No matter where we are in our respected lives, we all sometimes feel like we could do better, be more disciplined, work harder, learn how to relax, etc. Sometimes the biggest cure is to simply get out of the ruts we so often find ourselves in; ruts filled with bad habits, wrong attitudes, and lowered expectations.

If you want to get out of the rut you are in, consider the following 15 habits that you need to acquire in your life.

Get some exercise. About 30 minutes a day should be enough to make you feel like a new man (unless, of course, you’re a woman). This is especially important if your job has you sitting or in one position for most of the day. If you’re not keen on the idea of exercise, take the idea for a test drive; do a brisk walk around your neighborhood and see if you don’t feel better.

Get a full night’s rest. Trying to go and put in a full day’s work after staying out partying all night isn’t the wisest of ideas. Even if you are young and think you will have plenty of time to lie down after you are dead, you still need a good, solid night’s sleep to avoid feeling fatigued and irritable the next day. Eight hours is ideal, made even better if you can sneak in a nap during the day.

Have some fruit and veggies every day. Resist the urge to break open the bag of chips and opt for the apple or banana or carrot instead. Many doctors will recommend eating at least five portions per day, which sounds like a lot, but your body and mind will thank you for it.

Drink plenty of water during the day. About five to eight glasses of water daily will help keep you properly hydrated and your system flushed out. And no, a Coke or Dr. Pepper doesn’t count. Water with breakfast is also a good idea.

Keep clean. Bathe or shower daily, and that includes washing your hair, shaving, etc. It is amazing how much better you feel when you are clean and freshened up. Don’t believe me? Go in at the end of the day and splash some water on your face. See if it doesn’t automatically make you feel a lot better.

Cut down on the alcoholic beverages. While one glass of wine or beer per day has been shown to have nutritional value, overindulging or binging is every bit as unhealthy and damaging as smoking or other dangerous habits.

Prioritize your daily activities. Determine what needs to be done and in what order. What can wait til tomorrow, and what needs to have been done yesterday. With today’s computer programs, there is no logical reason for anybody to be disorganized.

Become a morning person. I spent 20 years on the road as a musician, and was quite used to rolling out of bed at the crack of noon. Now I’m up every day by 5:30, and by 9AM I have already dropped my daughter at school and am well into my workday. It helps when you discover just how much more of the day you have to enjoy by getting off earlier.

Eliminate tasks that do not mean anything. You’d be surprised at just how much time we spend on things that don’t really matter in the long run. This goes hand in hand with prioritization that I mentioned earlier.

Set as much of your life as you can on autopilot. I used to hate sitting down and writing checks to pay bills every month. Now with automated banking, I just set the dates bills are to be paid, and with the exception of those bills that fluctuate every month (such as water), I don’t have to pay attention to them anymore.

Take a day off. Take a day where you can completely separate yourself from unnecessary distractions. Leave the laptop closed and the TV off. Get out and enjoy the outdoors, or curl up on your couch with some hot coffee and a good book.

Work some mind exercises, such as puzzles or games. There are numerous ways you can exercise your brain.

Make fast decisions and stick with them. It is possible to overanalyze something and turn a sure thing into a failure.

Try meditation for about a half hour every day. Even if you aren’t into this sort of thing, just taking 30 minutes to relax and unwind through mediation is a great way to recharge your mind, body, and spirit.

Author Bio: Darrell is the Director Of Content for Leadsbyfone, a lead generation company servicing the flood clean up and water damage restoration industry.

Category: Self Help
Keywords: habits, stress, exercise, prioritize, walking, sleep, work, lifestyle