157 One Day at a Time Quotes to Live By
Updated November 12, 2023
If today is challenging and you find yourself wondering, “How can I get through this day?” reading through these one day at a time quotes is a great place to start.
I will also include some tips at the end to help!
Are you living your life to the fullest?
Have you ever wondered where the term “one day at time comes from?”
It is a belief from AA that each individual has 24 hours of sobriety.
It can apply to any challenge and can become a personal mantra for anybody who is trying to live their best life!
These quotes help put everything in perspective and can help you focus on living life to the fullest!
Our inspirational quotes category page has all of our motivational quotes for all the different areas of life.
One day at a time quotes about the future
Look forward to the future with the help of these quotes.
1. “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” — Abraham Lincoln
2. “I never have planned a whole lot of future. It’s one day at a time.” — Darrell Royal
3. “Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.” — Dean Acheson
4. “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
5. “I’m just taking it one day at a time. Actually, that’s a total lie. I always think about what’s in front of me.” — Julianne Hough
6. “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
7. “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
Quotes to help you focus on one day at a time
Let the following quotes keep you motivated to push past challenges by focusing on each individual day.
8. “Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.” — John Archibald Wheeler
9. “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
10. “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
11. “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
One day at a time quotes about success and winning
Success doesn’t come all at once as shown in the following quotes.
12. “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
13. “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
14. “You just try to take it one day at a time… You step on the basketball floor and just play. It’s fun. I’m comfortable with it.” — Kobe Bryant
15. When you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week or a month from now — just think about one day at a time.” — Drew Brees
Stay motivated to win with these quotes
Focus on one day at a time to achieve your dreams with the help of the following quotes.
16. “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
17. “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 Chödrön
18. “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
19. “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
Motivational one day at a time quotes
If you need motivation to keep going day-by-day, these quotes will help.
20. “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
21. “One day at a time is all we do. One day at a time is good for you.” — John Lennon
22. “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
23. “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
24. “I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.” — Charles M. Schulz
25. “Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece.” — Dale West
More motivational one day at a time quotes
Stay motivated to achieve your dreams with the following quotes.
26. “I believe in one day at a time; you’ve got TODAY, that’s what you’ve got.” — Al Pacino
27. “Life is like an ice-cream cone; you have to lick it one day at a time.” — Charles M. Schulz
28. “Life’s so full that you just take it one day at a time.” — Sheryl Crow
29. “I just live one day at a time.” — Rick James
30. “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
31. “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
32. “My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?” — Rafael Nadal
33. “Live one day at a time, unless you can figure out how to live two.” — Dik Browne
34. “Take one day at a time. Allow yourself to change.” — Paul Henderson
One day at a time quotes to inspire you
Stay focused on the present day with the following quotes.
35. “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
36. “Live one day at a time, and never be afraid.” — Tammy Faye Bakker
37. “I try to take it one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.” — Ashleigh Brilliant
38. “Take life one day at a time because every day is a different day with new challenges.” — Penny Streeter
39. “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
40. “How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time.” — Fred Brooks
41. “I’ve been sober now for a couple of years, and I’m taking my sobriety very seriously – one day at a time, and I am moving forward in my career.” — Daniel Baldwin
42. “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
43. “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
Inspirational take one day at a time quotes
Let go of stress about the future, with the following quotes reminding you to live each day at a time.
44. “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
45. “We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches.” — Darrell Royal
46. “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
47. “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
48. “I still find it almost impossible to relax for more than one day at a time.” — Gene Kelly
49. “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
50. “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
More one day at a time quotes and sayings
Be encouraged for your life journey with the following quotes.
51. “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
52. “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
53. “Take life on life’s terms – one day at a time. And have fun while you’re doing it.” — Joe Perry
54. “Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten, so write a beautiful story one day at a time.” ― Natasha Bedingfield
55. “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
Quotes for living each day in the present
Don’t stay stuck in the past or leery of the future with the following quotes.
