In this season of change in nature, we can transform ourselves too. While others are asleep, wrapped up in an autumn wave of drowsiness and Netflix with a cup of cocoa, we are a few steps ahead of everyone else with these best habits to start by 2024! Let’s introduce new routines into our lives this autumn, rather than  waiting for the turn of the year! Are you up for a challenge? ?

Free Printables For New Routines

Free Customisable Morning and Evening Routine printables available! Just like these below with my personal routine – but for you to fill with yours! You’ll also get access to Canva templates to personalise and print your routine.

Introduce your best habits to start before 2024 with a help of these printables.

Before We Begin: Self-compassion and radical acceptance

Consistency and self-compassion are key to making these positive changes last. However, if we slip or feel too tired to do anything productive – that’s okay! Practise radical acceptance to embrace all emotions that arise and to acknowledge the situation as it is, without judgements.

Forgive yourself for moments of laziness – these are needed too. Acceptance is your ticket to actually wanting to change. First, accept – then make positive changes. It can also work the other way around; our actions can change our emotions also. You can select your best habits to start before 2024 and good emotions will follow.

We don’t beat ourselves up around here 🙂

How to Build New Habits Effectively

Before we can explore the best habits to start before 2024, let’s discuss how to successfully start and maintain new customs. You can read the book Atomic Habits (affiliate paid link) or watch some educational videos to learn more about it.

• First, start with small and achievable goals. When you set realistic and manageable targets, you’re more likely to succeed.
• Use an old habit or trigger in your daily routine as an anchor and attach your new habit to it. For instance, if you want to develop a habit of flossing your teeth, link it with brushing your teeth.
• Share your goals with supportive friends or family members who can encourage you and hold you accountable.
• Reward yourself for achieving milestones with a small treat, a relaxing activity, or anything else that brings you joy.
• It’s natural to face setbacks when trying to establish a new habit. If you slip up, don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, reflect on what caused the setback and how you can overcome similar challenges in the future.

Alright, are you ready to start?

The Best Habits to Start Before 2024

Choose the ones that resonate with you!

1. Emotional Regulation in Check!

Autumn is a challenging time of transition in nature. The same happens within us, and it’s a great time to start practising emotional control. It’s almost guaranteed for some people to feel more moody and on edge during this time, and it’s a perfect time to test the power of positive self-talk and learn to regulate your emotions by changing your thoughts. When we think about something negatively, we create even deeper negative emotions about it. We can also turn it around and give it a positive twist and see what happens! Check out my meditations with affirmations and positive self-talk tips.

2. Daily Affirmations to Stay Positive and Boost Your Confidence

By repeating positive self-talk phrases daily or practising meditations with affirmations, you can work on getting that internal validation to reprogram your subconscious mind. Did you know you can overwrite the negative self–perception we carry with us from childhood? The ball is in your court; it’s up to you to change that ?

3. Compile a List of Go-To Recipes

Cooking is a valuable skill for ensuring good nutrition for yourself and your household. It doesn’t have to be a multi-hour complicated recipe that is impressive – work on a list of easy, simple and quick recipes. Always have the ingredients for these recipes at home. Have at least one favourite soup and stew recipe – one-pot recipes you can just throw into a pot and let it simmer as you do something else. Moreover, soups can warm you up during the fall and winter!

4. Grocery Shopping Once a Week to Safe Time (and Money)

That’s when you already have compiled those simple recipes. Doing one grocery shopping trip a week can save you hours. I noticed that whenever I visited a shop, I would make impulsive, unhealthy choices that drained my wallet. A weekly shopping routine can help avoid this!

5. Discard One Thing a Day

Declutter your space by reviewing your cabinets and getting rid of what you never use. I’m not a minimalist, but they do have a point about certain things – the less things occupy our space, the clearer our mind and the lower the stress level. I find it very overwhelming sometimes when I see all that I own. Less stuff also means less cleaning and tidying up.

