoy where we are, rather than looking behind or ahead, or wishing for a different set of circumstances.
Mindfulness is learning how to be fully present where you are without overwhelming yourself to what’s going on around you. Practicing mindfulness can look like:
- finding ways to connect with yourself (listening to an uplifting podcast, journaling, etc.)
- immersing yourself in your feelings
- prioritizing what brings you joy
- meeting yourself where you’re at
The times when I’ve seen significant change in my life is when I learned how much power we have over our mindset, thoughts, and feelings.
Life might not always go the way we expect, and our circumstances won’t always be perfect. But if we learn how to be mindful of the present moment, we’ll always find contentment where we are.
Learning how to make mindfulness a habit can bring more fulfillment to where you are without stressing about how far you have to go.
7. Make Reading A Habit
I’ve always been a reader for as long as I can remember, and making it a daily habit has made a huge difference in how I’ve felt mentally.
Rather than mindlessly scrolling (which can be so easy to do), commit to reading an inspiring book or an article, even if it’s only for 10-20 minutes at the start of your day or before bedtime. It’s a small change that can have a huge impact on your mindset along with your overall mood and motivation.
As I mentioned before, I like starting my day with an uplifting devotional. I also enjoy reading books that help contribute to my personal growth and help me think in a different perspective. Here are a few inspiring reads that I highly recommend:
- Atomic Habits by James Clear: This book breaks down how to build healthy habits while effectively breaking bad ones. It highlights the power of small, consistent changes in your daily routine that can help you understand the power of a growth mindset.
- The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey: This highly acclaimed book provides powerful insights into personal and professional growth. Covey shares seven transformative habits that can help you become more effective, purposeful, and productive. Whether you’re seeking self-growth, looking to enhance your career, improve personal relationships, or achieve better life balance, this book breaks down actionable steps to create meaningful change in your life.
- Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen: I’ve always believed our thoughts have a direct influence on how we feel, and this book dives deeper into that idea. It helps you discover how to break free from negative thoughts to overcome anxiety and self-doubt.“No matter what has happened to you, where you are from, or what you have done, you can still find total peace, unconditional love, complete fulfillment, and an abundance of joy in your life.” It’s a powerful reminder that no matter what you have been through, there’s always hope for a better future.
- The Art of Letting Go by Nick Trenton: This book focuses on rewiring anxious thoughts in your brain and trusting that everything will be okay. The author shares psychologically-proven strategies to help observe emotions and includes exercises to help you think beyond your thoughts.
8. Track Your Habits
The best way to stay consistent with your habits and goals is by tracking them. Whether it’s monitoring your water intake, meals, exercise, reading habits, or anything you’re working to improve, it becomes a lot easier to keep track of when you can physically write down what you’ve accomplished and see your progress.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one self-care journal, Silk and Sonder offers themed monthly guided journals with memberships to help support your goals.
A Silk and Sonder membership includes a guided self-care journal each month with reflections, intention-setting, daily logs, habit and mood trackers, and exercises to support personal growth and mindfulness. You’ll also gain access to virtual group coaching, monthly events, and an exclusive app with 800+ coaching modules to help you stay consistent on your self-growth journey.
Tracking your habits including meal, sleep, expenses, etc. can help keep you on track toward your goals, especially when you can physically see how far you’ve come.
9. Explore A New Hobby
Another easy habit to build is finding new activities that help you connect with yourself on a deeper level to enhance your self-care routine.
I feel most like myself when I’m able to practice my creativity in some type of way. For me, this usually consists of expressing myself through writing, enjoying a relaxing activity such as coloring or even putting a puzzle together.
If you’re unsure where to start, try exploring different hobbies that bring joy or help you relax. Whether it’s DIY crafts, home projects, gardening, or doing something creative such as painting or drawing, try to explore what makes you feel centered and refreshed.
10. Replace Bad Habits With Good Habits
The best way to become a better version of ourselves is by learning how to let go of the old so that we can embrace the new, which starts with replacing bad habits with good ones.
Something that helped me build easier and better habits was finding healthy replacements for what I was already doing. A few examples of replacing bad habits could be:
- Instead of procrastinating, set specific times for tasks to stay focused with time-blocking
- Swap endless scrolling on social media with reading or listening to an audiobook or podcast
- If you work from home and sit at your desk for long periods, take breaks to stretch or walk around
- Replace negative thoughts with positives ones: shift from an “I can’t” mindset, to an “I can”
Replacing bad habits with good habits doesn’t have to be anything drastic, but recognizing that even the smallest changes can provide the biggest shift in your mindset and overall energy.
Our daily habits have an overall influence on our mindset and well-being. The key to any change is simply having the courage to begin, and learning how to build meaningful habits that prioritize joy and self-care in your life.
Self-care is different for everyone, but what’s most important is learning how to build your life around how you feel rather than how it looks.
