14 Small Habits That Create A Powerful First Impression, According To Psychology
How to cultivate a better presona.
Guilherme Almeida | Canva Most online advice is training you to be a soulless automaton. We follow the rules and frameworks that work for others and wonder why they don’t work for us. This makes us miserable.
Here are 14 small habits that create a powerful first impression, according to psychology:
1. Travel by yourself to new places
I spent my entire 20s and 30s doing this. Start in your neighborhood. You will pick up memorable experiences. You are also more likely to meet new people, but you’ll learn about what you’re capable of more than anything else.
2. Commit to creating something ‘ridiculous’
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Few things of magnificence were ever accomplished without a bold promise. No matter how seemingly far out this first appears, I implore you to go there. Stop settling for scraps.
You’re not a freaking badger. Set out to create something no one would even consider. You may find the air is sharper up here because it’s less crowded, and you’re on a genuine high.
3. Write an article or book you’re scared to write
Writing is one thing, but writing, finishing, and sharing a book that requires you to be real, as well as vulnerable, is another thing entirely. Books that take courage to write will inevitably do better too.
A 2021 study confirmed that confronting and overcoming writing fears can benefit overall well-being. It can lead to emotional processing, improved clarity of thought, and even physical health benefits. Writing about complex topics or situations can help individuals express emotions, process trauma, and gain a sense of mastery.
4. Be less available to the garbage that drains your energy
Now you’re free to rise like a steely-eyed warrior on a mission to greatness. By minimizing energy-draining situations and behaviors, you can improve your ability to focus, regulate emotions, and manage tasks effectively, ultimately boosting your overall well-being. A 2022 study explained that repeatedly exerting self-control can deplete your ability to resist temptations and maintain focus, leading to less efficient cognitive and emotional functioning.
5. Deepen your expertise in a hybrid combination of two or more things
Everything’s been done, but no one has taken two or three things, put them together, and added your unique flavor to it. Here’s an example: become an expert on clothing technology for pets that improves the environment — and then bring your personality to it.
6. Follow your strange
Most people have no idea how the general public influences them into the mediocrity of the average. They are depressed because they don’t pursue and express what brings them to life.
Stop doing things for others and do things that quench your curiosity. This doesn’t mean being a degenerate. For me, this means writing in a way that amuses me. Follow what you know is right, but don’t hide your weird.
7. Do the opposite
Regularly step back and evaluate what everyone in your industry is doing. What are the patterns and general trends? Now consider ways to go against the grain. What can you do that no one else is doing? This is how you gain naughty advantages and stand out like a panda in a penguin enclosure.
8. Experiment more with saying what you want to say, not what you think others want to hear
This is very difficult for many and might get you canceled. Try not to get canceled. Get the balance right, and you’ll grow in a way that will attract curious people from miles around.
9. Add more color and oomph to everything you do
Right now, you’re doing just enough so you can get back to watching reruns of Golden Girls. Stop being lame. Go that extra stretch with your art, your process, your craft. Inject your offerings with a preposterous elixir and watch people erupt in laughter as they experience your distinctive energy.
Adding 'oomph' to everyday activities can enhance well-being and improve various aspects of life, including memory retention, stress management, and overall mental health. An article by Stanford University on stress suggested that strategies like incorporating physical activity, embracing stress, and developing self-control can contribute to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
10. Do a 30-day challenge to overcome a bad habit
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Keeping it together like a G for a month will boost your confidence, which will flow into other areas. Detaching yourself from an artificial stimulant, like alcohol, will also help you realize your authentic self.
11. Regularly and actively re-connect with your Inner Wise Person
Few people connect with their deeper intelligence, whether through reflective sitting, going on lunch walks, or brainstorming via free writing. When artists or athletes enter a flow state, this is what they’re doing. They access a portal that is closed to most.
12. Be ‘unreasonably’ creative, even if you don’t feel like it
The more you create, the more creative you become and the more insights and breakthroughs you will have. Find your obsession muscle and flex it daily. This will set you apart and help you find where you can make the most impact.
13. Take one small step today towards a project or goal you always dreamed about but never took action on
A 2019 study found that this initial action can break down the perceived overwhelm of a large goal, provide a sense of accomplishment, and build confidence to continue. Repeated small actions can become habits, making it easier to continue working towards the goal.
14. Regularly identify hard things you can do this week to grow through the discomfort
Pick one thing for the week at a minimum, even if it’s a small step towards something bigger. It should be frightening but should also excite you. This is how you transform from a scared little weevil to a magnificent butterfly.
Alex Mathers is a writer and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient. He's the author of the Mastery Den newsletter, which helps people triple their productivity.