56. “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
57. “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
58. “Saving lives, one day at a time, just like always.” — Spencer Smith
59. “Live one day at a time, emphasizing ethics rather than rules.” — Wayne Dyer
60. “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
61. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” — Mitch Albom
62. “Live one day at a time; better yet, make the most of this moment.” — Joel Osteen
63. “I still follow that model: just go hard every day, and take it one step at a time.” — Ace Hood
64. “I try not to worry about the future – so I take each day just one anxiety attack at a time.” — Tom Wilson
65. Big achievements come one small advantage at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time.” — Jim Rohn
One day at a time quotes about life
66. “Who knows, I have always lived one day at a time. Probably more adventure and excitement.” — Rob Mariano
67. “I take one day at a time. I’ve always been like that.” — Katherine Kelly
68. “Every morning brings new potential, but it’s up to you to make the most of it. Seize the day and make it count one step at a time.” ― Mary Kay Ash
69. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
70. “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
71. “You have to take things one day at a time.” — Walter Payton
72. “I’m still growing; I take each day, one day at a time.” — Roy Haynes
73. “Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” — Carl Sandberg
74. “If you try to live seven days at a time, the week will be over before you know it.” — Charles M. Schulz
75. “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
76. “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
Proof that ‘One day at a time’ works with nearly every situation
If you think this advice doesn’t apply to you, read the following quotes and think again.
77. “I keep my life to one day at a time.” — Paul Merson
78. “I’m like a recovering perfectionist. For me, it’s one day at a time.” — Brene Brown
79. “I just wrote one song at a time. Kinda like an alcoholic. One day at a time.” — Neil Young
80. “The way to deal with the devil of obesity and diabetes is literally one day at a time.” — Stephen Furst
81. “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
82. “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
‘One day at a time’ for nearly every situation
The following quotes remind you to keep pushing forward each day.
83. “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
84. “Where I am today… I still have my ups and downs, but I take it one day at a time, and I 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
85. “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
86. “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
One day at a time quotes about slowing down
Slow down and focus on the present moment with the help of these quotes.
87. “I take my work one day at a time.” — Smriti Irani
88. “I am seeking the will of God, living one day at a time.” — Anita Bryant
89. “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
90. “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
91. “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
92. “There’s only one day at a time here, then it’s tonight, and then tomorrow will be today again.” — Bob Dylan
93. “Especially in this league, you can have a tendency to look ahead, but really, it’s about one taking one day at a time, one game at a time.” — Sean McVay
94. “I just take things one day at a time. I’m just thankful that I have my legs, my arms, my eyes.” — Fantastic Negrito
95. “One day at a time is all we should be dealing with. The past is gone, the future is uncertain.” ― Diane Feinstein
96. “How do you shoot a 150-day movie? You shoot it one day at a time.” — David Fincher
One day at a time quotes to make life manageable
Life becomes more manageable when we focus on one day at a time.
97. “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Focus on the present, take it one day at a time, and savor each moment.” ― Allen Saunders
98. “I am grateful for so much that every day, one day at a time, is Thanksgiving.” — Andrew Zimmern
99. “I have always been the kind of guy who just takes it one day at a time.” —Khris Middleton
100. “I only think day by day. I’ve no huge plans for the future; I live one day at a time.” — Rui Patricio
101. “I’m just taking it one day at a time. Actually, one night at a time. I’m not usually up during the day.” — William Belli
102. “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
103. “The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.” — Mignon McLaughlin
104. “If people just took it a day at a time, they’d be a lot happier.” — Richard Bachman
105. “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
106. “Do your best, one day at a time. That’s good enough.” -Donna Goddard
One Day at a Time Quotes To Help You Push Through
When things get tough, remind yourself of the following quotes.
106. “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
107. “Life at its essence boils down to one day at a time. Today is the day!” ― Jim Stovall
108. “Hold on tight; we’ll muddle through. One day at a time.” ― Gloria Estefan
109. “Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” ― Billy Graham
110. “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
111. “There’s no straighter road to success than exceeding expectations one day at a time.” ― Robin Crow
112. “Do one thing at a time and do that one thing as if your life depended upon it.” ― Eugene Grace
113. “Do only one thing at a time. It is lazy people who want to do everything at once.” ― Vikrant Parsai
114. “I believe everything has a solution, and I take it one day at a time or one thing at a time.” ― Lisa Vidal
115. “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
One Day AT A Time Quotes To Improve Your Life
The following quotes will inspire you to make changes and improve your life.
