9 simple habits that can turn every day into a good day

Is it really possible to make every day a good day?

At the risk of sounding like an annoyingly cheerful person, I say yes, it’s absolutely possible.

But it does require a flexible mind that can look at situations from a different angle.

So, how do you get that kind of flexibility? It all begins with the habits you keep.

Today, I’ll share 9 simple habits that have always worked for me and helped me end the day on a positive note, even if it’s been more challenging than usual.

Let’s get started!  

1) Have a solid morning routine

First of all, a good day begins with intentional design. That’s why I encourage you to have a morning routine that starts off your day on the right foot.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, morning routines are powerful. They increase your energy, productivity and positivity.

Most importantly, they help you begin the day with a proactive mindset. As in, yeah, the day ahead may be chaotic, but that’s okay – you’re in charge and ready! 

Here are some tried-and-tested elements that can be part of your morning routine:

• Wake up at the same time every day, even if it’s the weekend. Consistency stabilizes your body’s internal clock, which can enhance sleep quality and overall energy levels.
• Drink a glass of water immediately to rehydrate your body and cleanse your system.
• Practice mindfulness, meditation, or journaling. Even just a few minutes can reduce stress and increase your mental clarity and emotional stability.
• Eat a nutritious breakfast so you stay adequately powered all the way to lunch.
• Take a few minutes to go over your day’s plans, goals or tasks. If you’ve got the extra time, you can even do a little visualization as a way to prep yourself for the day ahead.
• Have yourself a little morning treat by doing something you love. For me, it’s reading a poem. For you, it could be listening to a podcast or playing a short piece on the piano.

2) Exercise

This could very well be part of your morning routine, but really, it doesn’t matter what time of the day you do it. Just do it, as Nike says!

Exercise gives you a wonderful dose of feel-good hormones and is effective for promoting both short-term and long-term happiness.

Try going for a walk or a run when you’re feeling frustrated, and you’ll see an instant boost in your mood.

3) Practice gratitude

Another habit that’s powerful in terms of both short-term and long-term happiness is practicing gratitude.

I know that whenever I feel down in the dumps, when I feel like the day has gotten away from me, just thinking about what’s good in my life really lifts me up. My brain switches on from despair to appreciation.

The research is clear on this – gratitude and life satisfaction have a reciprocal relationship. This means that the more grateful we are, the happier we feel. The happier we feel, the more grateful we become. It’s a lovely endless cycle!

Not only that, but gratitude also makes us kinder. Which brings me to the next point…

4) Do an act of kindness

I’ve always believed that if you want to be happier, you’ve got to get out of your own head.

As an old Chinese saying goes, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

It’s true – in fact, studies show that being kind and helping others makes us even happier than when we’re on the receiving end.

So, if you want to turn every day into a good day, do something nice for someone else. Hold the door for the person right after you. Receive a package on your neighbor’s behalf.

Maybe the question isn’t “How can I have a good day?” Maybe the right question is: “How can I make someone else’s day a good one?”

5) Do deep work

Have you heard of the term “flow state”?

Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi called it the “secret to happiness” after he studied people who did activities for pleasure even when they weren’t rewarded with money or fame.

Flow state simply means being so immersed in a task that time seems to stand still and the world around you fades away.

It’s when you’re completely engaged because there’s just the right balance between challenge and ability.

If you can get into the flow state every single day, trust me, each day will feel like a good day. Add up all those good days together, and you’ve got a good life!

6) Take a power nap

Ah, napping – every adult’s secret wish during a hectic day. Isn’t it ironic that we used to resist naps as kids, but today we’d kill to have just a few minutes of it in the middle of the day?

Napping can feel like a guilty pleasure, but honestly, there’s no need to feel guilty about it. According to Dr. Tracy Bower at Forbes Magazine, napping is linked to:

• Greater brain size and function
• Better physical health
• Better performance at work
• More happiness

Who says it’s just for kids? Clearly, napping is something we should still be doing as adults!

7) Eat good-mood foods

Do you tend to reach for junk food when you’re feeling low? I’m not judging here; I myself am guilty of stuffing myself with junk as a way of dealing with bad emotions.

Unfortunately, that actually does the opposite of what we hope it will do. Junk food might give us an immediate lift, but the sugar crash that follows can leave us feeling worse than before.

It’s just a short-term fix that often makes mood swings worse.

Why does food play such a huge role in our mood? It all has to do with the neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects so many of our basic functions like sleep regulation, appetite, and yes – mood.

And here’s the kicker: 95% of our serotonin receptors are in the gut. So clearly, whatever we consume is going to affect our mood. 

So, what should we eat instead? Good-mood foods. I’m talking about foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants.

They might not be as appealing as potato chips or ice cream, but wait a little longer for their effects – you’ll see a huge difference in the way you feel.

8) Get into nature

Now here’s a really easy fix for those terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days…take a walk in nature.

Study after study has proven that nature soothes us and relieves stress. Not only that, it also makes us kinder and more creative.

Most importantly, nature makes us feel most alive and vibrant. I don’t know about you, but any day I feel that way sounds like a good day to me!

9) Pay attention to the small stuff

By the small stuff, I mean the good kind. The finding a forgotten dollar in your pocket kind. The old man holding an old lady’s hand kind. The yellow butterfly flitting near you kind.

The kind that makes you pause and think, “Well, that was delightful…” in a quiet way.

We live in a world where the stakes seem to always be high. Where happiness could only be a byproduct of something big.

But really, as Mark Manson wrote, “The simple joys are the most meaningful.”

I completely agree. I think that the slow lane is where we’re most able to notice all the tiny gifts that life has to offer.

So, if you want to make every day a good day, I hope you’ll join me in this lane. It really is quite lovely here!