5 Daily Habits to Strengthen Your Faith and Focus

We all go through times when life is chaotic and we get busy. This is part of a cycle of life, but that doesn’t make it much easier. It can feel like a constant churning sea of endless urgent tasks. In response to this recurring phase, I’ve outlined 5 habits below that I use to get myself out of the chaos and back to the ground.

1. Before getting out of bed, list 2 things you are grateful for.

Two things are easily attainable, even when you have a foggy brain in the morning. This automatically shifts your brain toward a positive mindset. Even when you lack sincerity in saying your two things, it still forces you to create space for good thoughts instead of dwelling immediately on your to-do list.

2. Take 10 quiet minutes with Jesus and your bible.

This can be before or after you get ready for the day, but make sure it’s before you let the hustle start. With the demands of having a dog and no yard, I like to go for a walk in the morning, and when I get back home, ideally, I do a workout, take a shower, and then take my quiet time before getting ready. I find that once I have my outfit on and makeup done, the day seems to have started, and my mind is already at work. Personally, I like the feeling of having exercised and accomplished one small thing for my health, then getting clean and sitting in my robe in the in between time before the day officially starts.

3. Take a deep breath and focus on the present step. Then take the next step.

This idea has been expressed time and again by many people. My old boss is a fan of saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” But since I don’t like to imagine eating an elephant, I like to say what my mom always told me, as I’ve been prone to overwhelm since I was a kid: take one step at a time, and then take the next step. It’s not all that profound since it’s common knowledge, but it’s good to bear in mind and a good thing to practice.

4. Take micro breaks for a breath prayer in between and during tasks as needed.

If you’re getting worked up, take 10 seconds and try a breath prayer. This kind of prayer is two sentences, or two parts of one sentence, and it can be spoken out loud or just in your head. Breathe in during the first part and breathe out during the second. One of my favorite ones to say is “Lord, more of you,” breathing in, “less of me,” breathing out. This helps remind me that God is in control and to choose grace in my responses when I feel like the opposite.

5. Write out your to-do list.

When you have so many thoughts swirling in your mind that you can’t sleep, or you wake up in the middle of the night, get those down on paper. Or on your phone, but ideally on paper. As you write, the words flow from your brain to the page, and you no longer have to take up brain power and storage with thoughts about tomorrow that lead to anxiety and dread. The list does not have to be in order, and it doesn’t even have to be an item for tomorrow. You can separate it into “tomorrow,” “this week or weekend,” “things to delegate,” “things I need help with,” "grocery list," etc. You can even sort out the categories the next day, but get it out of your head. It will give you some peace and rest. If you wake up with a thought of something that feels urgent, write it down immediately so that you aren't focusing on remembering it for tomorrow, and you don’t wake up the next morning dreading the item you forgot at 3am.

BONUS 6. Imagine you are 85 years old and have lived a full life. What are the things that have made it full? How did you live your life? What did you do? Who were you, and how will people remember you? Once you have a clear picture, analyze whether your actions today are setting you on a trajectory toward that full life. If not, what are some things you can change today?

I want to live a life that lovingly serves people. Written that way, it might sound a little lofty, abstract, or maybe even unachievable, but by letting that goal guide my day, I can ensure my small choices compound toward that goal. It helps me choose to volunteer at a meal service instead of watching a movie, or to spend time with my community instead of scrolling through social media. I still set aside time for movies, but when I choose to give that time cheerfully, remembering the goal behind this choice keeps the experience joyful instead of a chore.

With these actionable, simple habits, you can become more grounded and leave the business of the world behind. Try a 30-day challenge and let me know how it goes for you; I hope these practices help you as much as they have helped me. Comment below with some of your favorite habits to find your peace throughout the day.