How To Jumpstart Your Year With These Life Habits

At the beginning of each year we all tend to wonder, what are the best habits I should start today so that this year can be better than the last?

Some of us act on that thought and plan big goals or new year’s resolutions, while others push the thought aside and keep moving on with life as if a new year didn’t just hit.

I’ve done both.

And, in the process, I learned that there was a better option than both of these. While goals tend to fall short and new year’s resolutions tend to fail, the formation of life habits is what can remain.

The key to starting your year successfully is to form life habits.

While it’s not necessary to wait for the beginning of a new year to start forming life habits, it is a wonderful time to start! You may ask, “What are life habits to jumpstart my year?”

Life habits are the areas in your life that you have taken focused, intentional action to set up ongoing, long-term success.

In fact, setting up your life for success in your 20s by forming impactful life habits today is what this blog is all about!

You’ll see what I mean. Let’s dive in!

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Life Habit #1 – Treat Your Job Like A Career

As we dive deep into how to set up life habits in the seven areas of our lives, let’s begin with an area of your life we can’t go without – our career.

What are some actions you can start implementing today to form a positive and healthy career?

Well, first let’s talk about what not to do. A toxic work environment, negative co-workers, and a company with little opportunity for growth can be devastating to your career. Don’t form habits in these situations.

Don’t start office gossip, don’t be unprofessional in your mannerisms, and don’t cut corners.

Instead, be a person marked by integrity that uses these career life habits to jumpstart your year:

1. Wake Up Early – don’t be rushed getting to work.
2. Take One Mental Break Each Hour – get up, stretch, and go to the bathroom.
3. Put Your Clothes Out The Night Before – so you don’t have to decide when you are half asleep.
4. Make Your Lunch – it saves money too.
5. Declutter Your Desk Nightly – keep things simple and organized.
6. Know Your Balance – have non-negotiables when it comes to rest after work.
7. Form A Track Your On – and set goals to stay on track.
8. Plan Your Months – know deadlines, upcoming meetings, and time off so you’re not caught off guard.
9. Have A Career Binder – keep the important information organized so you’re ready for each opportunity.
10. Be Informed – understand changes and implement them.
11. Stand Up For Others – be selfless, helpful, and sacrificial.
12. Adhere To The Company Culture – for habits around the culture you are operating in.

Here are some blog posts on career life habits to jumpstart your year:

5 Easy Tips To Enter The Workforce Boldly After College

How To Stand Up For Yourself At Work Professionally

How To Land Your First Entry-Level Job Out Of College

The Best Business Book Every Professional Should Read Before Turning 30

Life Habit #2 – Family Matters

When you think of family, think of the current family you have around you. Maybe it’s just you and your spouse, or maybe you still live at home. And if you’re living alone or with a roommate, think about the family-like culture you are still creating each day.

No matter what stage of life you are in, where you call home, or what your family looks like right now, you need to start implementing habits that will build positive experiences and effective communication.

As a current family of two with two additional fur babies, these are the family life habits to jumpstart your year that I would recommend:

1. Relax and Take Deep Breaths – don’t let anger grow inside of you.
2. Make Your Bed – it is a positive mental trigger you need.
3. Take Care Of Your Dishes – do it immediately and don’t procrastinate
4. Get Your Laundry Done – focus on it on an off-day like Sunday afternoons.
5. Hang Up Your Clothes – take care of the items you have invested in.
6. Create A Cleaning Schedule – you’ll be a happier person.
7. Brush Your Teeth – your spouse will be thankful.
8. Make A Phone Call – ask your relatives what they are up to and learn more about them.
9. Meal Prep – there are so many resources online to make this easy.
10. Have A Family Verse Or Motto – ours is the Bible verse Psalm 73:23-28.
11. Visit Loved Ones – make time to enjoy the company of family.
12. Ask For Forgiveness – be selfless, show grace, admit when you are wrong, and when you fail ask for forgiveness.

Here are some blog posts on family life habits to jumpstart your year:

27 Habits That Will Make You The Best Brand New Wife

How To Keep Your House Clean With Puppies

How To Spring Clean For The First Time In Your 20’s

How To Overcome A Quarter-Life Crisis

How To Handle Finding Out About A Porn Addiction

Life Habit #3 – Intellectual Wisdom

Life is always changing. You are always growing. As a result, the need for knowledge is always necessary.

