Habits
Every habit on the site
Daily practices held long enough to become default behavior.
75 entries · ranked by consensus across 34 stacks
- FREE, no cost01
Daily reading
A fixed daily reading block, usually books rather than feeds
Backed by 18 of 34 stacks: 16 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost02
Daily meditation
10-20 minutes of formal practice, most days
Backed by 16 of 34 stacks: 12 do it, 1 recommend it, 3 have discussed it - FREE, no cost03
Cutting out alcohol
Drinking nothing, or close to it: the most common upgrade in these stacks
Backed by 11 of 34 stacks: 5 do it, 1 recommend it, 5 have discussed it - FREE, no cost04
Daily walking
A long walk most days, often without headphones
Backed by 9 of 34 stacks: 5 do it, 4 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost05
Early rising
A fixed, early wake time, often before anyone else is awake
Backed by 8 of 34 stacks: 7 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost06
Journaling
Writing to unload the mind, usually first thing or last thing
Backed by 8 of 34 stacks: 8 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost07
Deliberate solitude
Regular time with your own thoughts and no other inputs
Backed by 7 of 34 stacks: 5 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost08
Gratitude practice
Writing down a few specific things you are grateful for, daily
Backed by 7 of 34 stacks: 5 do it, 1 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost09
Phone out of the bedroom
Charge it in another room and buy an actual alarm clock
Backed by 6 of 34 stacks: 4 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost10
Dim the lights at night
Low, warm, low-placed light for the last few hours of the day
Backed by 5 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 3 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost11
Afternoon caffeine cutoff
A cutoff in early afternoon; caffeine's half-life runs longer than most expect
Backed by 4 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 2 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost12
Napping
Short early-afternoon naps: useful, but easy to get wrong
Backed by 4 of 34 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost13
Phone-free first hour
No email, news or social media until you have done something of your own
Backed by 4 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost14
Pre-workout music
Headphones on, a set playlist, and a fixed cue to switch into training mode
Backed by 4 of 34 stacks: 4 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost15
Weekly review
One scheduled hour a week to close loops and plan the next one
Backed by 4 of 34 stacks: 4 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost16
Daily minimum workout
A floor you never drop below: 20 minutes of movement and recovery on your worst day
Backed by 3 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 3 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost17
Daily writing
Write something every day, published or not
Backed by 3 of 34 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost18
Habit tracking
Mark the calendar every day you do it, then protect the chain
Backed by 3 of 34 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.19
Talk therapy
Regular sessions with a therapist, kept up long after the crisis passes
Backed by 3 of 34 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost20
Warm bath or shower before bed
Warm water an hour or two before sleep drops core temperature after
Backed by 3 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.21
Bridge
Contract bridge, played at a table or online, several sessions a week
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost22
Calorie and macro tracking
Logging food against a calorie and protein target, loosely or to the gram
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost23
Daily hydration target
Drinking to a set daily volume, often half your body weight in ounces
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost24
Deliberate discomfort
Choosing the thing you do not want to do, daily, as its own training
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.25
Diet soda and non-nutritive sweeteners
Zero-calorie sweetened drinks used in place of sugar or as an appetite tool while dieting
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.26
Golf
Hours outdoors, walking, with a problem to solve that is not your own
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost27
Regular check-ins with friends
A standing group chat or text that asks how you actually are
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost28
Regular weigh-ins
Weighing in a few times a week and reading the trend, not the daily number
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost29
Screens off an hour before bed
Phone, laptop and TV closed for the last hour, replaced by a book or nothing at all
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost30
Thinking retreats
Blocks of time cleared of the schedule to sit with one hard problem
Backed by 2 of 34 stacks: 2 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost31
Accountability mirror
Telling yourself the blunt truth in the mirror every day, then fixing it
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost32
Act on the thing causing stress
Make the first call or send the first email on whatever is nagging at you
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.33
Batch cooking protein
Cook a week of chicken, lean meat or fish in one session so protein is always to hand
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost34
Chess
Short games used as a mental reset between blocks of demanding work
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.35
Coca-Cola
Several cans of Coke a day, regular or cherry, as the default drink
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost36
Daily design
Writing the day ahead in the past tense, then scoring it out of ten at night
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost37
Daily prayer
A fixed time for prayer each morning, before the phone and before the day starts
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost38
