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160 Best One Day At A Time Quotes To Inspire Your Journey

160 Best One Day At A Time Quotes To Inspire Your Journey

Life often seems overwhelming and fast-paced which is why we tend to forget the beauty of living in the moment.

Each day gives us the opportunity to embrace the present. Let’s not ignore it!

To remind of you the power of embracing each new day, I bring you an inspiring collection of 160 one day at a time quotes.

These words of wisdom are taken from various online sources and I hope they’ll help you navigate life struggles one day at a time.

Let’s go!

10 Best One Day At A Time Quotes To Inspire You

1. “Big things are built one brick at a time. Victories are achieved one choice at a time. A life well-lived is chosen one day at a time.” — Lysa TerKeurst

a girl walking on the beach representing the best one day at a time quote

2. “Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece.” — Dale West

3. “Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.” — Day Marie Lu

4. “Live one day at a time. Keep your attention in present time. Have no expectations. Make no judgments. And give up the need to know why things happen as they do. Give it up!” — Caroline Myss

5. “You never know the plan. You never know what’s going to happen. We are not even promised tomorrow. I just try to focus on one day at a time.” — Morgan Wallen

a woman stepping through the water representing the best one day at a time quote

6. “I just take it one day at a time, try to forget about what I did the day before. Go out there like every day is Opening Day.” — Aaron Judge

7. “You never know where life is going to take you. So everything I do, I just take it one day at a time, and it always leads you to the right place.” — Kyle Massey

8. “I live one day at a time, one day at a time. Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow is blind, so I live one day at a time.” — Willie Nelson

9. “One breath at a time. One day at a time. Wake up, and be shredded. Cry for a while. Then stop crying and go about your day. You’re not okay, but you’re alive, and you will be okay, someday.” — Jasinda Wilder

10. “All we can do is try, do our best. Give as much time as we have to give, one day at a time. One breath at a time.” — Jasinda Wilder

a girl walking through the water representing the best quote about going one day at a time

Motivational Quotes About Living One Day At A Time

1. “We do the best we can in life, we take things one day at a time and sometimes we all just need a simple reminder of that.” — Demi Lovato

a blond girl in nature representing a motivating quote on living one day at a time

2. “I believe in one day at a time; you’ve got TODAY, that’s what you’ve got.”— Al Pacino

3. “Smell the roses, taste the wine. One day at a time…” — Lynryd Skynryd

4. “Life at its essence boils down to one day at a time. Today is the day!” ― Jim Stovall

5. “I just take one day at a time, pray, and know that whatever happens is God’s will, so there’s nothing I can do to change that.” — Javon Ringer

a blond woman in nature

6. “My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?” — Rafael Nadal

7. “Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time.” — Charles M. Schulz

8. “Live one day at a time; better yet, make the most of this moment.” — Joel Osteen

9. “Life’s so full that you just take it one day at a time.”— Sheryl Crow

10. “Take life on life’s terms — one day at a time. And have fun while you’re doing it.” — Joe Perry

a girl in green standing in nature

11. “Take one day at a time. Allow yourself to change.” — Paul Henderson

12. “I like my life. I’ve had a good life. I think the reason is my parents taught me that life is a burden. But if you take it one day at a time, it’s an easy burden.” — Andrew Young

13. “I’m not a legend or a hero, I don’t slay dragons, I don’t do any of the things that a real hero can. But I can make things better, one day at a time, for most of the kingdom.” — Mercedes Lackey

14. “Now is now, and I live everything one day at a time. The fact that I’m still on the planet and able to still make music is such a miracle.” — Ronnie Milsap

15.  “I remind myself every day just how lucky I am to do what I love! I feel so fortunate and I’m just trying to take my life one day at a time.” — Misty Copeland

a woman standing in green fields

16. “I take my work one day at a time.” — Smriti Irani

17. “The way I do things is I take it one day at a time. Don’t try to put too much pressure or stress on myself figuring out what somebody else is going to do. Just worry about what I got to do.” — Trevor Ariza

18. “We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches.” — Darrell Royal

19. “You can only do things one day at a time, sport. Sometimes life is so bloody that’s the only way you can get through it. But the good bit about living one day at a time is that when nice things happen, you enjoy them more than people who are always thinking about the past or the future.” — Deborah Crombie

