8 Simple Asian Habits That Changed My Life

Today I'm sharing 8 simple Asian habits that changed my life. There are small habits for a better life, success habits, healthy habits, and even habits for good luck and fortune! Simple living, frugality, and minimalism can be adapted to any culture or lifestyle, and it's all about figuring out what works for you. I hope you find this list of life-changing habits interesting or helpful in some way and wish you all the best in improving your life. :)

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ABOUT A TO ZEN LIFE
Along my journey to let go of 30 years of clutter, I accidentally became a minimalist and it was life-changing.

Before, I was an emotional hoarder with nothing but the clutter from lost loved ones — and $25,000 of debt — to my name. Now I have a beautiful home in Europe, a happy family, live debt-free, and — best of all — wake up to a life that I’m EXCITED to live every day.

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[Hillside-Hive]

Putting the house to bed. From fully house pick up to counters wiped to chairs tucked in... waking up to a tidy house sets the tone for the day!!

[Raafieh]

8 Simple Habits
1) Cooking with freshest ingredients
2)To eat slowly
3) Removes shoes from floor
4) Keeping the entry way clear of Clutter
5)Balancing Ying Yang energy
6)Being still
7)Open the windows to let fresh air in .
8)Move your body ( be active )

[JellybeanHouseNewfoundland]

When I lived in South Korea for a year as a 19-year-old college student, I noticed that elderly Koreans, unlike many elderly Westerners, have no problem getting up off the floor. This is, of course, because they sit and sleep on the floor and get up off the floor multiple times a day. I have thought about this frequently since then, especially as I watched my own father start falling and not being able to get up in the years before he passed away. I am now in my forties, and my husband is in his fifties. Last year we talked about this and decided to get rid of most of our furniture and sit and sleep on the floor most of the time (we built ourselves a floor table, and for a bed we have a futon mattress that we pull up against the wall as a "sofa" during the day). It's been excellent for our strength and flexibility, and it's also gotten us accustomed to a bit less comfort, which makes us more adaptable when we travel and spend time outdoors.

[Sudusukkuladi]

Loved this video, Marissa! ❤
I actually lived in Japan for a while and there are so many parts of the Japanese culture that have changed my life, health and perspective for good. For example:
1) Drinking healthy tea instead of soft drinks or water.
2) Washing rice before cooking!
3) "Shouganai" which means "it can't be helped!", a phrase they use instead of complaining or thinking negatively, for example when there's a long waiting-line or something negative that you cannot control happens.
4) Showing respect to people older than you, as well as your parents, employers or teachers, oh and even peers who are just more experienced than you in something.
5) Not eating till you're stuffed but till you're around 80% full (I can't say I always follow this, but it is a very good rule xD)
6) Humility, taking responsibility and apologizing when you've wronged someone. Not bragging or complimenting yourself outwardly.
7) The intentionality - for example how every movement has a purpose in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies (Sadou)
I could go on forever 😂😂

[adhisboucha]

I'm just seconds in, but I started tearing up at the thought of a senior mother being delighted to be asked her insights and an adult child enjoying time learning from his first love.

[ramunez.]

A lot of these habits are very common in Europe too. Shopping for fresh groceries daily, taking off shoes after you enter the house, opening the windows for “lüften”.
What habit I took from my Chinese husband is: changing clothes right after I come back home. And my personal new habit is: cleaning the bathroom after every use (morning and evening). 😊

[Debbiesdilemmas]

What a great education to learn from other cultures. I married a man from a different culture, then we adopted our son from a different culture and now our son is engaged to a woman from another culture. I feel so blessed.🥰🙏

[SalsaNube]

One habit I always had, then lost for a while, and embracing back since almost 2yrs now, is to take every day some time to enjoy nature. Even, if you live in a very busy city, the flower that is cracking from the tiles, or a nice balcony, or a tree, or any animal, for as small as an ant, is amazing to look at. Gives an instant peace of mind, gentleness and happiness boost moment.
And if I only can, I watch everytime the sunset and thanks for the daylight and warm it gave.
Little things goes far and have a huge impact we don't often consider on a daily rush.
Cheers from Poland!

