What Habits Do You Want Most? The “Essential Seven”

I just finished writing Better Than Before, my book about the most fascinating subject ever, the subject of habits. (To hear when it goes on sale, sign up here.)

Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life, and a significant element of happiness. If we have habits that work for us, we’re much more likely to be happy, healthy, productive, and creative. Or not. When I talk to people about their happiness challenges, they often point to hurdles related to a habit they want to make or break.

Most often, people want habits that fall into the "Essential Seven."

1. Eat and drink more healthfully (give up sugar, eat more vegetables, drink less alcohol)

2. Exercise regularly

3. Save, spend, and earn wisely (save regularly, pay down debt, donate to worthy causes, stay current with expense reports)

4. Rest, relax, and enjoy (pursue a hobby instead of cruising the internet, enjoy the moment, stop checking email, get enough sleep, spend less time in the car, take time for myself)

5. Accomplish more, stop procrastinating (practice an instrument, set aside two hours daily for uninterrupted work, learn a language, maintain a blog, keep a gratitude journal)

6. Simplify, clear, clean, and organize (make the bed every day, file regularly, put keys away in the same place, recycle)

7. Engage more deeply—with other people, with God, with the world (call family members, read the Bible every day, volunteer, spend time with friends, observe the Sabbath, go to networking events)

Of course, the same habit might satisfy different needs for different people. For one person, yoga might be a form of exercise (#2), for someone else, a way to find mental rest (#4); for someone else, a spiritual practice (#7). And people value different habits. For one person, organized files might be a crucial tool for creativity; another person finds inspiration in random juxtapositions.

What do you think of the Essential Seven–what have I left out? Which habits do you most want to master?

I must say, it pleases me to have seven. I hate to quote Voldemort, but he was right when he observed, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, “Isn’t seven the most powerfully magic number?”

• People have been so enthusiastic about the four 21 Day Projects. If you want to make some concrete, manageable changes in your life, I hope these Projects will be helpful. Curious about the breakdown?

  Know myself better is in the lead--which, I must confess, came as a surprise; De-clutter my life is next; Quit yelling at your kids is next, and finally Cope better with difficult people. Intrigued? Of course you are! Learn more and sign up here.

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Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She writes about happiness and habit-formation (the subject of her next book, Better Than Before) at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button, on Twitter, @gretchenrubin, on Facebook, facebook.com/GretchenRubin.

Photo: sheriffmitchell, Flickr