20. “I have a passion for helping others and making a difference in the world. I take life one day at a time and make the best of it every chance that I get.” — Lizzie Velasquez

a curly-haired blonde in nature

21. “Who knows, I have always lived one day at a time. Probably more adventure and excitement.” — Rob Mariano

22. “Just this whole journey [of life] has been a blessing from God, so for me to be here [on Earth] I’m just taking it one day at a time and really enjoying it.” — Jeremy Lin

23. “I’m like a recovering perfectionist. For me it’s one day at a time.” — Brene Brown

24. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” — Mitch Albom

25. “The whole idea is you can’t sit around and do nothing. You have to get up and start living one day at a time.” ― Darlene Love

a lady in a green field

26. “At different times in my life, I’ve made grand statements like, ‘I want these many kids, and I want them by this age.’ I think, with every year that goes by, I accept that I don’t know when it’s going to happen or how it’s going to happen. I’ll just take it one day at a time, and when I’m ready, I’ll be ready. It’ll reveal itself, I guess.” — America Ferrera

27. “One day at a time is all we should be dealing with. We can’t go back to yesterday and we can’t control tomorrow. So live for today!” — Unknown

28. “There’s only one day at a time here, then it’s tonight, and then tomorrow will be today again.” — Bob Dylan

29. “Instead of trying to rush the process, trust the process.” ― Germany Kent

30. “Drink life one sip at a time. This moment is brand new. Let it pour it’s newness into you.” — Hiral Nagda

a woman enjoying her view in nature

One Day At A Time Quotes To Help You In Tough Times

1. “When people go through something rough in life, they say, ‘I’m taking it one day at a time.’ Yes, so is everybody. Because that’s how time works.” — Hannibal Buress

a guy on the road representing a quote about taking one day at a time to survive tough times

2. “No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.” — Bob Parsons

3. “A battle is a day of your life. So we do one day at a time in self-discovery.” — Frederick Lenz

4. “Dream big, my friend, and never give up. We all make mistakes, but none of us are mistakes. Take one day at a time. Embrace the positive attitudes, perspectives, principles, and truths I share, and you, too, will overcome.” — Nick Vujicic

5. “The road to recovery will not always be easy, but I will take it one day at a time, focusing on the moments I’ve dreamed about for so long.” — Amanda Lindhout

a man walking on the road

6. “Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.” — Carl Sandberg

7. “Take life one day at a time because every day is a different day with new challenges.” — Penny Streeter

8. “I learned that, with grief, you have to take it one day at a time and learn how to find the happiness amid the heartbreak.” — Adrienne C. Moore

9. “Many times, the decisions we make affect and hurt your closest friends and family the most. I have a lot of regrets in that regard. But God has forgiven me, which I am very thankful for. It has enabled me to forgive myself and move forward one day at a time.” — Lex Luger

10. “Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” ― Billy Graham

a guy on the highway

11.  “Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile and start again.” — Unknown

12. “I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” — Maya Angelou

13. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Grant me the patience with changes that take time, appreciation of all that I have, tolerance of those with different struggles, and the strength to get up and try again, one day at a time.” — Reinhold Niebuhr

14. “When life is tough then take it just one day at a time. Or sometimes an hour at a time.” — Unknown

15. “When I am tired and overwhelmed then I remember that it’s OK to just take care of today.” — Unknown

a man walking on the middle of the road

16. “I think there are always phases in life when things get intense or difficult, whether it’s the sheer volume of work or personal circumstances. And I’ve definitely had tough moments. The way I approach them is just to tell myself that this, too, will pass, and take it one day at a time.” — Marianne Lake

17.  “I am seeking the will of God, living one day at a time.” — Anita Bryant

18. “Living life one day at a time can be a great stress and anxiety reducer. Just being in the now instead of in the past or a possible future in your mind makes life lighter and simpler.” — Unknown

19. “Life turns on a dime… You’ve got to live by faith one day at a time.” — Eddie Guerrero

20. “Take life day by day and be grateful for the little things. Don’t get stressed over what you can’t control.” — Unknown

a young man walking down the road

21. “I’m trying to stay as calm as possible and focus one day at a time, but when reality sets in, I feel everything: anxiety, excitement, nerves, pressure, and joy.” — Shawn Johnson

