--- ---  # What 10 Things Should You Do Every Day To Improve Your Life? ## Video: We Tried This: Aerial Vinyasa Yoga [Watch (HLS stream): We Tried This: Aerial Vinyasa Yoga](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/68PN7sJl.m3u8) (1:28)  _Published 2012-08-20. A total body workout while you hang from a hammock._ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 6, 2014 5:01 AM UTC  Silhouette of hiking man in mountain Silhouette of hiking man in mountainGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 6, 2014 5:01 AM UTC ## **1) Get out in nature** You probably seriously underestimate how important this is. (Actually, there’s [research that says you do](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/would-you-feel-better-if-you-were-walking-in).) Being in nature reduces [stress](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-being-near-nature-reduce-stress), makes you more [creative](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-quick-and-easy-way-to-be-more-creativ), improves your [memory](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-can-improve-your-memory-by-20-in-a-matte) and may even [make you a better person](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-become-a-better-per). ## **2) Exercise** We all know how important this is, but few people do it consistently. Other than health benefits too numerous to mention, exercise [makes](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-being-sedentary-make-you-stupid) you [smarter](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-activities-can-actually-make-you-smarter), [happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-happ), improves [sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-improve-the-quality-of-your-sleep), [increases libido](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-increases-womens-ability-to-get-sexually) and [makes you feel better about your body](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-feel-better-about-your-body). A Harvard study that has tracked a group of men for more than 70 years identified it as [one of the secrets to a good life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-formula-for-a-good-life). ## **3) Spend time with friends and family** Harvard happiness expert [Daniel Gilber](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-main-thing-we-can-learn-from-harvar)t identified this as [one of the biggest sources of happiness in our lives](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-is-happiness). Relationships are worth more than you think ([approximately an extra $131,232 a year](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-your-relationships-worth-in-dollars).) Not feeling socially connected can make you [stupider and kill you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-important-is-it-to-feel-like-you-belong). Loneliness can lead to [heart attack, stroke and diabetes](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-common-feeling-that-might-lead-to). The longest lived people on the planet all place a strong emphasis [on social engagement](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-do-the-longest-living-people-have-in-com) and good relationships are more important to a long life [than even exercise](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/have-we-got-it-all-wrong-about-what-it-takes). [Friends](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-friendship) are key to [improving your life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-key-to-radically-changing-your-life). [Share good news](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-strengthen-your-relation) and enthusiatically respond when others share good news with you to improve your relationships. Want to instantly be happier? Do [something](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-single-most-reliable-method-for-inc) [kind](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-can-you-do-today-that-will-increase-your) for them. ## **4) Express gratitude** [It](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/was-grandmom-right-about-counting-your-blessi) [will](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-be-much-happier) [make](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-make-yourself-happier-in-just-a-few-se) [you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-two-easy-things-you-can-do-to-be-hap) [happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easiy-feel-happier-and-mor). It [will](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-quick-thing-you-can-do-to-feel-better) [improve](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-gratitude-predict-relationship-satisfact) [your](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-make-friends-and-strengt) [relationships](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-give-your-relationship-a-booster-shot). It can make you a [better person](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-do-pride-and-gratitude-affect-hypocrisy). [It can make life better for everyone around you.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-paying-it-forward-work) ## **5) Meditate** Meditation can increase [happiness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-quick-little-things-you-can-do-to-in), [meaning in life, social support](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-an-easy-way-to-increase-happiness-me) and [attention span](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-way-to-increase-your-attention-spa) while reducing [anger, anxiety, depression and fatigue](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-increase-your-attention-span-in-a). Along similar lines, prayer can make you feel better — [even if you’re not religious](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-prayer-make-you-feel-better-even-if-youre). ## **6) Get enough sleep** You can’t cheat yourself on [sleep](http://topics.time.com/sleep/) [and not have it affect you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-little-sleep-can-you-get-away-with). Being tired actually makes it [harder to be happy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-being-tired-make-it-hard-to-be-happy). Lack of sleep = [more likely to get sick](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/nytimescom-lack-of-sleep-increases-the-risk-o). “Sleeping on it” does [improve decision making](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-sleep-on-it-good-advice). Lack of sleep can make you [more likely to behave unethically](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-lack-of-sleep-make-us-unethical). There [is such a thing as beauty sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-really-such-thing-as-beauty-sleep). Naps are great too. Naps [increase alertness and performance](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-fun-way-to-increase-alertness-and-per) on the job,[enhance learning ability](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-an-easy-way-to-boost-your-learning-a) and [purge negative emotions while enhancing positive ones.