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10 Habits to Kickstart Your 2025 Success

Welcome to Effective Habits, a weekly newsletter where I share evidence-based strategies and tools to help you live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Today at a Glance:

• The Secret To Better Habits In 2025

• I Tried Tennis as an Adult and Learned the Importance of Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

• You Don’t Always Have to Wait For The Right Time

The Secret To Better Habits In 2025
Ryan Holiday

Lights, Camera, ...
The halfway mark of the 2020s is a perfect moment to pause, reflect, and reset. Time flies, yet many of us stay the same, caught in cycles that leave us yearning for change but resisting transformation. The Stoics understood the power of rituals—Seneca, for instance, would plunge into the icy Tiber each year to cleanse the old and embrace the new. While there’s nothing inherently magical about a new year, embracing these symbolic turning points can inspire us to build better habits. So, as we step into 2025, let’s commit to small, powerful changes that push us toward the growth we’ve been waiting for.

Action!

1. Prioritize the Essentials First. Protect the best part of your day for what matters most. Tackle your top priorities early, before distractions or fatigue take over.

2. Start Small. Focus on tiny, consistent improvements. Aim for one page, one walk, or one small step each day—it’s the momentum that counts.

3. Focus on the Process. Shift your energy from chasing goals to mastering daily habits. Progress comes from showing up consistently, not obsessing over outcomes.

4. Remove Friction. Make good habits easy to do and bad habits hard. Want to eat healthier? Don’t keep junk food in the house. Want to drink more water? Keep a reusable water bottle with you at all times.

5. Do Something Good. Commit to one act of kindness every day, big or small. Small, consistent efforts create lasting impact (on others and yourself).

6. Do Less, Better. Say “no” more often so you can give your full focus to what truly matters. Aim to be great at a few things, rather than average at many. Excellence requires clarity and boundaries.

7. Set Boundaries. Draw clear lines for your time, energy, and relationships. Protect your peace by avoiding drama and energy vampires.

8. Ask for Help. There’s no shame in seeking support. Whether it’s a coach, team, or community, embrace collaboration to go further.

9. Get Enough Sleep. Prioritize rest. A solid night’s sleep powers everything else you aim to accomplish.

10. Bounce Back Quickly. When you falter, reset immediately. Don’t dwell on mistakes—rebuild your momentum and keep moving forward.

I Tried Tennis as an Adult and Learned the Importance of Getting Out of My Comfort Zone
Jenessa Connor

Lights, Camera, ...
Trying something new as an adult, like learning tennis, can be both intimidating and rewarding. Stepping out of your comfort zone often stirs up feelings of self-doubt, but it’s also essential for personal growth. Experts note that as we age, we tend to avoid new challenges to protect ourselves from failure or discomfort, yet embracing the unfamiliar fosters patience, builds confidence, and broadens our perspective. Success doesn’t come overnight—progress requires setting small, achievable goals and celebrating incremental wins. Whether it’s mastering a new skill or simply meeting new people, the experience of pushing past limitations can enrich other areas of life, reminding us that growth often begins where comfort ends. Below you’ll find a few tips to help you with learning new things.

Action!

1. Start a journal: Take a few minutes to jot down key takeaways after each practice or lesson. Write about what went well, areas for improvement, and any specific feedback you received. Aim to identify three lessons or insights to carry forward into your next session.

2. Use beginner-friendly tools and techniques: Use beginner-friendly tools, techniques, or modifications to make learning more approachable and effective. For example, simplify your practice environment, break tasks into manageable steps, and focus on building consistency before increasing complexity.

3. Track your progress visually: Record videos of yourself practicing to objectively observe your growth over time. Regularly compare your performance now to previous weeks or months to celebrate milestones and identify areas for further improvement.

4. Seek quality guidance: Invest in a coach, mentor, or instructor who understands how to teach beginners and aligns with your learning style. Be open to trying different instructors until you find someone who communicates effectively and supports your growth.

You Don’t Always Have to Wait For The Right Time
Chloe

Lights, Camera, ...
Stop waiting for the perfect time—it doesn’t exist. Life is full of imperfect moments, and waiting only leads to missed opportunities and regret. The truth is, taking action, even when you feel unprepared or scared, is the key to growth and discovery. Fear of failure holds more people back than failure itself, but stepping forward despite fear unlocks doors you never knew existed. Life isn’t about aligning everything perfectly; it’s about making the most of now. So stop waiting, take the leap, and create your own perfect moment—because the only time you truly have is right now.

Action!

• Take one step today toward something you've been putting off, even if it feels imperfect or scary—action creates momentum, and the perfect time is now.

TOOL TIP

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FUN FACT

The North Pole has one sunrise each year. The sun rises at the North Pole on the Spring Equinox around March 21st. For the next six months, the sun is always visible in the sky. Its maximum height, similar to our “noon,” occurs at the Summer Solstice around June 21st. The sun sets at the North Pole on the Fall Equinox around September 21st. Although the sun is below the horizon for the next six months, the area is not in total darkness. The pole experiences periods of twilight before and after the lights go out. The South Pole follows a similar pattern, but in reverse! When the sun rises at the North Pole, it sets at the South Pole.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not liable for any risks or issues that may arise from using this information.