22. “If you’re going through difficult times today, hold steady. It will change soon. If you are experiencing smooth sailing and easy times now, brace yourself. It will change soon. The only thing you can be certain of is change.” — James Dobson

23. “Hold on tight we’ll muddle through. One day at a time.” ― Gloria Estefan

24. “I can’t promise you that you’ll ever live in a world where people don’t hurt your feelings. But I can promise you that if you keep on moving and taking one day at a time, the opinions and words of people who hurt you will matter less and less to you.” — Taylor Swift

25. “No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with friends today, enjoy it and bless God for it.” — Henry Ward Beecher

a guy walking down a long road

26. “God meets our needs one day at a time.” — Max Lucado

27. “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

28. “Do your best, one day at a time. That’s good enough.” — Donna Goddard

29. “I am setting myself free one day at a time. I am loving myself in a way I deserve one day at a time. I am being truer to myself than ever before one day at a time. I am healing. I am deepening, I am living… One day at a time.” — S.C Lourie

30.  “Sail through the good days, and on bad days pick a spot of blue sky to steer toward.” — Richelle E. Goodrich

a man walking down the highway

Day By Day Quotes To Help You Reach Success

1. “Everybody is looking for instant success, but it doesn’t work that way. You build a successful life one day at a time.” — Lou Holtz

a man standing on a cliff representing taking one day at a time to succeed quote

2. “I’ll never worry about not being successful. I’ll just take it one day at a time, one season at a time. And play as hard as I can.” — Bo Jackson

3. “Big achievements come one small advantage at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time.” — Jim Rohn

4. “One of the best tips to build a good today is to focus only on today. That singular focus makes it a lot easier to find and create the success you want.” — Unknown

5. “Success happens one day at a time… Day after day… Consistency wins the race in the end…” — Brad Sugars

a guy standing on a cliff with clouds surrounding him

6. “A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day.  Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now — just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!” — Drew Brees

7. “Don’t look too far into the future, just look at tomorrow. One day at a time. Can you win tomorrow? Can you make progress? The answer is yes, you have a choice and tomorrow you’re going to win.” — Joe Wicks

8. “There’s no straighter road to success than exceeding expectations one day at a time.” ― Robin Crow

9. “To stay both focused and consistent with the action you take, go smaller. Take it one day at a time and nothing more than that.” — Unknown

10. “Often it’s the little, daily decisions — the ones you make hour by hour — that mean the difference between success and failure.” — Mary Kay Ash

a man with raised arms standing on a cliff

11. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier

12. “Do only one thing at a time. It is lazy people who want to do everything at once.” ― Vikrant Parsai

13. “A complex problem can be overwhelming, even when you’ve got your plan mapped out, but remember: the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Just focus on one small goal at a time.” ― Dr Anil Kr Sinha

14. “I believe everything has a solution, and I take it one day at a time or one thing at a time.” ― Lisa Vidal

15. “You don’t climb a mountain in one leap. Take small steps until you reach the top.” — Unknown

a guy on a cliff with raised hands

16. “One part at a time, one day at a time, we can accomplish any goal we set for ourselves.” — Karen Casey

17. “It’s just one day at a time. I love multi-tasking and I’m really organized and when you have a certain work ethic, which all the girls have, we all have that same thing going on.” — Kris Jenner

18. “When you get good at living your present moments one day at a time, you’ll see yourself changing right before your own surprised eyes.” — Anita Moorjani 

19. “I’m not like, overly anxious or nothing like that, because sometimes when you’re overly anxious it kind of brings a weird energy around and I just like to just take things one day at a time.” — Tory Lanez

20. “Every day is about growing and evolving, and each day I just take it one day at a time and embrace it as it comes.” — Trina 

a man standing on the peak of a cliff

21. “I’m just trying to really take it one day at a time, because for me — and I know this sounds cliche, whatever — I achieved my ultimate goal, and nothing can really top that, you know?” — Nastia Liukin

22. “I dare you to do it again tomorrow and the day after that until it becomes a part of you.” — Inky Johnson

