The Morning I Realized Habits Were Everything
I still remember a morning back in high school when I was cramming for an exam. I had a half-eaten bánh mì on my desk, an iced coffee sweating all over my notes, and my brain running in circles. It hit me: I can’t keep living like this. I was tired, unfocused, and constantly behind. That’s when I started experimenting with habits – tiny, daily actions that, at first, felt insignificant but eventually rewired the way I lived, studied, and even dreamed.
By the time I turned 20, these five habits had already changed my life. Looking back now, they were the foundation for everything that came after – my studies abroad, my career, my athletic training, and my sense of self.
Here are the five habits, shared like a conversation with a friend.
1. Waking Up Early (Even When I Didn’t Want To)
I was not a morning person. In fact, I used to believe creativity only bloomed after midnight. But once I started forcing myself to wake up early – even just 30 minutes earlier than usual, I discovered a secret world of quiet mornings.
In those extra moments, the city felt softer. My mind wasn’t cluttered yet. I began journaling, stretching, or just sipping tea while watching the sunrise. Slowly, it stopped being torture and started being something I looked forward to.
What waking up early taught me: discipline creates freedom. By controlling my mornings, I felt less rushed throughout the day. My studies improved, my mood was lighter, and I started my days with a small win.
2. Journaling My Thoughts and Gratitude
Around 15, I picked up journaling – not the “dear diary” kind, but short reflections, gratitude lists, and random bursts of thoughts. Some days I only wrote a single sentence like: Today I survived math class without crying. Other days, I spilled three pages of feelings.
This habit helped me process stress, but more importantly, it showed me patterns in my thinking. I could see when I was stuck, when I was growing, and what I actually valued.
Writing things down also became my tool for manifesting. Goals I scribbled as “dreams” often became reality later. I didn’t even notice at first, but when I looked back at my old journals, I realized: I had visualized a future self into existence.
Lesson learned
Thoughts feel less heavy when they live on paper, not in your head.
3. Moving My Body Every Day
Exercise wasn’t always about races or Ironman training for me. In my teens, it was about sanity. Between schoolwork, family expectations, and the uncertainty of growing up, I discovered that moving – even a short run, a swim, or dancing in my room resets my mood instantly.
At first, I only wanted to “be fit.” But this habit became so much more than physical. Daily movement taught me resilience. It trained me to embrace discomfort (hello, sore legs), and it showed me how powerful the connection between body and mind really is.
What I learned:
When you take care of your body, your mind follows.
And no, you don’t need hours at the gym – just 20 minutes of intentional movement can change your day.
4. Saying “Yes” to Opportunities (Even Scary Ones)
Before 20, I said “yes” to things that terrified me – joining competitions, signing up for projects, speaking in front of people even when my hands were shaking. I learned that growth rarely comes dressed in comfort.
One of the biggest turning points was saying yes to studying abroad opportunities. Did I feel ready? Absolutely not. But saying yes opened doors to experiences that shaped who I am today.
Lesson:
Courage doesn’t mean you’re not scared – it means you show up anyway.
5. Reading Beyond What Was Required
School already buried me in textbooks, but reading outside of class changed my life. I discovered biographies, personal development books, and even novels that shifted how I saw the world.
Books became my mentors. They introduced me to people I’d never meet in real life, and ideas that challenged the way I thought. From finance to fine arts, reading beyond the syllabus gave me a broader perspective and made me feel less trapped in the small bubble of exams and grades.
Takeaway:
What you feed your mind matters just as much as what you feed your body.
Looking Back: Why These Habits Mattered
Now that I’m older, I realize these five habits weren’t random – they were seeds. Waking up early gave me structure. Journaling gave me clarity. Moving daily gave me energy. Saying yes built courage. Reading gave me perspective.
They didn’t just make my teenage years easier; they built the foundation for the person I continue to grow into.
If you’re reading this and you’re still under 20 (or even if you’re way past it), remember: it’s not about big, dramatic changes. It’s about the small, consistent habits that quietly transform your life.
Your habits are like invisible threads weaving the story of your life. The earlier you start paying attention to them, the stronger your story becomes.
So maybe tonight, instead of scrolling endlessly, you write down one thing you’re grateful for. Or tomorrow morning, wake up 20 minutes earlier just to breathe. Trust me – it’s these small habits that create the biggest shifts.
And who knows? Years from now, you might look back and realize: that’s when everything started to change.