An Incomplete List of Things to Do Daily, to Be Happy and Healthy.

Every Wednesday is List Day or Tip Day.

I've just started trying to come up with a list of the bare minimum of things we should do every day to be happy and healthy.

This list doesn't include major challenges, like "Quit smoking." Obviously, quitting smoking is very important for health, but it's not easy to add to a to-do list. This list doesn't include items like "Spend less time on the internet" or "Read more" because they aren't universal enough. This list also doesn't include items related to attitude: gratitude, cheerfulness and the like. These are very concrete, very essential things to do as part of the everyday routine.

Here's what I've come up with so far...

• Wear your seat belt
• Take prescriptions medications properly
• Go for a 10-minute walk (preferably outside)
• Put your keys and wallet away in the same place
• Take something with you. (For instance, drop your dirty socks in the hamper on your way from your bedroom to the kitchen.)
• Charge your phone
• Connect with someone close to you
• Go to bed in time to get a good night's sleep

As less crucial, but also highly advisable...

• Make your bed
• Kiss every member of your family
• Sign the organ donor registry or tell your family you'd want to be a donor

What else would you add? I know I'm missing many items.

* I love looking at the beautiful images on House of Brinson.

For more by Gretchen Rubin, click here.

For more on happiness, click here.

* Keep your fingers crossed for me: The Happiness Project has been on Canada's bestseller list for 51 weeks. One more week, and it will be an entire year! I love Canada! The paperback came out later in the United States, so for that list, the book needs to hang on until March 1. But wherever you are in the world, if you're curious about the book, you can...

Order your copy.

Read sample chapters.

Watch the one-minute book video.

Listen to a sample of the audiobook.

 

 

 

Follow Gretchen Rubin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gretchenrubin

Comments

[frdhnwmn]

10:22 AM on 01/26/2012

I tend to set two alarms: one to wake up and one to get out of the house by. I find that staying in on my own all day on a weekend or day off, as tempting as it sounds, can make me quite miserable!
I would also add that making lists of things to do and ticking them off as I achieve them is a great way to foster a sense of accomplishment.
Faridah, Writer / Researcher http://www­.thehousep­artnership­.co.uk/

[inEugene]

04:40 PM on 01/23/2012

See beauty everywhere, smile more.

[db08]

12:24 PM on 01/22/2012

Breathe deeply at least once a day, wrap your arms around the silence so you can listen to the trees.

[eric14]

04:32 PM on 01/20/2012

I think you got daily mixed up with one-off's. your family may not like being told every day that you have signed your organ donor card. i add these:

- play
- think

[french queen13]

01:26 AM on 01/22/2012

And kissing them every day can be tricky when they live miles away, or when you haven't crossed paths for years and have no wish to!