6. Financial Planning

Create a budget, save for specific goals, and invest in financial education to make informed decisions about your money. Explore the world of personal finance, effective saving, and (when you’re properly prepared) investing. Proper financial planning can reduce financial stress, promote financial stability, and empower you to achieve your financial goals.

7. Tidy Up for 15 Minutes With a Podcast

To keep your space clean, do a little cleaning every day. It’s more motivating to set a time-based goal, because these are easier to complete. For example: ‘I will clean for 15 minutes’, rather than a task-based goal, like: ‘I will clean the bathroom’. Which one do you think you’ll be more willing to do?

8. Your Morning Starts the Night Before

To wake up with a smile, program your subconscious mind with positivity before sleep. Your brain remains active while you sleep, processing your pre-sleep thoughts. Think about good things that happened that day, what you are grateful for and what made you proud. Savour the comfort of your bed and how good it feels. Think about safety you feel in the warmth of your bed, ready for nourishing night of sleep.

9. Read 1 Book a Month – 15 Minutes Before Sleep

As in the example above, giving yourself time-based goals is more attainable than aiming for one chapter. Chapters can get really long and it can get demotivating real fast if you see you failed to achieve your goal. Schedule 10-15 minutes before sleep to read. All you need is some tiny bit of planning.

Explore my recommended books every woman should read:

10. Morning Calming Habits

Finding energy for daily tasks can be challenging. This is why we need to take extra care of ourselves in these cold, challenging times. Choose whatever seems the most appealing for you and will fit in your life – may it be journaling, meditation or solving sudokus by your favourite tea. Remember, prioritising yourself daily is essential! When you’re happy, people around you are happier too. Read more about starting your day right in this blog post.

11. Nature Walks

One important thing I learned from the Dutch while living in The Netherlands: if it isn’t raining, abandon what you’re doing and go outside! Mother nature, the most obvious embodiment of the divine feminine, is there for you. Relax, move your body, and just breathe in the fresh air. Be grateful to yourself for this moment of mindfulness. Alternatively, you can also walk with podcasts and audiobooks in your ears. Aim for a daily walk; if not possible – make it weekly!

12. Tap into Your Feminine Energy

What feels better than being a calm, happy, and sensual woman? Tune into your divine feminine by nature walks, dancing, taking care of yourself and simply feeling and experiencing. Feel what happens in your body when you experience emotions and be authentic.

13. Manifestation and Scripting Notebook + Scented Candle

Start manifesting your dream life. Get a cute notebook (this one or this one or this one or this one or this one! – affiliate paid links), some scented candles (like this one or this one), and always do your scripting in the same place with the same pen. Be as specific as possible, detailing your future life, partner, and career. Place your order and wait for the universe to deliver, while you relax, knowing it’s on its way.

14. Bake Something

If you feel like it, try a new recipe and have fun with it! Share your delicious creations with colleagues or bring it to a friend next time you’re visiting. Sharing is caring ♥️

15. Go to Bed on Time

We humans are the only animals that postpone sleep for some silly reasons like scrolling through social media or watching TV shows. Going to bed early frees you some time in the morning to work on your side projects, hustles or simply enjoy the morning peace. I recommend the book ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker (affiliate paid link, link) to understand more about the magic that happens while we sleep and how to improve sleep quality. So good.

16. Celebrating Wins and Achievements

Right before you sleep, think about 2-3 big or small victories from the day. They can be as small as “I ate a healthy salad for lunch” or “I went to bed on time”. Celebrate what you did well and acknowledge your progress.

17. 1 Hour of Power Before Work

Go to bed a bit earlier and do something productive before work. Maybe a side hustle you wanted to start? Maybe writing a book? Or simply journaling, meditating and enjoying the calm morning? It’ll make you feel empowered, that by the time you reach work, you’ll have an hour of productivity behind you, while others are just waking up around 9-10 am and cannot say a word without having coffee first.