The question to ask yourself today is: How can I form habits around my intellect?

Thankfully, there are so many resources for us today that help us on the path of greater understanding. Here are some of the most useful intellectual life habits to jumpstart your year:

1. Have Alone Time – meditate about what you’ve learned through today’s experiences.
2. Listen To Audiobooks – I do this on my commute to and from work each day.
3. Take A Small Roadtrip To Attend A Speaking Event – go on a mini-retreat.
4. Create A Bucket List – and write it down so you’ll follow through on it.
5. Make A Monthly Challenge – something you want to grow in that can be measured.
6. Read Books On Self-Improvement – visit your local library at least once a month.
7. Track Your Bodies Cycles – sleep, menstruation, heart rate, etc. to understand your body better.
8. Form A Plan On How To Attack Negative Thoughts – when you take thoughts captive, you learn self-discipline.
9. Read Blogs To Hear Personal Testimonies From Others – check out all my blog posts here.
10. Listen To Music – expand your horizon and learn about different cultures and eras.
11. Limit Television And Social Media – there’s no need to spend hours on these.
12. Watch Or Read The News – be an informed citizen.
13. Practice Public Speaking – share your ideas with others.

Here are some blog posts on intellectual life habits to jumpstart your year:

The Introvert’s Guide to Enjoying Life

My Honest Review of “The Defining Decade” by Meg Jay

Insider Advice: 30 Things To Do Before 30 Years Old

The Top 10 Most Influential Books on Adulting

Life Habit #4 – Set Your Financial Path Straight

One of the biggest keys to setting up your life for success, especially in your 20s, is getting your finances organized. Most of us, from a young age, were never taught how to set up financial habits.

Money habits take a lot of intentionality. It’s not easy to create a budget, say no to luxuries, and sacrifice fancy vacations; however, the joy of reaching your financial goals far outweighs these short-term pains.

Remember: keep a long-term mindset, implement these habits, and start being intentional about the decisions you make so that you’ll start living a more joyful and fulfilling life!

Here are the financial life habits to jumpstart your year:

1. Never Buy Food At Work – always pack a lunch.
2. Participate In Your Employers 401(k) Match – free money for retirement.
3. Learn About Each Kind Of Insurance You Need – use it the right way and don’t overspend.
4. Start Saving For A Country You Want To Visit – or whatever saving goal you have.
5. Pay Off Debt – treat it like a disease.
6. Have A Side Hustle – we like Airbnb the best.
7. Make Passive Income – one of the best ways is to start a blog.
8. Invest In An Online Course To Start A Business – I never regretted this decision.
9. Be Generous – focus on giving to others.
10. Set Investing Goals With Action Steps – then they will become habits and you’ll save more than you realized.
11. Create A Budget – and review it each month.
12. Become An Expert in Financial Terms – know what you are talking about so you can be a wise steward of your money.

Here are some blog posts on financial life habits to jumpstart your year:

10 Reasons To Start A Blog After You Graduate College

How Do You Quickly Become Debt Free In Your 20’s?

7 Side Hustles Any 20-Something Can Do

How To Start An Online Business On A Budget

Should Christians Pursue The FIRE Movement?

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Life Habit #5 – Social Situation Solved

Your social life is one of the most fun areas to talk about when it comes to forming habits this year. However, most people don’t set new year’s resolutions for their social life.

Part of being human is being a social creature. You have thoughts, feelings, and emotions that need to be shared with others. Don’t let your 20s fly past you without taking the time to be intentional about your social life.

Create a support system around you with these social life habits to jumpstart your year:

1. Smile – at others and yourself in the mirror.
2. Remember Your Priorities – major in the majors and minor in the minors.
3. Don’t Pull Your Phone Out – turn off your notifications and only engage with your phone when you are alone.
4. Play Board Games With Others – create a healthy competitive atmosphere.
5. Learn How To Do Your Taxes Correctly – there is an awesome blog post linked below.
6. Celebrate Your Birthday – and do it with the most important people to you.
7. Be Hospitable – have people over to your house.
8. Join A Pickup Sports League – it can be one of the easiest ways to meet new people.
9. Be Kind – lend a helping hand.
10. Take Pictures – remember important moments.
11. Consider Getting A Pet – they help with loneliness.
12. Join A Church – one of the only places I have been able to find a true, authentic community.

