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Useful Habits

Explanations > Behaviors > Habit > Useful Habits

Health | Safety | Prudence | Sociability | Learning | Quality | So what?

Habits are things we do without really thinking. Some are harmful, some are harmless, and some are actually quite useful. Here are some useful habits to develop.

Health

Staying healthy is a fundamental need, yet many people exercise too little and eat too much of the wrong things.

Health habits include:

• Daily workout, whether it is going to the gym or having a good energetic walk.
• Regular longer exercises to build stamina.
• Keeping meals smaller rather than larger.
• Having a good breakfast (not just grabbing a bite on the way out).
• Eating less fats, salt, carbohydrates, etc.
• Drinking alcohol and caffeine in moderation.
• Avoiding narcotic drugs, particularly tobacco.
• Going to bed at a regular time.
• Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

Safety

Keeping safe is a good way of staying healthy and alive. Risks occur in many parts of our lives and we can reduce the chance of harm and other problems by creating habits so we automatically take measures to stay safe ourselves and also help others be safe.

• Double-checking when crossing the road or taking other risks.
• Using safety equipment properly (in work and play).
• Taking care with hazardous equipment, using and storing it properly and safely.
• Not taking silly risks when playing sports.
• Paying attention to safety with children, holding their hand by roads, etc.
• Avoiding dangerous places when going out at night.

Prudence

Prudence is the wise and careful use of money and other resources. It is easy to develop

• Keeping a log of income and expenditure so you know what is happening to your money.
• Having budgets for different types of expenditure such as food and sports.
• Regularly saving money to build a fund for emergencies.
• Asking the price of things before buying them.
• Researching the best price before buying things at the first place that sells them.
• Questioning the need for things before buying them.
• Planning the use of your time and then sticking to these plans.
• Reviewing how well you are doing against your plans for prudence and taking necessary corrective action.

Sociability

We live in a collective society where people are often dependent on one another. If you are liked, then people will like you. If you help others, they will help you when you need it.

Sociability habits include:

• Be polite and civil to everyone, greeting them with smiles and kind words.
• Help others wherever you can, especially friends and family.
• Take time to build good friends who will help you out when you need it.
• Adopt personal values that support sociability.

Learning

Your ability in life is based on what you learn. If you think you do not need to learn, you will fail more. A learning attitude removes blame, accepting failure and natural and a good opportunity to learn further.

Things you can do include:

• When you fail, find out how you can avoid such failure in future.
• Read as much as possible about how the world works, including about people and psychology.
• Find ways to practice new skills in places where failure will not cause big problems.
• Go on courses and gain qualifications throughout your life.

Quality

If you approach life in a way that seeks to do the right things in the right way you can have a quality life with quality relationships.

Quality means being efficient and effective, doing what gives the best results for the minimum costs.

Quality-oriented habits include:

• Find what is really wanted rather than delivering what you think is wanted.
• Always keep your promises.
• Always aim to do your best.
• Get things right first time.
• Find ways of preventing mistakes from happening.
• Always double-check.
• Keep things tidy, with a place for everything and everything in its place.
• Make sure people know what is wanted of them and that they are willing and able to deliver.
• Avoid and reduce waste.

So what?

Use these and other categories to help you develop habits that are helpful in your life, automating all the little (and big) things that just need doing without question.

See also

How to Build Good Habits, Habituation