[sandihumeniuk]

This was one of the best concept videos that I watched in a long time. I think we should all embrace positive rituals from other cultures.

[poodlegirl]

The habit I developed that has helped me the most is after breakfast I plan the evenings dinner and prep as much of it as I can and then I 100% clean my kitchen, unload the dishwasher, wipe counters and stove etc. I run out of energy late in the day and used to have anxiety about 4 or 5 o'clock thinking what are we having for dinner.

[alixocampo]

One thing I like to do almost every day is to write down at least 1 thing I'm grateful for that day. This is challenging to do when I have tough days but right after I do it, it completely changes my mood and I go to sleep feeling lighter and fortunate to have lived another day.

[annedaniel]

I have a journal that I write in every morning.
Four things- Gratitude- three things. Prayer- some people I’m praying for.
To do list- star the top two. And something I’m working on.
It takes less then five mins and it sets my mind at ease to have that “brain dump” done and start the day on a positive.

[BreeOlson]

I’m originally from Indiana too! I live in LA with my wife now whom is first generation Thai. Something I noticed is how sweet her family is to each other, like ridiculously gentle in speaking to one another, not just nice- but like overly crazy sweet. I think if I saw a white American family like that it’d be so weird to me but it’s definitely rubbed off on me and I was recently told by a stranger that I’m the calmest person they’ve ever met which is a huge change to me.

[kristijones]

We lived in Shanghai for 5 years and I noticed everyone stuck to a steady schedule for arrival, lunch, and departure. At lunch, everyone left at the same time (at 12:00 noon) and took exactly a 1 hour lunch break and returned to work at 1:00 pm. They would often eat together and socialize. In the US, so many of colleagues would eat lunch at their desks alone and continue working. I realized then that’s important and beneficial to take a lunch break, so my husband and I would often meet and take a walk together. We’ve been back in the US for a few years now, but I still make it a point to take a break from work during my lunch break. I also try to follow their approach and end the work day at a reasonable time.

[juliekonigskind]

I love to pair the habit of airing the home first thing in the morning with the habit of making all the beds, folding the throw blankets in the living room, fluffing all the pillows and picking up every room to it’s tidy state (because most of the time I am too tired for it the night before).
Even my two year old son is already helping this little ritual and it just feels amazing, starting our days to a tidy home.

[karenvillanueva]

Being Asian, everything that you practice is what I grew up knowing. I can imagine how foreign our culture and customs may have seemed at first. But so happy you've embraced it and have incorporated it into your home. Thank you for sharing. Love your channel.

[meh]

Putting my kitchen to bed at night is a habit that I’ve learned benefits morning me more than anything else. I clean the kitchen well. Loading the dishwasher, making sure everything washable is off of the stove and counters, pots and pans dried and put away, degreased cook top etc. I’m always so happy to have a clean space when I wake up in the morning to make breakfast. It’s a habit that if I compromise on, I’m ALWAYS regretful the next day.

[kathleenhunt]

One of my best habits: in bed by 7:30 pm, up at 4:00-4:30 a.m. Has pretty much cured my insomnia issues, plus I love being more in cycle with natural light (esp in summer).

[faithhomeschool]

We typically rush to eat so we can go on to the next thing.
Shoes off is my #1 home rule.
Opening windows and doors is a daily habit.
Love the fact that your Mother in law is willing to teach to keep tradition alive

[nairbvel]

Speaking as someone with over a decade in healthcare... #8 "Move Your Body" is really, really, REALLY important. Many bodily systems (especially the lymphatic system) are dependent upon motion to some degree just to function, much less function well. Even something as prosaic as sitting in a chair, like in an office or classroom, can become less than healthy if done for too long. Much of the human body is a "use it or lose it" proposition, so... Move! :-)