Sixteen things we need to do everyday.

Pray & meditate. C l e a r y o u r m i n d. Start off each morning by spending some quiet time with God; before you begin the hustle-and-bustle of the day (and anytime throughout the day), take a few minutes just to talk and communicate to your Creator. You’d be surprised at the difference it makes.

Drink water (and practice other healthy lifestyles). Try to drink a gallon of water a day. Eat at least nine servings of fruits and veggies. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible. In the winter, stay warm; in the summer, stay cool. Don’t stress. Just basic things mom taught us.

Do something nice for a stranger. Buy your coworker lunch. Play catch with a child. Invite your neighbor over for dinner. Have a conversation with the mailman. You never know when you'll be the recipient because an act of kindness can change the world.

Treat yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back for making it through the day because it's hard being a human being sometimes. You don't have to splurge on yourself and spend a ridiculous amount of money. Binge-watch a couple episodes of your favorite television show. Fix your favorite dinner. Have dessert. Buy a new book. Be nice to yourself because no one deserves it more than you.

Go outside. Feel the sun on your skin. Heck, feel the rain on your skin. Put your feet in the grass. Feel the wind in your hair. Breathe in fresh air. Be near water, if possible. Listen for the songbird. From the earth we came and to the earth we shall return.

Restart. Every day is a new adventure. A fresh start. A chance to start over and make corrections. Don’t carry the burdens of yesterday. Don’t think about the apprehensions of tomorrow. Be where your feet are. At 12 AM the day begins and at midnight the day ends.

Talk to your loved ones. Give your folks a call. Talk to your best-friend. Grab lunch with your siblings or grandparents. You’ll be surprised how much it matters to them.

Unplug. Although I consider myself pretty social, I hadn't realized how dependent on technology until my mom and an old friend had mentioned it. (As i write this post, ha-ha.) But take at least an hour a day and turn off your phone, your computer, your television. Go analog. Notice and interact with your surroundings. I’m working on it, too.

Be active. Exercise for at least forty-minutes a day. Walk. Run. Lift. Jog. Swim. Anything to get moving.

Have alone time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having time to yourself. Use it as time to clear your head.

Do what you love. Many of us get stuck in a nine-to-five routine and don't have the time to do what we love most. Spend time doing a hobby. Something that can be an outlet don't spend so much time making a living that you forget to live.

Rest. B r e a t h e // unwind. Leave work at work. Take a five to twenty minutes to just relax when you get home. Another day is coming. And try to get seven to hours of sleep. Yes, that means having to turn off the turn or your gaming console. Finish that episode or that level you're on and get some shut-eye. Your body will greatly thank you later.

Read. When’s the last time you picked up a book or a magazine and read? Dig up that old reading list and cross off a couple books.

Reflect. What was the best part of your day? The worst? What was your biggest accomplishment? What were you most proud of? Who did you help? Where could you make some improvements? Was it an overall good day?

Do something new. Take a new class. Learn a music instrument. Pick up a new language. Find a new hobby.


Appreciate the beauty around you. Fall in love with the people and objects around you; be here.