Selfie Mirror

Want to pick up some good habits? The best approach is to start small.

In the Quora thread “What are some good ‘mini habits’ to practice each day?” readers shared the simple habits you should follow every day to become a happier, healthier, or more productive person.

The best part is, each one takes only about five minutes to complete.

Here are some of our favorites:

SEE ALSO: 11 skills that are hard to learn but pay off forever

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1. Brush your teeth and floss

Brushing and flossing your teeth not only prevents gingivitis and tooth decay, but it can also save your life.

The American Dental Association recommends you brush twice a day for two minutes and floss once a day. If you don’t, you could be putting yourself at greater risk for developing dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer, among other things. — Pankesh Bamotra

2. Smile at yourself in the mirror

Just after you brush your teeth, look at yourself in the mirror and smile, holding the smile for 10 seconds. Dr. Robert Zajonc, a famous psychologist, believed facial action leads to changes in mood, and in a 1989 study he found that participants who watched themselves smile in a mirror experienced a greater boost in mood than those who simply smiled. — Nistha Tripathi

3. Write down the day’s most important task

Also known as “eating the frog,” decide on the one task you must perform that day to be successful and do it first thing when you get to work. — Patrick Mathieson

See the rest of the story at Business Insider