Here are some blog posts on social life habits to jumpstart your year:

How To Achieve Your Goals After College

3 Things I Wish I Practiced More In College

How To File Taxes Online As A 20-Something

4 Practical Dating Tips for Christian Women In Their Early 20’s

Why We Waited To Kiss and Have Sex Till Marriage

Life Habit #6 – Physical Well-Being

Don’t be a couch potato. Stay active!

I’m not going to lie. Each winter I lose the motivation to stay active. In Wisconsin, we get lots of snow, and while there are lots of fun things to do outside in the winter like hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, and sledding, it’s definitely harder to stay active.

I’ve learned that I need to form life habits so that when each winter hits, I can stay on track with my physical goals.

So, let’s see what they are! Here are the physical life habits to jumpstart your year:

1. Eat A Healthy Breakfast – start with one healthy meal a day.
2. Stretch Three Times A Day – stand up and stretch.
3. Don’t Smoke – there’s nothing good from it.
4. Take Care Of Your Skin – wash your face every morning and night.
5. Drink Half Your Weight In Ounces Of Water Every Day – this is necessary.
6. Don’t Drink Alcohol – or limit your alcohol intake.
7. Cut Out Caffeine – this one is hard for me as I still have a daily cup of coffee every morning.
8. Get A Massage – do your nails or go to a salon for a relaxing day.
9. Walk Outside – go and get the mail and maybe a bit further.
10. Get Your Teeth Checked – no cavities, please.
11. Have Plants In Your House – they encourage a growth mindset.
12. Workout For At Least 30 Minutes Every Day – your body was made to move.
13. Support Your Body In Natural Ways – take vitamins, drink tea and use essential oils and you’ll be sick much less.

Here are some blog posts on physical life habits to jumpstart your year:

How To Easily Prevent Pregnancy Without Birth Control

How I Trained For My First Half Marathon At Age 22

How Essential Oils Help Me Accomplish My Goals In My 20’s

21 Quick Ways To Be Healthy In Your 20’s

How To Do Outstanding Workouts In Your Twenties

Life Habit #7 – Spiritual Necessity

As a Christian, I find my identity in Christ alone. My purpose on this earth is to bring glory to the God who made me and worship, obey, and serve Him.

Without my faith, it would be very hard for me to find my joy on this earth. What’s the point of setting goals? What’s after our simple and short lives? How do I feel fulfilled in the temporary things of this world?

My faith answers these questions and so many more. Your spiritual goals are just as important as any other goals you could set because they are what bring ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction – when they are found in God alone.

Check out these spiritual life habits to jumpstart your year and begin implementing some of them today:

1. Hold High Standards – have non-negotiables, such as always praying before a meal.
2. Set Reminders Around The House – verses, quotes, and sayings where you will see them.
3. Speak Positively To Yourself – compliment and encourage yourself.
4. Say 5 Things You Are Thankful For Each Day – my husband and I do this before we go to sleep each night.
5. Pray – your relationship with God is not one-sided.
6. Read The Bible – and learn more about your purpose on this earth.
7. Examine Your Mental Health In Hard Situations – what could you do better next time?
8. Volunteer At A Church – help others.
9. Share Your Faith With Others – you never know what encouragement it might bring someone.
10. Seek Advice From Your Community – ask others deep questions about faith to learn more and have deeper knowledge.
11. Memorize Scripture – it will help you remember how to respond in difficult situations.
12. Seek Counsel From A Mentor – have someone you can turn to about anything and everything.

Here are some blog posts on spiritual life habits to jumpstart your year:

Should Christians Wear Leggings?

The 10-Minute, 10-Step Solution For The Best Journaling Bible

Re-Learn How To Study The Bible As A Young Adult

How To Break the Addiction of Stress and Busyness

Two Tangible Ways to Stand Out In Your Faith

How will you start implementing these habits today? Leave your ideas in the comments below. I’d love to dive deeper with you!

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Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma

Hey there, I'm Kelsey! I'm so glad you are here. I'm a 20-something helping you live your most fulfilling life. I hope you'll join me in this old-fashioned & simple lifestyle!

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