4 Tiny Habits You Should Start Building In The Next 4 Months
4th one will surprise you
I couldn’t help but wonder… are we really a sum of our habits? It’s a strange thing to realize that the person you are today is largely the result of small, seemingly insignificant choices you’ve made over and over again.
There’s a certain poetry to it, isn’t there? The way our lives are sculpted not by grand gestures or momentous decisions, but by the quiet, persistent rhythm of our daily routines. It’s both beautiful and terrifying.
I remember a time when I felt stuck, trapped in patterns that no longer served me. It was like being caught in a riptide, pulled further and further from the shore of the person I wanted to be. The realization hit me one ordinary Tuesday afternoon: if I wanted to change my life, I needed to change my habits.
It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But simplicity and ease are not the same thing. Changing habits is hard. It’s uncomfortable. It requires us to confront the parts of ourselves we’ve been avoiding, to sit with the discomfort of growth. It’s like trying to redirect a river — it takes time, persistence, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
I don’t need to tell you why habits matter. You already know. If you’re here, it’s because something within you knows you must build better habits. You know you are tired of the same old patterns. You know you are ready for the change. You know you are standing at the starting line of your new life. All you have to do is to build the habits that your new self will be proud of.
Building habits is the fastest way to change.
Before diving into the habits that can transform your life, remember: don’t overwhelm yourself. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is progress. The goal is authenticity, and alignment with your truest self. Start with one, then another, and another. Give yourself four months. Habit-building is a beautiful process. Don’t rush it in your quest for productivity. Enjoy this beautiful art of habit building. Let it be slow. Let it be beautiful. Let it be enough.
1. Journaling
Journaling is more than writing down your thoughts. Journaling is a sacred conversation with the person who knows you the best. It’s a place where you make sense of your past. It’s a place where you slow down life. It’s a place where you become honest with yourself. It’s a place you plot your next move. It’s a place where you accept your whole self.
There’s no “right” way to journal.
You writing your thoughts on a piece of paper is journaling.
You speaking to yourself is journaling.
You creating art is journaling.
You don’t need to follow any prompts. You don’t need to follow any gurus. You don’t need to be consistent. All you need is yourself and a willingness to have a conversation with your own mind, at your own pace.
Journaling is free therapy. Start today, and your future self will thank you.
Some pointers to get started:
Week 1: Write 1-page of stream of consciousness
Week 2: Write letters to your past self
Week 3: Write letters to your present self
Week 4: Write letters to your past self
If all this feels overwhelming, you can always write down 3 things you are grateful for or use a prompt.
A single sentence scribbled on a difficult day can alter the direction of life. Do not underestimate the power of journaling daily.
2. Meditation
Journaling is talking to yourself.
Meditation is listening to yourself.
Meditation is a process of building a connection with your inner voice. Meditation is letting your thoughts flow. Meditation is allowing your mind to wander. Meditation is going into unchartered territory without worrying about anything.
Meditation is paradoxical. You have to let go of the need to control and in return, meditation will help you to be in control. It’s through surrender you find strength, through stillness you discover movement.
As you develop this habit, you will notice subtle shifts in your daily life. You will find yourself responding rather than reacting, pausing before speaking, or simply appreciating the present moment more fully. Your inner world will become more calmer, more fuller, and more kinder. And these ripples of your practice will extend outward in your day-to-day interaction.
I can give you all the “best practices” to get started with meditation but honestly, the best practice is no practice. You have to keep practicing it again and again until it becomes as easy as breathing. Check out this beautiful thread by Naval:
3. Working Out
Meditation & journaling is connecting to your psychological self.
Working out is connecting to your physical self.
And when I say physical self, I don’t mean “physical benefits.
Sure, you look good, clothes fit you well, people around respect you, look up to you. But more importantly, working out connects you to your body’s capabilities. You start feeling good, you start trusting yourself because you know you have pushed yourself beyond what you thought possible.
The act of voluntarily subjecting yourself to discomfort builds character.
Start small. A walk around the block. A few stretches in the morning. A dance break in your living room. The form doesn’t matter as much as the intention behind it. Move your body not because you hate it, but because you love it. Move not to punish yourself, but to celebrate what you’re capable of.
Remember, every time you choose to work out, you’re choosing yourself. You’re investing in your future self. You’re building a relationship with your body based on respect and care, not criticism and shame. And that, more than any physical change, is the true transformation.
4. Waking Up & Sleeping At Same Time
In a world that never sleeps, choosing to rest is not an act of rebellion but a radical act of self-care. The way we treat our sleep often reflects how we treat ourselves. As someone who has struggled with inconsistent sleep patterns, I’ve come to believe that the fastest way to become reliable to yourself is by waking up and going to sleep at the same time each day. This might seem too simple to be true, but its simplicity belies its profound impact.
Your body craves routine, and your mind yearns for predictability. Research has shown that a regular sleep routine helps regulate crucial hormones like melatonin and cortisol, which play vital roles in your sleep-wake cycle and stress response. Moreover, this regularity extends to emotional regulation, potentially improving your mood and reducing anxiety.
Consider this: Have you ever noticed how chaotic your day feels when you’ve had a poor night’s sleep? Your mind rebels against the constant state of fight-or-flight that irregular sleep induces. It’s not just about feeling tired; it’s about starting each day already behind, breaking a simple yet fundamental promise to yourself. This small act of self-betrayal can ripple through your entire day, affecting your productivity, relationships, and overall well-being.
But things are going to change and they are going to change starting today. You are going to honor your body’s need. You are going to commit sleeping at the same time and waking up at the same time. You are going to recommit to your well being. And this in return will give you a freedom to choose how you want to experience your walking hours.
Here are some practical tips to help you establish a consistent sleep routine:
- Set a fixed bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends.
- Create a relaxing pre-bed routine to signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.
- Limit exposure to blue light from devices in the hours leading up to bedtime.
- Make your bedroom a sleep-friendly environment: dark, quiet, and cool.
- Be patient with yourself. It may take a few weeks for your body to adjust to the new routine.
Remember: you’re not just changing what you do — you’re changing who you’re becoming.
PS:
This blog post is also my declaration of being more consistent with my writing. This is the habit I am actively working on building. Make sure you’re following me — my journey of habit building might just help you develop some great habits of your own.
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