Recently I decided that I would practice yoga every day. Yes every day. This isn’t really an extreme commitment  considering a yoga practice can be 90 minutes long or 15 minutes long. Time isn’t an excuse, I can always fit it in. And thanks to Yogaglo (amazing site, check it out) I have access to hundreds of classes from the comfort of my own home. I made this decision after having practiced yoga every day for a week straight durning finals at school. I found that I felt way more grounded, more focused, and more energized. I thought if Yoga can make me feel this good while I’m taking finals why not feel this good every day!

This got me thinking about all the different habits and activities I have that really enhance my life. Yoga was something that I would practice on and off again. I always felt great when I practiced, but I never consciously thought about its impact on my life. Once I tapped into that knowledge I realized that my life simply works best when I have a daily yoga practice. I began to think about all the other daily and weekly habits that make my life work. Some of these are obvious like daily exercise, meditation, and eating nutritious meals. But some are less obvious like my nightly gratitude journal, taking time to laugh, and balancing my check book. These consistent daily actions all help me to operate at my very best. As a result I’m more productive, more healthy, more loving, and much happier! So I decided to make a list of all the habits and behaviors that help serve my highest good.

My life works best when I …

• Meditate first thing in the morning.
• Drink green juice.
• Do some form of exercise for 30 minutes in the morning.
• Eat highly nutritious and alkalizing foods all throughout the day.
• Schedule time to work and time to play (if I don’t schedule it, it doesn’t happen).
• Take a dance break (this is especially helpful when I’ve been sitting at the computer for too long).
• Run at the beach at least 3 times a week (running + beach = best runners high ever!).
• Practice Yoga every day for at least 15 minutes.
• Have a solid weight lifting session at the gym at least 2-3 times a week.
• Connect and chat with my girlfriends throughout the week.
• Write in my gratitude journal every night.
• Set my intentions for the week ahead every Sunday.
• Balance my check book every day and track my spending (keeps me accountable).
• Take a day once a week to throw out my to-do list and do whatever I want (Sunday Funday).
• Stretch before I get into bed.
• Stretch when I get out of bed.
• Use my Netti Pot once a day (keeps my allergies in check).
• Turn off the computer, TV, and phone an hour before I go to bed and just read a book and journal (unplug!).
• Practice deep slow breathing throughout the day (especially when I’m stuck in traffic).
• Laugh at something every day (thats what stupid youtube videos are for).
• Listen or read something positive and inspirational every day.
• Roll around on the floor and play with my cats every night (keeps me youthful).
• Have Sunday dinners with my family.

Now on the flip side of this coin I have to admit to myself and acknowledge all the habits and activities I practice that are destructive to my life or hinder its flow. These are things that I do (sometimes unconsciously) that really do not serve me or others.

My life doesn’t work when I …

• Aimlessly scroll on Facebook for hours (admit it, we all do this way too much).
• Hit the snooze button 3 times (like that extra 15 min of sleep is really going to make a difference).
• Shop when I’m bored (dangerous!).
• Try to rush while driving and get angry at all the traffic (pointless, yelling won’t get me anywhere any faster).
• Have more then one martini when I’m out with the girls (one martini is fine, two martinis are two too many).
• Avoid that big project until the last minute and then panic.
• Take too much time to worry and fret about what other people think of me.
• Let things get unorganized and messy at home.
• Eat too many chocolate covered espresso beans (my East West peeps know what I’m talking about).
• Dwell on the past and how it could have been.
• Worry about the future and predict the worst case scenario.
• Beat myself up for past mistakes and regrets.

The point of writing both these list is to cultivate a sense of self awareness. To be more present to the practices that make my life work and to become aware of the habits that are self destructive. Often times we are resistant to the very things that make our lives better. I knew that Yoga was good for me and made me feel good, but for some reason I was resistant to dedicating myself to a daily practice. But once I realized that I can easily fit in a 3o min yoga session if I just stopped wasting so much time on Facebook, I could  make that shift and incorporate it into my day. So I encourage you to make your own lists. Think back to times in your life when you were really happy and healthy. What were your habits then? What type of activities did you do? Whats your favorite type of exercise? Think of things you love to do and that are good for you. Can you find a way to fit that activity into your week? I would also suggest you get honest and make a list of the habits and activities that are holding you back from living your best life. Are you eating too much processed foods? Addicted to social media? Trapped in the past? Get honest and write them down. This is not to beat yourself up, but so that you can become aware of the habit and behaviors that do not serve you.

I suggest keeping these lists visible so you can check in on a regular basis to see if your present actions are enhancing your life or hindering your life. And if you find yourself resistant to adopt the behaviors that are good for you, take a moment to ponder why. Often times it’s as simple as breaking an old habit and instilling a new one. Give yourself 30 days to get into a new routine and you’ll find that your resistance drops away.

Now its your turn to get honest and make your lists. If you’re feeling brave share your lists in the comments below, I would love to read them!