Acquiring a new knowledge, skill or habit? Pretty easy. Unlearning them? No it isn’t. In most cases, it is challenging to break habits because they already form a part of someone’s routine or system—-they are even considered a comfort zone. Some habits are good like exercising every day or reading a good book before sleep while some are bad, or should we say, are not doing us any favors. While most of them are not that detrimental to your well-being, chances are, they might hold you back from the kind of career, relationships, health and happiness you have longed for.

Breaking plenty of them is never easy and fast—it is a learning and progressive process. But the great news is, regardless of what age you are or where you at in life, there is absolutely no other time like today to start releasing certain habits that do you no good in the long run.

1. Taking “No” for an answer and letting it go, just like that. Of course there are things in life you have absolutely no control of (which is an important life lesson by the way), but when it comes to matters that you truly care about like career, relationships or dreams, don’t just take the first “no” you get from someone or something. You should try to give it another shot by asking again or doing something better. You will never know what could change if you ask again, or exhaust all the possible means before waving the white flag.

2. Checking your phone when you’re out with people. Whether you’re having dinner with a date, friends or family, it is not good to keep on checking your phone. Show the people you’re with that you are present in the moment and that whatever is so interesting on your phone can surely wait—when you get home.

3. Stalking or spending much of your time on social media. Browsing through your news feed or checking out latest photos on Instagram about your friends’ amazing getaways, life events or luxurious purchases can be a little source of motivation but the more you get details of their lives, the worse it can make you feel about your own. It’s better to put down your phone and start living your life by making things happen.

4. Waiting for the so called “The One”. There is nothing wrong with the virtue of waiting, but it shouldn’t be taken literally. If you are someone who isn’t open to giving someone or yourself a chance to go out, have fun and date, then “the one” won’t magically appear on your door step. Life is about taking chances, and so is love.

5. Arguing with your parents. By the time you reached the adult age, you will learn to accept the reality that parents can be a pain in the ass at times but acting like a stubborn and spoiled teenager isn’t going to do you good. Your parents are not getting younger and they aren’t going to be around forever, so treat them good and respect—above all. Learn to compromise and apologize, when needed.

If you want to be successful then you have to make the most out of the time that you have. We’re each given equal amounts of hours in a day but we’re not putting in the same efforts. It’s ironic to find that most of the less fortunate ones have more time to sleep and sit around doing nothing while the successful ones are always trying to stretch their time and hardly have an extra hour for rest. No wonder we’re all created equal but we don’t all of us end up the same way.

The following are only some of the best early morning habits of the successful ones among us in Singapore:

Making the bed

It doesn’t matter if you have a paid help or none. Getting up early and being able to make your bed as soon as you wake up gives you your first accomplishment of the day. This sets the tone to a productive day ahead as being able to accomplish one task makes you feel ready to take on another and the rest. Studies have also shown that those who are able to consistently make their beds as soon as they get up end up with more productive days.

Eating your healthy breakfast

Take it from Spongebob – breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skipping your breakfast is not a good idea nor is it a healthy one. In fact, you should eat your breakfast as if it’s a feast for a king. That means you eat the most quantity of food in your first meal of the day followed by lunch and the least on the dinner. Make sure that you eat a balanced breakfast, too. Have some fruits and veggies on the side with some source of protein and carbs.

A moment for meditation

Taking a 15 to 20 minute break for your meditation is good for your soul and mind. It is said that you don’t really gain anything from meditating but what you get rid of are a lot. You get rid of your anxiety, fears, negativities, and that senseless chatter in your mind. Meditating in a day makes you feel refreshed and gives you a sense of more control and awareness of self. You’ll find your days go through smoother as compared to those days where you’re easily irritated, anxious, and hot-tempered.

Regular exercise

Your eight to five office schedule may not really give you enough opportunities to move your body. Keep physically fit and don’t let those fats take some room around your waist by doing your regular physical exercise. You can wake a bit earlier and go out for an hour of jogging, biking, or swimming. You can do your own set of physical trainings, too, by following some aerobic programs. You only need at least two and a half hours of vigorous physical activity in a week. This can mean even less than thirty minutes of physical activity every day. So what’s your excuse?

It may be a result of the much talked about global warming but definitely it’s getting warmer in Singapore. The dreaded El Nino being experienced across Asia is causing undeniable havoc on economies. What’s at the root of this environmental phenomenon is the threat of the rise in electricity. If this is the case, there are plenty of things to do to save energy and not be a victim of soaring electric bills. Here are some practical ways to do so:

1. Be Smart About Your Appliances. Unplug appliances that are not of use. You’d be surprised at the amount of money you can save simply by pulling the plug from that appliances you’re not using. What you thought is a resting appliance is actually wasting away energy when you don’t pull the plugs off.

2. Make the right investments. Solar panels, LED bulbs, and the like may come off as expensive at first but they can help you save more in the long run. Imagine the savings you can get from simply relying on the power of the sun as compared to subscribing to paid electricity. Countries worldwide are challenged to turn green and developed countries like Singapore should take on the lead.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The simple act of reducing, reusing, and recycling can already contribute a lot to wise energy consumption and, on a bigger scale, to a green economy. What the world burns and buries away causing significant damage to Mother Nature comes mainly from private waste. Singaporeans know this well so it shouldn’t be difficult for us to take on the lead on this.

4. Practice a Responsible Lifestyle. Being responsible means being aware and educated on the consequences of your actions. Support products and companies that help save energy consumption. Support movements that call out for a better way to provide energy.