Hey Friends,

For the past several weeks I have been thinking about key habits in our life…. the ones that seem to affect every other aspect of our life in some way. These key habits should be our priorities and the areas of our life that we intentionally cultivate.

I don’t want the following 8 habits to overwhelm you – that is not my goal in the least. Instead I want this list to inspire you.

Honestly think about each of these areas of your life and how you could work on cultivating just one of these habits. Start with one, and once it’s firmly established move onto another one. 

Cultivating just one of these habits will enrich your life in a unique way… and I hope when it does, it will motivate you to choose another key habit to cultivate.

(This post does contain affiliate links.)

Let’s jump right into this list shall we? 😉

8 Key Habits Every Woman Should Cultivate

1. The Habit of a Walk with God

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Dear friend, a daily walk with God has the power to change your life in ways you never thought possible.

This year I have been making my time with God a non-negotiable part of my day. It must happen – not because God will punish me if I don’t read the Word, not because I “have to”… it’s because I NEED HIM and I WANT to spend time with Him! This simple act of making my daily walk with God has been changing my life in little (yet BIG) ways. My faith is growing, my reliance and dependence on God (not myself) is increasing, and I feel like a much more stable person.

If you’ve been struggling in your walk with God, then I encourage you to pick up the Word of God and make it a non-negotiable part of your day, every day. Not because you feel obligated… but because you (and I!) desperately NEED God and His Word. Here are just a few ways a daily walk with God can change your life:

Are you lonely? Jesus wants to be your friend and constant companion.

Are you fearful? God wants to fill you with His strength and courage!

Are you confused and stumbling along in your life? God’s Word is the light for your path.

Are you tired and exhausted? God’s Word can fill you with strength on weary days.

Are you unhappy, discouraged or depressed? A vibrant, growing, relationship with God will fill you with unspeakable joy!

So, How Can You and I Walk with God Every Day? Here are some simple tips:

• Make it non-negotiable. It’s like brushing your teeth before bed – you just can’t go without it. Don’t end your day without spending time with the Lord (even if it’s just 5 minutes). Instead, make it a habit to BEGIN your day with the Lord.
• Choose a Bible Reading Plan that Works for YOU. There are so many reading plans out there. Do some research and give one a try. Start small. Don’t feel like you need to read the entire Bible in one year if you struggle to read it at all. I typically choose one book of the Bible to read/study each month.
• Pick Up the Word and Read It. Many people are choosing to read the Bible on their phones. While this is better than nothing, it’s just not the same as holding the written Word of God (in book form) in your hands. Whenever you can, choose a physical copy of the Word so you can hold it in your hands, turn the pages yourself, and take notes.
• Pray. It’s hard to do – I know. Our minds are busy and there are so many other things we could be doing. But how can you grow in your relationship with the Lord if you don’t talk to Him? I have find that writing my prayers in a notebook helps me stay focused during my prayer time and helps me talk to the Lord for longer periods of time.

Bible reading and prayer. The two essentials for growing in your walk with the Lord. I encourage you, I challenge you, to cultivate this most important area in your life and see what happens. Your faith with grow and blossom as you choose to make God the #1 priority in your day and your life! 

2. The Habit of Health

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Our bodies are a gift from God. We need to take care of them. When we properly care for our bodies we feel better, more energized, alive, and well. That’s what I want for you this year, my friend. I want you to feel energized and well. You don’t need to go to extremes. You don’t need to hop on fad diet or go running every morning at 6am. Just start small. Make little changes to take better care of your body…

• Do a 5-10 minute workout. I love doing a quick workout from YouTube to get my heart pumping and muscles moving!
• Run up and down the stairs a couple times – get your heart pumping!
• Eat a satisfying breakfast. Say no to that donut and yes to some veggies and eggs that will fill your body with protein.
• Cut back on caffeine. Believe it or not, you will have more energy without it!
• Drink more water. You will feel energized and your skin will glow. (This water bottle helps me drink more water each day!)
• Cut back on the sugary sweets and empty carbs. Let’s be honest, we all know we really don’t need them.

Just start with one small change and go from there. You can do it! The more you take care of your body the more you will want to continue. These are good habits that will pay off and make you feel so much better.

This year, take good care of the body God has given you.

3. The Habit of Rest

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2

God created sleep and rest for a reason – He knows that we need it! I’m absolutely amazed how a lack of sleep can negatively affect my mood, my emotions, my productivity, my relationships… everything!

This year, I want you to fight for a consistent bedtime. Yes, I mean that. You will be happier and more productive if you make sleep a priority this year.

Not only do we need to make sleep a priority, but we need to make rest a priority as well. Yes, we should work hard during the day, but be sure to carve out some time to rest in the evenings. Take a bath, read a book, or work on a hobby. We live in such a fast-paced society that we need to be intentional about slowing down for rest and relaxation.

Sunday is another important day for rest. God created the Sabbath for a reason – He knew we needed it! It’s wonderful to have a slow day to read the Word, take a nap, write in a journal, or read a good book. The next time Sunday rolls around, take advantage of it.

This year, I encourage you to prioritize sleep and rest for yourself! ♥

4. The Habit of Budgeting

“If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” Luke 16:11

A budget sounds like a bad word to some people. But in reality, a budget is freeing. It means you get to decide where your money is going to be used, instead of looking back at the end of the month and wondering what in the world happened to all your hard earned money!

If you struggle with properly managing and saving money, I would encourage you to check out The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. I read this book as a teenager and it reshaped the way I view saving money. Dave Ramsey will motivate you to get control of your spending once and for all.

Dave Ramsey has also has a free budget form that you can print out on his tools and resources page. Even if you’re a single girl still living at home, I want to challenge you to get on top of your finances and start following a budget. It will take some work up front, but it will be so worth it in the end.