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-purge-negative-emotions) Here’s how to [improve your naps](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-secret-to-amazing-naps). ## **7) Challenge yourself** [Learning another language](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-keep-your-mind-strong-as-you-age) can keep your mind sharp. [Music lessons](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-everyone-be-required-to-learn-a-musica) increase intelligence.[ Challenging your beliefs](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-keep-an-aging-brain-sharp) strengthens your mind. Increasing willpower just takes [a little effort each day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-increase-self-control) and it’s [more responsible for your success than IQ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-better-than-iq-at-determining-who-will). Not getting an education or taking advantage of opportunities are two of the things people look back on their lives and [regret the most](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-we-most-likely-to-regret). ## **8) Laugh** People who use humor to cope with [stress](http://topics.time.com/stress/) [have better immune systems, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, experience less pain during dental work and live longer.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-laughter-save-your-life) Laughter should be like a [daily vitamin](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-comedy-better-than-vitamins). Just reminiscing about funny moments can [improve your relationship](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/another-quick-and-easy-way-to-increase-relati). Humor has [many](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/an-easy-way-to-reduce-stress-and-pain) [benefits](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/why-does-humor-improve-our-mood). ## **9) Touch someone** Touching can [reduce stress](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-you-underestimate-the-power-of-touching), improve [team performance](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-touching-improve-team-performance), and help you [be persuasive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-a-touch-on-the-arm-all-it-takes-to-make-yo). Hugs make you [happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-hugs-really-make-us-happier). Sex may help prevent [heart attacks](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-sex-prevent-heart-attacks) and [cancer](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-most-wonderful-way-a-man-might-be-a), improve your [immune system](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-having-sex-more-effective-than-a-flu-shot) and [extend your life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-orgasms-make-you-live-longer). ## **10) Be optimistic** Optimism can make you [healthier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-optimism-associated-with-better-health), [happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-two-easy-things-you-can-do-to-be-hap) and [extend your life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-happy-people-live-longer). The Army teaches it in order to [increase mental toughness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-3-techniques-does-the-army-use-to-instil) in soldiers. Being [_over_confident](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-confident-should-you-be-at-work-today) improves [performance](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-very-confident-not-confident-enough). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)**_._** **_Join 45K+ readers._** _Get a free weekly update via email_ [_here_](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)_._ Related posts: [Living a happy life: Here are the things proven to make you happier](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/) [Which professions have the most psychopaths? The fewest?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/professions-most-fewest-psychopaths/) [What is the single most important life lesson older people feel young people need to know?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/most-important-life-lesson/) ### 5 Horrible Habits You Need to Stop Right Now  Do Not Email First Thing in the Morning or Last Thing at Night “The former scrambles your priorities and all your plans for the day and the latter just gives you insomnia,” says Ferriss, who insists “email can wait until 10am” or after you check off at least one substantive to-do list item. Chris Pecoraro—Getty Images  Do Not Agree to Meetings or Calls With No Clear Agenda or End Time “If the desired outcome is defined clearly… and there’s an agenda listing topics–questions to cover–no meeting or call should last more than 30 minutes,” claims Ferriss, so “request them in advance so you can ‘best prepare and make good use of our time together.'” Sam Edwards—Getty Images/Caiaimage  Do Not Check Email Constantly Batch it and check it only periodically at set times (Ferriss goes for twice a day). Your inbox is analogous to a cocaine pellet dispenser, says Ferriss. Don’t be an addict. Tools like strategic use of the auto responder and Boomerang can help. Jetta Productions—Getty Images  Do Not Carry a Digital Leash 24/7 At least one day a week leave you smartphone somewhere where you can’t get easy access to it. If you’re gasping, you’re probably the type of person that most needs to do kick this particular habit. by nacoki ( MEDIA ARC )—Getty Images/Flickr RF  Do Not Let People Ramble Sounds harsh, but it’s necessary, Ferriss believes. “Small talk takes up big time,” he says, so when people start to tell you about their weekends, cut them off politely with something like “I’m in the middle of something, but what’s up?” But be aware, not everyone agrees with this one (and certainly not in every situation), and you may want to pay particularly close attention to norms around chit chat when traveling internationally. Reza Estakhrian—Getty Images _Read next:_ [_How to Be 10% Happier_](http://time.com/3726535/10-percent-happier/?iid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article) Improve Your Life: What 10 Things Should You Do Every Day To Improve Your Life? ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/14047/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-improve-your-life/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/14047/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-improve-your-life/"},"headline":"What 10 Things Should You Do Every Day To Improve Your Life?","datePublished":"2014-03-06T05:01:17.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:44:23.632Z","description":"1) Get out in nature You probably seriously underestimate how important this is. (Actually, there’s research that says you do.) 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