23. “The best way to stay grounded is to take it one day at a time.” — Alessia Cara

24. “I believe that the plight of life and all existence is to master one’s self, you know, one day at a time.” — CeeLo Green

25. “It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis.” — James Clear

a guy with raised hands standing on a mountain over the clouds

26. “Take it one day at a time. Then break that day into small steps. Then focus only on getting the first step all the way to done. And then the next step. That’s how you get the things that matter done every day.” — Unknown

27. “We take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and whatever comes, comes.” — Dawn Wells

28. “I live one day at a time, enjoying the best of life, just living.” — Miguel Cotto

29. “The big things that come our way are the fruit of seeds planted in the daily routine of our work.” — William Feather

30. “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” — John Maxwell

a man standing on a stone cliff above the clouds

See also: 220 Best Proverbs About Success To Give You Inspiration

Quotes On Taking One Day At A Time To Strengthen You

1. “On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.” — Gregory S. Williams

a seedling in the desert

2. “I’m taking each day one day at a time, and building up my strength and endurance. It’s crazy because it takes no time at all to lose everything you have and then so much time to gain it back.” — Michelle McCool

3. “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” — Steve Maraboli

4. “The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.” — Mignon McLaughlin 

5. “Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” — Mother Teresa

a plant sprouting in the desert

6. “Where I am today… I still have my ups and downs, but I take it one day at a time and I just hope that I can be the best that I can possibly be, not only for myself, but also young people that are out there today that need someone to look up to.” — Demi Lovato

7. “Don’t let fear rule your life. Live one day at a time, and never be afraid.” — Tammy Faye Bakker

8. “You have to remember that the hard days are what make you stronger. The bad days make you realize what a good day is. If you never had any bad days, you would never have that sense of accomplishment.” — Aly Raisman

9. “I still follow that model: just go hard every day, and take it one step at a time.” — Ace Hood

10. “Take each day one step at a time, inch by inch if you have to, and when you fall down remember to look and see all the progress you have made.” — J.L. Hoyt

a seedling growing in the desert representing taking one step at a time quote

11. “There is magic in knocking down your most important domino day after day. All you have to do is avoid breaking the chain, one day at a time until you generate a powerful new habit in your life.” — Gary W. Keller

12. “I never really look back. I just approach life (taking) it one day at a time. I’m just really grateful.” — Katie Holmes

13. “Life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time.” — Nicholas Sparks

14. “Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.” — Yasmin Mogahed

15. “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong… I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” — Audrey Hepburn

a plant sprouting in desert sand

16. “The life I’ve been exposed to has let me know what step to take and how not to go back a step. I take life one day at a time, and I prepare myself for each one of those days.” — Chamique Holdsclaw

17. “Don’t try to change your life overnight. Just keep adding good things every day.” — Unknown

18. “I’m still growing I take each day, one day at a time. I’m always thinking and dreaming. As long as this heart keeps beating, there will be new things coming along.” — Roy Haynes

19. “You don’t look at the big problem all together, because I think it’s a little intimidating. So you just take it one day at a time, meet the people who are going to meet with you, for you, and who you’re going to work for, and really try to do the best job that you can. That’s all teamwork, and that’s what space travel is about.” — Sunita Williams

20. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” — Mary Anne Radmacher

a plant in the sand in desert

21. “One day at a time is all we do. One day at a time is good for you.” — John Lennon

22. “We can’t rewind the past, nor fast-forward the future, so today, all we can do is play, record, pause and keep moving, until something should press the stop button.” — Anthony Liccione

23. “Now I’m starting, relatively, to think straight again. I live one day at a time, one hour at a time. What makes it all worthwhile is my children.” — Paula Yates

24. “Today and right now is the day and time you have power over. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. So take things one day at a time and really focus on doing what you can today to improve upon your current situation.” — Unknown

25. “Feeling lost? Take a dream and convert it into small goals, then start taking the steps to hit those goals.” — Dave Ramsey

a growing plant in the hot desert

26. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

27. “You don’t have to solve your whole life overnight. All you have to do is focus on one small thing you can do today to get closer to where you want to be. Slowly and lightly, one step at a time, you can get there.” — Daniell Kopke