18. Prioritise Hydration

In the autumn and winter we need to keep hydrated because it’s a heating season. Kick-start your day with a glass of warm water or herbal tea. In colder seasons, you can keep a thermal bottle with some warm herbal infusion by your bedside and drink it right after you wake up. Not only does it warm you up, but it also hydrates you. Our cardiovascular system faces challenges in the morning due to dehydration (as we lose water through processes like respiration and perspiration), leading to less smooth blood flow. Therefore, drinking a glass of something warm can aid in maintaining healthy blood circulation!

19 Treat Yourself to Flowers

Keep the summer vibe in your house and buy yourself some cut flowers occasionally. They don’t have to be expensive – look for deals in supermarkets and spoil yourself a little.

20. Schedule a Self-Maintenance Block

Good self-esteem comes partially from feeling good in your skin. You do everything you can to achieve this, either by accepting the way you are and/or by working on looking your absolute best. Schedule regular self-care at home, such as: weekly hair mask, daily skin care, maybe doing your nails, shaving or other self-maintenance activities. Do what works for you and as often as you need.

21. Exercise Routine

You don’t have to be a gym rat and work out on a perfect body. You can benefit from any type of movement you enjoy. For a busy bee, vigorous exercise once or twice a week and daily walks are perfect. You can explore new activities over time, like group classes focusing on core exercises. It’s your call, just establish a routine that you can maintain.

22. Host a Dinner Party or a Board Game Night

Get social with your friends or the closest colleagues. Host a dinner party or a board game at your place. It’s a great way to spend time indoors. If you’re invited to someone else’s party – always bring something with you. Bake something or bring flowers, just don’t show empty-handed. People love thoughtful gestures, and you’ll leave a positive impression wherever you go.

23. Smile at One Person a Day – Everyday!

Spread positivity and smile at once a day at someone. We humans are wired to connect, and such micro connections can give you a positive boost. Don’t be disheartened if they don’t smile back or look away – they probably needed this smile more than you did!

24. Lights Out at the Same Time Everyday

That includes your phone! Our bodies love routines; they act as we train them. If your body knows what to expect, it functions better. If you have an e-reader for books, turn off the lights and read before sleep. It’s good for our regulation of circadian rhythms, melatonin production, hormonal balance and the quality of sleep. And who doesn’t love good sleep? So many benefits.

25. Create a To-Do List in the Evening

Spend 10 minutes in the evening writing down what you want to do the next day. Plan realistically; this way you keep yourself accountable – you promised yourself after all! Write tasks you’re sure you can manage in a day, don’t get too ambitious. Completing tasks boosts dopamine, and unfinished tasks might make you feel like you failed. And we don’t want to feel this way!

25. Mindfulness and Meditation

Practice mindfulness and meditation for at least 10 minutes every day. You can start small, with 3-5 minutes in the morning. Meditation reduces stress, enhances emotional well-being, improves focus, and boosts overall mental health. You can meditate with me by following the link to my meditations with affirmations.

Conclusion

We explored the best habits to start before 2024. In this season of transformation, we’ve embraced the power of positive change. While others are wrapped in the comfort of routine with Netflix, we’ve ventured into new habits, shaping a brighter future. Remember, self-compassion and acceptance pave the way for lasting transformations.

We’ve explored emotional regulation, embraced the joy of cooking, practised financial planning, and found solace in mindfulness. These habits aren’t just routines; they are pathways to a more fulfilled life. Let’s continue this journey together, celebrating wins, embracing positivity, and nurturing connections. As we step into 2024, let these habits be the foundation of our thriving selves. Join the challenge, empower your journey, and let the transformation begin! ✨

Don’t forget to grab your free customisable morning and evening routine printables. Let’s make these habits stick and embark on this transformative journey hand in hand. Here’s to a vibrant, mindful, and fulfilling future. Cheers to the best version of you with these best habits to start before 2024! ?

Don’t Forget Your Free Printables!

Apply new best habits to start before 2024 with the help of these handy and customisable printables.

Recommended next post to read:

HOW TO BEST SPEND TIME ALONE

HOW SELF LOVE CHANGES YOUR LIFE FOR THE BEST

10 THINGS MEN LOVE IN WOMEN THAT WILL ACTUALLY IMPROVE YOUR LIFE