8 Steps to Reclaim Your Life

Here are 8 practical suggestions to start taking ownership of your life and reclaim it one step at a time.
This isn’t clown circus shit like rubbing bananas and elf balls on your face at 3AM. It’s the bare, hard basics your dad—or a real top dog—should’ve already drilled into you. No fluff. Just what works.

Here’s why each one matters—and how it transforms you:

1. Make your bed

Start the day with discipline. Navy SEAL Admiral William H. McRaven said it best:
“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
It sets a tone of control and accountability. You did something productive before most people even woke up.

2. Keep your room clean

Environment shapes mindset. A messy room reflects a cluttered mind. A clean space restores clarity.
A study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found people with tidy living spaces had lower stress and better mental health. The outside mirrors the inside.

3. Brush & shower daily

Not for vanity—this is about basic self-respect. When you look clean, you feel clean.
It’s a daily ritual that reinforces worth and routine. Neglect it, and decay sets in.
Take care of yourself like someone who matters.

4. Cook at home

The fork is a weapon—or a leash. If you’re eating garbage from a box or a drive-thru, you’re handing over control of your health, discipline, and wallet.
Cooking teaches planning, patience, and pride. Every meal is a vote for your future self.

5. Love Mondays

Most people hate Mondays because they hate their life. That’s not the day’s fault—it’s the mindset.
Reclaim Monday as your reset. Eric Thomas nailed it: “Thank God it’s Monday.”
Winners attack the week while others hit snooze.

6. Spend less time online

Your mind wasn’t built for the digital dopamine loop. Endless scrolling trains you to crave distraction and avoid discomfort.
Penn research shows that limiting social media cuts anxiety and depression.
Use the internet like a tool, not like a drug.

7. Eat clean, walk, run, lift

Your body reflects your choices. Movement fuels energy, confidence, and testosterone.
Jocko said it best: “Discipline equals freedom.”
You don’t need a perfect plan. Just move. And move often.

8. Drop drugs & alcohol

If it numbs you, it owns you.
Real strength is staring down stress, boredom, or pain without needing a crutch. Sobriety sharpens your edge.
You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be in control.

Together, these habits are a blueprint for self-mastery.
They’re not glamorous. They’re not trending. But they work. They anchor your identity and momentum.

Start today. Reclaim your power—one clean room, one workout, one cooked meal at a time.

– Jon Stone
Founder, ironresilience.net
Discipline, Not Genetics