According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit. (The study also concluded that, on average, it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.)

Depending on how tight your schedule is, this may sound like a lot of hassle. However, even the slightest changes in your lifestyle can snowball into substantial, palpable results. And there’s a fresh Reddit thread to get some ideas.

Created by user iam_robas, it asked everyone the question, “What’s a simple habit you practice daily that helps you stay positive?” It’s not the most popular post on the platform, but the discussion in the comment section provides interesting insights into how people navigate these turbulent times.

#1

Singing in the car. It’s tough to be in a bad mood while singing

Image credits: DonGuilley

#2

Feel your emotions, pick them apart, try to understand why they came up, but don’t let them control you.

Image credits: robertman147555

#3

I sit outside in silence and be in the moment listening to nature.

Image credits: Lilstrongstreet

#4

I try and go out for a few hours any day I’m off work and just go for a coffee, food and walk around my city for a few hours. It’s such a simple yet nice thing I do that keeps me being positive. My friends make fun of me for it though :/

Image credits: El_Husker

#5

Sleep

Image credits: ProfessionalDress476

#6

Play with my sisters cat

Image credits: ForbiddenHost

#7

Talk yourself up with positive phrases throughout the day. Wake up a little before work, an extra hour ideally, and have some time to yourself. I like listening to music and drinking coffee during this time.

Image credits: Puzzleheaded-Dog2882

#8

Stay in contact with friends, see what they’re up to, offer to help if there is something I can do.

Image credits: OttoQuangel

#9

Stretching for 5 mins is almost a ritual for me

Image credits: kt_Lulu

#10

Toxic, dramatic people. Just shut them out. Coworkers, family. Don’t care, can’t hear you. I have an average life to live. Don’t try to spice it up with your reality tv show nonsense

Image credits: soline

#11

Being grateful

Image credits: xxllllxx

#12

I smoke cigarettes and drink coffee.

Image credits: uslessbastard

#13

A do list! It helps me to visualise what I’ve actually achieved that day

Image credits: moangirl17

#14

Force myself to smile for a few seconds

Image credits: SELESS_WEEB

#15

Before I get up out of bed, I give gratitude for many blessings. I give thanks for simple things like having a roof, a pillow, a bed, comfy blankets, a safe place to live, plumbing…and then go on to bigger things like people who love and support me. I do this throughout the day, even giving thanks for difficulties (thank you, asshole driver who gives me the opportunity to practice patience ha).

Image credits: Botryoid2000

#16

Drink lots of water

Image credits: pternstrom

#17

Morning wank to get the day started

Image credits: Flaccid-Peanuts

#18

running, drinking, coffee, eating good food, petting cat

#19

Staying single

#20

Walk my dog

#21

Spend some time in nature – walk, run etc. Sounds cliche but works wonders.

#22

Play the ukulele

#23

making myself an egg sandwich in the morning with a glass of water, and enjoying my quiet hour long bus ride

#24

Songs that match my thoughts or mood

#25

Being appreciative for how much easier my life is than previous generations’.

Image credits: Jaysteag

#26

Wherever you feel a lot of pressure just go out of that place breathe in and exhale out Life will be much better

Image credits: darshilj97

#27

Try to be nice to everyone, no matter when or where

#28

I have an issue with taking things personally, what helps is for example if someone comes off as rude to me or dismissive I usually remind myself that they are probably going through a bad day or something. Most of the time I pry and ask and they end up revealing an issue to me or what happened to cause them to be in a sour mood. It has helped me a lot 🙂

#29

Flexing and makeing faces in the mirror while saying ‘ayyyyee’

Image credits: why_are_you_so_awful

#30

While waiting for the shower to warm up, I put on a banger of a song and dance. Wakes me up a bit and it’s fun.

#31

Playing Xbox and racing cars

#32

20 minutes on the cross trainer

#33

gardening

(weather permitting)

#34

When something bad happens I immediately find the best thing I can think about the situation

#35

Going for walks everyday, starting about 15 min after I wake up with a hot drink, magazine and my dog

#36

Greeting strangers in a friendly manner everywhere I go.

#37

The holy trinity: exercise, sleep, diet. These three things alone will go a long way, don’t neglect them.

#38

I tell myself that whatever negative feeling u get dsnt exist then hype myself back up. Like when Sad “No such thing as sadness don’t be a little bitch get up, look proud and live this day that tomorrow you wont get back” i also fake smile a lot

Image credits: casadepapel19

#39

making bed,just shutting down every mobiles,laptop and other devices and being at the moment and being outside in fresh air

#40

Meditation

#41

I try my best to tell myself all the things I like about me and all the important people that I have helped with in my life. And then I practice breathing exercises to calm myself down

#42

Forcing myself to get out of bed. A lot of days I don’t want to at all. But once I do, it makes everything seem a little easier. Cuz even if the day is rough, I still got out of bed to take care of my family.

#43

Waking up

#44

My therapist has me writing down affirmations.

#45

Listen to old music on repeat

#46

Exersize outside near some birds. Mental and physical health just skyrocket

#47

I remind myself where I’m heading in life, but even more important, I remind myself where I would have been if I didn’t change path.

#48

Take my pills on time

#49

Take a moment to absorb some sun straight to the dome- imagining that its energy penetrates into a third eye,- then send rays of gratitude back to it. Just a few seconds makes a difference to me; doing this for half an hour and more gives me a good high

When the wind is blowing I like to picture the vast oceans of air moving above and remind myself that i’m just flowing on a rock

#50

Daily stretching. Just a quick touch the toes, stretch your neck, your wrists, your shoulders. You’ll feel much better

#51

I have several tattoos that all are very personal and important to me. Every day I see the rubber ducky on my hand – it represents my wife. Her love, her caring, the special and fun times we’ve shared in our 24 years together all come back every time I see that duck, which is always

#52

Being grateful for at least one thing that has happened to me every day. It doesn’t have to be anything major, it doesn’t even have to be something positive. Just something that you I am grateful for having in my life

#53

I block people online that has an energy or attitude I don’t wanna be impacted by. This is my time and I am here for my needs.

#54

Giving others

#55

Starting my day by actively thinking about how I want to approach problems/issues. The act of making this a planned process rather than just reacting helps.

#56

Prayer, making offerings to the gods, ancestors and spirits.

I always take time, especially in the morning, to stand outside, breathe deeply and remember that everything around me is full of life and energy, the ground, the plants, the animals, the stones…and I give thanks to them all.

#57

I take notes constantly in order to keep myself accountable and keep a record of tasks and chores I complete each day. It motivates me in two ways: having a to-do list makes it easier to be productive, and looking at a week of lists all checked off makes me feel really good about myself.

#58

Practicing Gratitude, Going on a Drive. Looking in the mirror and saying “You Sexy Beast, People go Crazy in Love with You”.

#59

Be proud of what I achieved

#60

Remind myself of three P’s peace, passion, and persistence

#61

Sleeping. If I’m too energetic to sleep, I walk around until I am lost.

#62

Negative visualization

#63

Meditate every day! It makes a life changing difference on your mindset and happiness

#64

Daily edible. Really balances me out.

#65

Sex

#66

Organizing everything by size and convinience

#67

i look at titties on the internet…life can be bad but there’s always at least two good points to it

#68

stopped constantly trying to alter my state of mind.

#69

Bottle it up, lock it in a chest, behind a door, in Fort Knox.

Proceed with my day

#70

Drinking
Source: boredpanda.com