Daily step target
Hold a fixed daily step count so everyday movement does not quietly shrink on a diet
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.39
Daily sunscreen
High-SPF sunscreen on exposed skin every day, not only at the beach
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.40
Eating the same meals every day
A fixed set of meals repeated for weeks so food needs no decisions
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost41
Evening reset
Clear today's mess and stage tomorrow before you go to bed
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost42
High five in the mirror
A silent high five to your own reflection after brushing your teeth
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.43
High-protein frozen meals
Ready meals chosen for protein and fiber when there is no time to cook
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost44
Hot water with lemon
A mug of hot water with a slice of lemon, to start the day or wind it down
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.45
Jigsaw puzzles
Thousand-piece puzzles as a screen-free way to switch the mind off
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost46
Lenten fasting
Forty days of giving something up, plus fast and meat-free days, in the Christian calendar
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost47
Lion's breath
One deep breath in, then a big loud exhale, used to break a spiral of frustration
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost48
Making the bed
The first completed task of the day, done before anything else
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost49
Margin notes
Writing in the margins while reading, especially where you disagree with the author
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.50
McDonald's breakfast
A fixed fast-food breakfast picked up on the drive to work, the same few items every day
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.51
Morning apple cider vinegar
A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water, usually first thing
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.52
Morning newspapers
A stack of print papers read start to finish before the working day begins
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost53
Morning puttering
A slow, unscheduled first hour or two: coffee, the paper, breakfast, no meetings
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost54
Nasal breathing
Breathe through the nose by default, including during easy exercise
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 0 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - FREE, no cost55
No eating close to bedtime
Finishing the last meal a few hours before sleep so digestion is done by lights out
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost56
No fried food or artificial sugar
Dropping fried food, artificial sweeteners and artificial drinks, at least while competing
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost57
No phone calls after 10 p.m.
A hard stop on calls and conversations late in the evening so the brain can wind down
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost58
No sugary soft drinks
Water as the default drink, with sugar-sweetened sodas cut out entirely
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost59
Open calendar
An appointment book kept almost empty so most days are free for reading and thinking
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost60
Personal mantra
A quote kept where you will see it before you perform, taped up or written on your gear
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.61
Personal trainer
Paying someone to program the session and push you through it
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost62
Quitting social media
Deleting the accounts rather than trying to use them less
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost63
Rewriting notes by hand
Copying the same material out longhand, daily, until it sticks
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost64
Saying I get to instead of I have to
Swap one verb in your self-talk and the daily grind reads as a privilege
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost65
Scheduled rest days
Fixed days off training each week, planned in advance rather than taken when exhausted
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost66
Scheduled rest days
Fixed days off training each week so recovery is planned rather than forced by injury
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.67
Sleep score tracking
Checking a nightly sleep score from a wearable or app, and comparing notes with friends
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost68
Time with family and friends
Protected off-hours with the people who knew you before the job did
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost69
Training first thing
The workout goes before the workday; a session planned for later tends not to happen
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost70
Washing the dishes
Doing the dishes by hand after dinner as a fixed, screen-free end to the day
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost71
Water before coffee
A full glass of water on waking, before the first cup of coffee
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.72
Weekly cheat meal
Six days of measured eating, then one planned meal with nothing off the menu
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost73
Work-life harmony
Treat work and home as feeding each other rather than as a strict trade-off
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - $$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.74
Working with a life coach
Regular sessions with a coach who sets priorities and holds you to them
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - FREE, no cost75
Written goal sheet
Goals written down, in numbers, and kept where you see them every morning
Backed by 1 of 34 stacks: 1 do it, 0 recommend it, 0 have discussed it
Consensus is a count of recommendation edges, not a rating. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.