15 wellness experts tell us their favorite daily habit

If you wish you knew how to cultivate a daily habit when it comes to your health, look no further. HelloGiggles spoke to 15 wellness experts to see what their favorite daily habits are, so we can learn from the best. After all, once we get through the rough patch, the first few weeks, sticking to new habits becomes easier.

Of course, there are all kinds of ways to help make a habit stick. You can use the buddy system or you can hang up a calendar so you can make a big “X” through the day once your daily mission is accomplished. Whatever keeping-your-new-habit tricks you use, the wellness experts below have mastered the art of having a favorite daily habit, and sticking to it. We could all learn a thing or two from them.

Carlene Thomas, RDN, Healthfully Ever After

“My daily ritual during summer is two beverages — a green smoothie and a really good café latte (no sugar) from my Nespresso machine. A morning café latte is something I truly enjoy and crave, while a green smoothie is a great way to clear out my fridge and fit in more greens.

Scott Keatley, RD, Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy

“My favorite daily habit is breakfast. Breakfast doesn’t need to be an ordeal — I’m not talking about a five-course brunch every day. But research has shown that spending even 15 minutes being mindful with food can make you more satisfied during the day. Moreover, eating in the morning gets your metabolism going and helps you to burn more calories as the day goes on.

Dr. Chinwe Williams, Meaningful Solutions, Counseling and Consulting, and Associate Professor at Argosy University

“Limit the use of technology. While technology can provide a nice escape from life stressors (e.g., Netflix binges and Instagram surfing), our attachment to technology can also breed isolation. A study looking at human behavior noted a negative relationship with increased social media use and happiness in relationships. Additionally, taking a break from technology is a great way to give your brain some much needed down time.

Carley Schweet, INHC, Mindfulness-Based Life Coach & Natural Wellness Consultant

“I take five to ten minutes a day to reflect on what's going on. I struggle with anxiety, so finding time to go to a quiet spot and just chill really helps me to stay level-headed.

Cynthia Pong, JD, Coach & Facilitator, Embrace Change Consulting LLC

“My favorite daily habit — which helps me manage my stress, stay organized, and be productive — is making a to-do list. It sounds basic, but writing things down can go a long way in keeping you sane! Having to constantly remember what you need to do, or the order in which you should tackle a bunch of tasks, is a total energy drain.

Calli De La Haye, Co-Founder of Kalimukti Yoga

“Every day I wake up and practice yoga in any form, whether it’s ten minutes of meditation or a full hour of physical postures. I have a 10-month-old daughter, so I have to roll with how the day is going, but this is my savior for staying calm and finding some peace at the start of my day.

Leah de Souza-Thomas, Health & Wellness Specialist, The Thrive Practice

“My favorite daily habit is to do one thing every day that makes me feel like I’m alive. It might be something as trivial as being able to perfect a jerk chicken dinner or an action that takes me out of my comfort zone and towards a bigger life goal. It’s the best way to ensure that when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll want to make it a better day than it was yesterday.

Michael S. Gross, Be Your Own Wingman

“My favorite daily practice is to do what I call a Wingman Minute — one minute where I practice being positive. I’ll say, think, feel, or visualize, either out loud or to myself, a positive thought, feeling, or what I want to manifest.

Michele Jennae, Holistic Creativity Coach and Reiki Practitioner

“My favorite activity of the day for renewal of self and soul is some meditative doodling. While I do other forms of art, I can doodle anywhere there is a pen and paper, even on the back of a business card. It's a great way to stay present and mindful instead of focusing on the worrisome issues of life. Even my own business cards have a mini coloring page on the back.

Pat Connelly, Founder/CEO, Corevity

“I cook dinner every night (at least week nights). I try new things and I eat beautiful organic and seasonal foods. It calms me — there is something wonderfully methodical about cooking each night. I love the action and mindlessness of the activity. It helps me unwind from long work days.

Richard Wilcock, Owner/Lead Trainer at Flagship Fitness

“My favorite daily habit is exercise before breakfast. It doesn’t have to be an hour’s hard work at the gym or anything like that, just 5-10 minutes of something relatively challenging and a glass of water, then I’m ready to grab a shower, eat breakfast, and crack on with my day.

Mary Ann Clements, Founder and Director of Jijaze

“In this daily practice, I invite people to take a favorite song and to simply dance like no one is watching them. Movement is often what we need to transport us away from our busyness and to help us replenish ourselves, even movement for a relatively short period of time.

Martise Moore, Founder of GreenRunner

"My favorite daily habit is listening to motivational and self-development audiobooks for at least 15 minutes per day. As a coach and entrepreneur, it’s important to renew and grow my mindset, so I can serve and inspire at a high level. I’m on a mission to help people around the world run faster towards their goals and dreams.

Kelsey Torgerson, MSW, LCSW, Compassionate Counseling

"My daily habit, which I encourage my teenage and young adult clients to do as well, is to set a reminder on my phone twice a day to practice a brief mindfulness exercise. I may be in the middle of an email, or even a phone call, but I take a moment for a few deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Jacqui Burge, Founder of Desk Yogi

"Finding five minutes to move your body and clear your mind is the best medicine to stay strong and calm as you move through the day. I personally set an alarm twice a day to take a five minute breather or what I like to call a ‘mash up.'"

Eamonn Leaver, Psychologist and Founder The Home Fit Freak

“Every evening, usually right before bed, I do a body scan. This is a mindfulness meditation technique where you first ‘connect' with your breath, and then mentally scan the different areas of your body, from head to feet. It’s an excellent way to relax, help you fall asleep, and sleep more deeply. It also relieves muscle pain and tension, and, in the long run, helps with emotional regulation. It only takes about 5-10 minutes, too!