{"id":29589,"date":"2015-01-27T22:22:14","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T06:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=29589"},"modified":"2015-01-30T23:03:47","modified_gmt":"2015-01-31T07:03:47","slug":"4-foundational-habits-every-person-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/4-foundational-habits-every-person-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Foundational Habits Every Person Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”<\/p>\n

~ John Dryden<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every person is different, but every person is human, meaning we all have things in common.<\/p>\n

There are some habits so foundational to human well-being that they can single-handedly\u00a0keep us\u00a0going\u00a0when we\u00a0find ourselves\u00a0in a difficult place. Foundational habits consistently\u00a0improve\u00a0our core elements\u2014mind,\u00a0body, and soul\u2014which is why they\u00a0are overwhelmingly positive for nearly everyone. If you’re in a rut or feel like you might be approaching one, put some effort into forming these habits to put yourself in a position to thrive.<\/p>\n

Life can be tough. I just moved to a new city where I don’t know anyone. Being a writer, it means I don’t have a social outlet through work, and not being into bar or coffee shop scenes, forming relationships in this first month has been difficult. Given my\u00a0lonely circumstances, I could fall into a negative spiral of self-pity, but I haven’t for the reasons I’m about to tell you.<\/p>\n

When something isn’t going well, you can\u00a0thrive (in other ways) with\u00a0powerful foundational habits. They’re foundational because you can always rely on them. When you have foundational habits, you’re able to brush off poor circumstances with greater ease.\u00a0They enable you to\u00a0persevere, which is one of life’s most important skills.<\/p>\n

These\u00a0are the four foundational habits that every person needs for maximum well-being and resilience. You may be familiar with these habits, but read on for some unique insights you may not have heard before.<\/p>\n

1. Exercise<\/h3>\n

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”<\/p>\n

~ John F. Kennedy<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Exercise is the\u00a0greatest natural anti-depressant there is. The physical benefits are obvious, but exercise arguably benefits the mind as much as it does the body.<\/p>\n

Exercise\u00a0creates\u00a0positive chemical reactions and\u00a0increased blood flow in\u00a0the brain. If you tend to have a lot of ideas while walking or running, it’s likely because increased blood flow is making your neural connections snappier. Increased blood flow is a key part of exercise’s magic.<\/p>\n

In his book, Brain Rules<\/em>, developmental molecular biologist John Medina says, “Any tissue without enough blood supply is going to starve to death\u2014 your brain included. […]\u00a0The more you exercise, the more tissues you can feed and the more toxic waste you can remove. This happens all over the body. That\u2019s why exercise improves the performance of most human functions.”<\/p>\n

I believe exercise is the single most important habit a person can have. The cumulative mind and body benefits are incalculable and can\u00a0be exponential as they\u00a0impact other areas of your life.<\/p>\n

People who exercise are more resilient to life’s hardships for a number of reasons, one of which is tension release. Just the other day, I was furious about something and poured that energy into my workout. I came out feeling great, physically and emotionally!<\/p>\n

2. Reading Books<\/h3>\n

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”<\/p>\n

~ Joseph Addison<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Reading books is surely underrated in the modern world, if only because it’s deserved dominance has been lessened by an\u00a0excessive number of alternative entertainment and learning options. Reading has been the historic standard for expanding your mind, finding\u00a0new information, and learning directly or indirectly how to become greater than you currently are. Books, in my opinion, are simply the best choice for quality reading and have the greatest impact overall.<\/p>\n

I’ve read\u00a0that CEOs read an average of 60 books per year, or about a book every week. This correlation between business success\u00a0and reading is no coincidence. If you read a lot of books, you’ll…<\/p>\n