11 Habits I Formed That Instantly Made Me Happier

Making my room a phone-free zone at night and switching to an old-fashioned alarm clock is nothing short of life-changing. Scrolling endlessly before bed is a recipe for disaster when it comes to sleep quality, and waking up to a flurry of notifications can start your day on a stressful note.

Much of exhaustion is linked to dehydration, so instead of heading straight for the coffee when I feel groggy first thing in the morning, I down some water. It instantly makes me feel more awake.

The act of making my bed starts the day on a good foot. It always feels like a satisfying accomplishment. A made bed instantly makes your bedroom look tidier, and this makes it a joy to come home to at the end of a long day.

Whether it's an informative documentary, laugh-out-loud comedy show, or insightful interview, podcasts always cheer up a dreary commute. Bingeing on podcasts while on the subway or bus also feels like multitasking.

A more minimal wardrobe makes getting dressed 10 times easier. I only have items in my wardrobe that are season-appropriate, so I can see obviously what I have to choose from.

Marie Kondo's much-lauded folding method is revolutionary. The smart, three-part rolling technique means it's much clearer to find items in my drawers, and I know that each item is there because I genuinely like it.

Switching to herbal teas in the afternoon has majorly improved my sleep quality. I fall asleep quicker and wake up less during the night.

While meditation is notoriously tricky, you can reap similar benefits with restorative yoga. This style of yoga focuses on lying in supported poses for six to eight minutes while concentrating on your breath. If I'm feeling frazzled or stressed, this is my go-to. I always feel Zen afterwards.

We all know the blue light emitted via electronic devices wakes up the brain and disrupts sleep. Reading a book does the opposite. Cracking on with a good book every night definitely makes me happier than aimlessly scrolling through social media.