Millennials often get a bad reputation, it’s true. But, that doesn’t mean you have to follow the norm. Be different and develop millennial habits that will set you apart. As a 31 year old millennial myself, here are 8 habits that I appreciate seeing in my fellow millennial’s, as well as habits that I’ve been complimented on by gen x or baby boomers.
Get comfortable talking on the phone
It’s often easier for millennials to resort to texting. However, if you’ve ever spent hours texting back and forth on a problem that could have been solved with a 5 minute conversation, then you know that texting isn’t always the most efficient option.
Be on time
Millennials often get a bad reputation for being late, so don’t let this one apply to you. I know that I’m always really appreciative when I’m meeting someone and they’re on time as this tells me that they are looking forward to spending time with me and are respecting my time.
Don’t hit the snooze button
Getting up as soon as the alarm goes off is a great habit to develop. Hitting that snooze button isn’t great for our health and leaves you feeling groggy and tired for hours afterward. An easy way to get started with this is to set your alarm for a few minutes later, but don’t snooze, just get up immediately.
Believe it or not, now that I don’t hit the snooze button, I feel so much better about my mornings and find it a lot easier to get through the morning without feeling tired and lethargic.
Set a bedtime and stick to it
As I’ve gotten older, getting 8 hours of sleep has been one of the habits that I’ve been most adamant about sticking to. When I’m getting plenty of sleep, it undoubtedly has a huge impact on every other area of my life from my relationships to work to hobbies, etc.
As the day progresses, it becomes easier to make bad choices, and this is why setting a firm bedtime can make all the difference. When you go to bed at the same time each night, it means that you have one less decision to make at the end of the day.
Plus, once you wake up in the morning, getting 8 hours of sleep will always feel better than that extra episode on Netflix.
Related Post: The Importance of Rest
Keep your phone on airplane mode for at least an hour a day
This is a habit that you can implement both at work and at home, and this is another one of my favorites. If you’re the type of person that has goals and big dreams, then this could change your life. But really, when you always have your phone with you, you are constantly fielding other people’s problems and requests instead of your own.
By taking a little bit of time each day without your phone, you are setting yourself up to be a priority and to show yourself that your own dreams and ideas are important.
Here are some examples of how you could do this:
- Turn off your phone during lunch so that you can relax and work on a side project
- Leave your phone in the kitchen after dinner and spend an hour reading a book
- Go on a long walk and leave the phone at home
- Make a cup of coffee and just savor it
Let’s be honest, while smartphones are great, they can also make us really anxious. Do yourself a favor and take a break. You’ll be glad you did, I promise.
Make time for hobbies, not just side hustles
As millennials, we love the idea of ‘side hustles.’ And there’s nothing wrong with that! Having a side hustle (or two) can be a great way to transition to a new career or just bring in a little extra money on the side.
However, a downside that I’ve noticed is that sometimes it’s hard for millennial’s to have hobbies without feeling like they need to turn it into a money generating venture. Hobbies are important and we all need at least one thing that we do simply for fun, not to make money from it.
If this is you, here are some ideas for hobbies:
- Reading
- Sports/Exercise
- Crafts
- Taking a class
- Learning a new language
If possible, it’s nice to have at least one hobby that is not computer or technology based. Most of us spend so much of our days on computers, so it’s nice to have a few analog hobbies.
Related Post: Positive Habits that will Change Your Life
Read physical books
Reading is by far my favorite hobby! I love reading physical books and it’s something that I do every single day. Even if it’s only for 5-10 minutes, it’s as much a part of my day as brushing my teeth or drinking coffee in the morning.
If you haven’t read a book in a while or even since college or high school, give it a try. And, if you’re on a budget, you can always get your books from the library which makes it a great, free hobby.
Only commit to things you can follow through with
Is it just me, or does it seem like millennials commit to a million things, and then struggle to follow through? Saying yes is easy, but saying no to good things or to people we really like is more challenging.
I’ve found that people will often say yes to things, and will then forget or back out at the last minute. You can break the norm and be the type of person who only commits to things that you can follow through on. Have any other habits to add to the list? Feel free to send me an email and let me know at betsy@betsyramserjaime.com.
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