28. “Take things one moment at a time. That’s how things change — one moment, one day, one week, one month, one year at a time.” — Unknown

29. “Progress isn’t luck, it takes daily work. Take things one day at a time.” — Unknown

30. “You’re not going to master the rest of your life in one day. Just relax. Master the day. Then just keep doing that every day.” — Unknown

a growing seedling on a dry desert land

See also: 60 Inspirational You Are Stronger Than You Think Quotes

Wise One Day At A Time Quotes To Teach You Patience

1. “Everyone is lonely, we have to remember that life is to be lived one day at a time. You cannot worry about the past or future. Happiness is in the now.” — Claudia Gray

beach stones representing a wise quote on living a day at a time

2. “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” — Abraham Lincoln

3. “I try to live my life one day at a time, and if I look too far in advance, I get really stressed.” — Hope Solo

4. “A lot of things have been thrown at me in life, and I’ve got through it all without a rule book, taking it one day at a time.” — Yoko Ono

5. “I believe in past lives but I know nothing about mine and I don’t want to know. I live in the present, taking one day at a time.” — Uri Geller

a pile of stones on the beach

6. “The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived — not always looked forward to as though the “real” living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow.” — Elisabeth Elliot

7. “I never have planned a whole lot of future. It’s one day at a time.” — Darrell Royal

8. “Wholeheartedly do what it takes to awaken your clear-seeing intelligence, but one day at a time, one moment at a time. If we live that way, we will benefit this earth.” — Pema Chodron

9. “The future comes one day at a time [so don’t fear and try to solve all the worries and problems of the future today].”— Dean Acheson

10. “It won’t do you any good to run if you’re running the wrong way. I’ve developed a new philosophy…I only dread one day at a time.” — Charles M. Schulz

round beach stones pile

11. “Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.” — John Archibald Wheeler

12. “People aren’t evil and people aren’t good. They live how they can one day at a time. They come out of dust they go back to dust, dusty feet, no wings, and whose fault is that?” — Caryl Churchill

13. “Sometimes all you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe, and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” — Unknown

14. “This is my report on how to live… They say the best way is just to live one day at a time… If you try to live seven days at a time, the week will be over before you know it.” — Charles M. Schulz

15. “It’s a waste of time to think about what I should have done and what I didn’t… I live my life one day at a time.” ― Liza Minnelli

pebbles on the beach

16. “Live one day at a time, unless you can figure out how to live two.” — Dik Browne

17. “I just take things one day at a time. I’m just thankful that I have my legs, my arms, my eyes.” — Fantastic Negrito

18. “I am grateful for so much, that every day, one day at a time, is Thanksgiving.” — Andrew Zimmern

19. “My philosophy is to take one day at a time. I don’t worry about the future. Tomorrow is even out of sight for me.” — Bobby Darin

20. “Life is easier when you take it one day at a time and remember that nothing is permanent.” —  Lori Deschene

stones on a pebble beach

21. “I only think day by day. I’ve no huge plans for the future, I live one day at a time.” — Rui Patricio

22. “If people just took it a day at a time, they’d be a lot happier.” — Richard Bachman 

23. “I try not to worry about the future — so I take each day just one anxiety attack at a time.” — Tom Wilson

24. “Live one day at a time emphasizing ethics rather than rules.” — Wayne Dyer

25. “I believe that the best way to prepare for a future life is to be kind, live one day at a time, and do the work you can do best, doing it as well as you can.” — Elbert Hubbard

balanced pile of pebbles

26. “The one thing we know about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.” — Jeff Rich

27. “I’m still growing; I take each day, one day at a time.” — Roy Haynes

28. “I’ve always approached my career and my life, you know, one day at a time, as if this was the last day that I’m going, because you never know as an athlete and as a dancer. You never know what can happen today, tomorrow.” — Misty Copeland

29. “How do you shoot a 150-day movie? You shoot it one day at a time.” — David Fincher

30. “Some people drift through their entire life. They do it one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time.” — Mary Kay Ash

beach stones piled

Summing Up

I hope my collection of one day at a time quotes has reminded you that each day presents us with a new chance to live our life to the fullest, one step at a time.

Take the chance and carpe diem!

160 Best One Day At A Time Quotes To Inspire Your Journey