116. “You can only do things one day at a time… Sometimes… that’s the only way you can get through it.” — Deborah Crombie
117. “Life turns on a dime… You’ve got to live by faith one day at a time.” — Eddie Guerrero
118. “Success happens one day at a time… Day after day… Consistency wins the race in the end…” — Brad Sugars
119. “Life is easier when you take it one day at a time and remember that nothing is permanent.” — Lori Deschene
120. “One part at a time, one day at a time, we can accomplish any goal we set for ourselves.” — Karen Casey
121. “I never really look back. I just approach life (taking) it one day at a time. I’m just really grateful.” — Katie Holmes
123. “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
124. “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
125. “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
126. “We take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and whatever comes, comes.” — Dawn Wells
One Day at a Time To Give You Patience in Life
Things won’t always be easy, but they feel easier to handle when you focus on a small part at a time.
127. “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
128. “It’s just one day at a time. I love multitasking, 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
129. “I just take it one day at a time. Austin Powers has given me a lot of opportunities as far as my career.” — Verne Troyer
130. 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
131. “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
Things won’t always be easy, but they feel easier to handle when you focus on a small part at a time.
132. “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
133. “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
134. “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
135. “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
One Day At A Time Quotes To Relieve You Pressure
136. “I’m very much a ‘one day at a time’ kind of guy.” — Kane
137. “This country was founded on a promise of equal rights for all, and we have always managed to move closer to that promise, little by little, one day at a time. It may not be easy – but we’ll get there together.” — Loretta Lynch
138. “For me, trying the NFL and trying this football thing, because of the home and what I went through in there, to me, it was no big deal. It was just another opportunity for me. I didn’t see that bigger, grandiose picture of it, I just took it one day at a time, like how I took it in the group home.” — Jimmy Graham
139. “This game is very humbling and you have to take it one pitch at a time, one day at a time and compete.” — Alex Bregman
140. “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up and take small steps toward them every day.” ― Jordin Sparks
141. “I only take one ball and one day at a time, and if you think like that, you don’t feel pressure at all.” — Jasprit Bumrah
142. “I remember I told my mom that I was scared. I asked her, how will I talk to everyone in English? And my mom gave me a dictionary, where I learned one day at a time.” — apl.de.ap
143. “I am a really quiet person. I just like to be with my children and my family and being home. I live one day at a time, enjoying the best of life, just living.” — Miguel Cotto
144. “Anybody who has cancer, they take it one day at a time.” — Jim Kelly
145. “I just try and take it one day at a time and that’s been helping me out a lot, not thinking ahead too far, not thinking about yesterday, just focusing on what I need to get done throughout the day.” — Marvin Bagley III
One Day At A Time Quotes Give You Hope
146. “I’m trying to learn, as I’m in my 40s, to embrace what I’ve been able to achieve and be proud of it. And I know there’s roles that I will want to play before I die, but I’m still just taking one day at a time.” — Kristin Chenoweth
147. “I barely have time to think. But the best way to stay grounded is to take it one day at a time.” — Alessia Cara
148. “It’s not just about getting a song on the radio or appearing on television. It really is about helping people change their lives one day at a time.” — Yolanda Adams
149. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Take it one day at a time, and stay true to yourself.” ― Steve Jobs
150. “Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” ― Earl Nightingale
151. “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
152. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
153. “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
154. “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
155. “Life is simply a collection of little lives, each lived one day at a time.” — Nicholas Sparks
156. “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” ― Buddha
157. “The best way to predict the future is to create it one day at a time.” ― Peter Drucker
What did you learn from these one day at time quotes?
Are you ready to start living your life one day at a time?
Here are some simple steps that you can start doing right now!
First, set achievable daily goals, and then celebrate when you complete them.
Try keeping a journal.
Don’t just go through the same motions every day.
We are on this earth to live, not just survive our current hardships.
What makes you happy?
What feels like a waste of time?
Prioritize the things that are important to you and be grateful for all you have.
What’s your biggest takeaway from these inspiring one day at time quotes?
Do you have any tips on how to live one day at a time?
Drop them in the comment section below!