This year, I simply want to challenge you to start and follow a monthly budget!

5. The Habit of Learning

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge…” Proverbs 12:1

Learning new things will fill you up and help you grow as a person.

When I take time to learn by reading books, listening to podcasts, watching a documentary, etc., I feel inspired and motivated to make changes that will improve my life based on what I just learned.

Maybe learning something new doesn’t fire you up so much. But I encourage you to identify the things you love already and then take it a bit further – read a book, do some more research online, or take a class that will further your knowledge on a topic you already love.

Once you discover the fun of learning new things, you will want to continue learning. As you develop in areas and interests that you already enjoy, you might decide to branch out and try something that’s totally out of your comfort zone and you might love that too!

Just don’t ever stop learning. Start somewhere, start small, but make an effort to cultivate the habit of learning.

Here are some resources to help you continue to learn and grow:

• Read more books. I have a blog post teaching you how to read more books than ever before.
• Listen to podcasts. The Homemaking Foundations Podcast is my favorite!
• Watch a documentary. My husband and I have been enjoying this documentary on the presidents.
• Learn a new game. Our personal favorite is Ticket to Ride (it helps us with geography too!).
• Listen to an audiobook. Try audible for FREE – I’ve been using audible this month to help me with my 2019 reading goal!

Just a little bit of effort each day can go along way in helping you become a life-long learner. Once you start learning, I hope you never want to stop!

This year, I encourage you to cultivate the habit of learning.

6. The Habit of Productivity

“Redeeming the time because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16

I believe all of us are born with a little bit (or a lot!) of laziness in our bones. It’s a natural human tendency. Some people may have more “driven” personalities that push them to get up and “do things” but deep down I think all of us would love to choose fun and relaxation over work and productivity.

There is a time and place for fun and relaxation (see point #4!) but God has not called us to a life of leisure 100% of the time. We must be wise with our time and use it to glorify God and do the “good works” he has called us to do (see Ephesians 2:10)

What are some things you know God wants YOU to do, but you’ve been pushing it off because of laziness? Some ideas might be:

• Keeping your house clean and organized for the sake of your family.
• Staying on top of the laundry so your family has clean clothing to wear.
• Getting dressed properly each day so you are ready for whatever comes your way.
• Starting a blog so you can reach out to others.
• Participating in (or leading) a Bible study for women or girls.
• Making the effort to invite friends over for a meal or just dessert.

Evaluate your time and take note of any areas where you’ve been choosing laziness instead of productivity. For me, I tend to be lazy in the evenings after work, so instead of playing on my phone, I am trying to be intentional about working on my goals, reading a book, or playing a game with my husband instead.

This year I want you to rest when you need it, but earnestly fight against laziness. Instead, choose productivity and work on the things that God has called you to do!

7. The Habit of Joy and Gratitude

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Joy can be a hard choice and gratitude is another tough one. But you know what? The two go hand-in-hand.

Two books taught me that joy proceeds gratitude: One Thousand Gifts and Choosing Gratitude. These books opened my eyes to the truth that when we notice and celebrate the little things (and the good things) in life then joy is possible.

Regardless of your current life circumstances and struggles – there is always, always, something to be thankful for.

Just look around.

Is the sun shining? You’re alive!

Is it raining? God is nourishing the earth.

Are you in a warm home? What a blessing!

Do you have a family that loves you? Praise God for them.

Do you have plenty of food to eat and clothing to wear? God is taking care of you!

When we start to count our blessings, we begin to realize how blessed we truly are. When we focus on the good, and praise God for the blessings He has given us, we make it possible for our hearts to be filled with joy.

So, whatever tough circumstances come your way in the next week, month, or year… remember to look for your blessings, count them, focus on them, and in spite of it all, choose joy.

8. The Habit of Family Time

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7

As Christians, we are called to love others. Unfortunately, sometimes the ones in our own home and family circles get the least amount of “loving”. Life happens and before we know it we are making more time for the people in our social circles than our own family members (at least, I know this happens to me!).

One lesson I’ve been learning lately is that I need to cultivate the relationships around me – and my family members are the most important. This includes (mainly) my husband, parents, siblings, and in-laws.

Friendships come and go but (surprise!) your family members remain the same. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and know that I made time for my family, because I know they are the ones that are always going to be there for me as well.

So… how can we make time for our family and love on them well? Here are a few tips:

• Send a thoughtful text. Just to let them know they’re on your mind.
• Buy a thoughtful gift. Do you know of something a family member would love to have? Consider surprising them. Invest in your family.
• Pray for them. Ask for prayer requests. Pray for them and let them know that they are in your thoughts and your prayers!
• Spend time with them. Game nights, movie nights, family dinners, and coffee shop outings are all great ways to spend time with your family!

I need to work on all of these things as well, and I hope you will join me!

This year, I challenge you to make time for your family, love on them well, and show them they are appreciated!

Final Thoughts

Wow! We covered a lot didn’t we?

All of these habits are so key. Each one can have an amazing impact (for the better) in our lives if we intentionally and thoughtfully cultivate them.

>>> Review this list and give each habit some thought. Which ONE habit will you choose to cultivate right now? Start with one and go from there.

Do You Want to Learn More?

Here are some resources I mentioned in this post as well as some other things that may be of interest to you as you cultivate these goals!

• My Creative Bible – One of the best purchases I made last year! It has helped motivate me to dig into the Word!
• Audible FREE Trial – Get TWO audio books completely FREE.
• The PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner – The amazing planner that is helping me discover my most important goals and priorities for each month and the whole year!
• Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life – The book that showed me the importance of CULTIVATING the important areas of my life.

Before you go… be sure to leave a comment and tell me which habit you want to begin cultivating right now!

Until Next Time,