25 good habits to perfect as a young adult

Good habits, routine and structure are key in becoming more productive

“The first and best victory is to conquer self.”

Plato

We all know it’s difficult to break bad habits and make good habits. But the older you get the harder it becomes to end the cycle, so you’ve got to try sooner rather than later. 

Who wants to go to the gym over eating pizza on the couch? But a strong and well-disciplined mindset is everything and successful people understand that. 

And, having gained some maturity and perspective, your 20s and 30s are the perfect time to get into those good habits and routines which will support your goals. 

So, beyond the obvious, of exercise and healthy eating, here are some good habits to adopt today.  

Good habits

1. Be happy now

Why wait until you have that car, that home, that promotion… whatever it is. It’s a waste of time thinking this way. And if you live like that, you’ll always be waiting for ‘life to start’ once you hit that next milestone. Practise gratitude. Be happy now. It’s a conscious choice you make every day. When it comes to good habits, this one is the most important.

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.”

Marcus Aurelius

2. Stop complaining

And following the above, stop complaining! We all like to vent to friends and family from time to time and we might think it’s good for us to ‘let it all out’. But research from Stanford University has found that 30 minutes of complaining damages the Hippocampus, which is the bit of your brain in charge of memory and learning. 

So forgive yourself, forgive others and stop thinking about that thing that happened five years ago. We’re all learning and making mistakes as we go. Give yourself, and others, grace.  

3. Don’t gossip  

It never reflects well on you, so you’re only hurting yourself. There’s something good to say about everyone so focus on their strengths. If you have a problem with someone, be upfront and resolve it peacefully rather than gossiping. And, when you look for the good in others and make people feel good about themselves, they’ll support you in return. 

4. Manage your time 

We all procrastinate, but we can never get time back or buy more of it. In fact, according to research, people waste up to 26 days a year ‘waiting around’ and on things like social media. Ouch. Imagine if we had used that time more wisely when we had it! 

So, be more intentional with each day. Make a to-do list every morning and write down your objectives. 

5. Be on time 

Whether it’s a friend, colleague or client you should always be on time. Simply put, being late consistently is a sign of disrespect to that person and their time and it doesn’t go unnoticed by them. When it comes to good habits, this one is a keeper.   

6. Invest in yourself  

What’s your Achilles heel at work? Do you hate public speaking or struggle to negotiate when you need to? Don’t let it slide. Set aside the time and/or money to fix these issues or enrol on a course to empower yourself professionally. Investing in yourself now will pay off in the future.   

7. Read more of what you like  

We all know reading is good for us and helps us to learn about topics we’re interested in. Though, you don’t just have to read the books you think you should be reading. Yes, you can plough through Moby Dick if you want to, but there is lots to gain from reading for enjoyment first and foremost. 

In fact, research has found that leisure reading can help to ‘strengthen memory skills’ and that ‘getting lost in a book’ makes you more empathetic and creative. 

So, make time to read more often. Check out our top book recommendations. 

8. Find peace 

Whatever that means to you. Whether that’s religion, spirituality or meditation. Find a philosophy, set of values or thought system that brings you peace and makes life more meaningful. 

9. Have a plan 

Everyone needs a purpose and something motivating to work towards. Whether that’s starting a business, getting that promotion or moving abroad. Write it down, plan it out and work hard towards the goals that matter to you.   

10. Look after your mental health   

No ‘good habits list’ would be without this one. Look after your mind as you do your body. Identify any destructive influences and embrace the people that make you feel good. Practise self-care. Set time aside each day for a long bath, meditation session, journaling or whatever feels calming. Try professional therapy or life coaching if you have specific challenges you need to work through. 

11. Dress to feel your best 

Have you heard about dopamine dressing? It’s about wearing what makes you feel your best and it’s so true! If you’re working out or at the office, wearing your favourite gym set or your sharpest suit will make you feel more motivated and in control.   

12. Have more confidence 

Healthy and authentic self-confidence is a work in progress for most people. And it’s completely different from an inflated ego. It’s about inner growth, so write down and learn from your mistakes. Practise mindfulness. Use positive affirmations. Set yourself challenges.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘Do one thing that scares you every day’. These habits will collectively compound over time to make a more confident you.  

13. Stand up for yourself 

As with inner confidence, self-respect and not accepting poor treatment from others is fundamental to mental well-being. So practise assertively and calmly standing up for yourself and maintaining your boundaries when you need to.  

14. Ground yourself in nature

Activities like grounding and forest bathing have been around for centuries and are proven to improve health and well-being. Try them and see, and connect more deeply with the natural energy forces that are all around us. 

15. Get a hobby  

It’s great to have something you look forward to doing in your downtime and having a hobby has been shown to improve mental health and reduce stress levels. So whatever interests you, painting, tennis, floristry or photography, make time to do it more often.

16. Keep a diary or journal 

It can be useful for personal growth to log your experiences and thoughts. To have a place to store your memories and remind yourself of times gone by. 

Similar to this, journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts and feelings. Research has found doing this can improve mental health and even our immune systems, by keeping you feeling grounded and in control.   

17. Get up early

Yes, we all know this one, but successful people really are early risers and typically wake up by 6 am to start their daily routines. When it comes to good habits, this one is key.  

18. Declutter often 

Stuff accumulates in homes quickly and you might not even notice the piles of clothes and books around you. But that’s because humans are adaptable and we get used to our cluttered environments. But you will feel better in a clearer, more organised space, with research showing decluttering relieves anxiety, sharpens focus and makes you more productive. 

19. Clean up

According to research, conducted by OnePoll for affresh, one in six Americans ‘put off cleaning for at least a month’. When you’re busy, it can be difficult to keep up with the housework. But having a cleaning schedule and keeping a neat and tidy home feels great and impacts your productivity and wellness. 

20. Make time for family

When did we start making plans to meet our friends and family weeks and months in advance? With so many commitments, we may not go home as often as we would like. But, did you know you might have just two months of parent time left? This means the total remaining time you will spend with your parents, adding up all the visits.

That reality puts things into perspective. So pick up the phone and visit the people you care about more often. There will come a time when you won’t have that option. 

21. Appreciate your partner 

Schedule date nights, surprise them, compliment them, argue less, and be thoughtful. Write down a list of qualities you love about that person. Think of their favourite hobby or activity and do it with them. These small acts will strengthen your relationship in the long term. 

22. Make new friends

It’s never too late to make new friends and it can be much more enriching to find friends as an adult as opposed to when you’re younger. As an adult, you’re more likely to be drawn to people based on shared values, rather than the proximity-based connections you find at school or work. So find your tribe, put yourself out there and introduce yourself to someone you’d like to know better.  

23. Manage your expenses

If you want to be successful in your long term goals, you have to be organised and keep track of your incoming and outgoing expenses. Financially successful people have this mindset and know how to cut back on unnecessary costs. NerdWallet has a helpful guide on money management and categorising your expenses if you’re just getting started.  

24. Be charitable 

It doesn’t have to be much and you can also donate your time. So, if you can, consider supporting the causes that matter most to you. You may be surprised how much you also gain from it.   

25. Spend wisely 

Even if you earn big bucks, it doesn’t mean you have to be wasteful or extravagant. Frugality and spending money only on the things that bring you joy will give you more satisfaction and financial success in the long term. 

Benjamin Franklin says it best: 

“The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them everything. “

Ultimately, this is just our take on some of the good habits you need to adopt in life to be successful.

The information on this page is not professional, business or lifestyle advice and is for entertainment purposes only.