Big results start with small changes. And every little action you take right now affects your future and who you become.
That’s an important thing to keep in mind.
Often people underestimate small changes, steps, achievements or else, just because of their size. But when combined, they transform our whole life in the long-term.
Avoiding sweets just for this one meal may not seem like a big thing for you. But do it many times, and you can lose weight and fix your eating habits without even realizing.
That’s the power of incremental change.
It happens over time, it requires patience and dedication. But the winners in life stick to it instead of indulging in activities and habits that only bring instant gratification.
If you too want to make the most of that powerful law of life, but don’t know where to start, here are some examples of easy adjustments you can try today for a better you in the near future:
10 Small Changes for Big Results
1. Write down your to-do list the night before.
That takes no more than 5 minutes but will save you so much time and worries tomorrow. Do it in the evening and you can get to work first thing in the morning and thus build momentum.
2. Get rid of one thing you own.
Donate, give to a friend or throw away something you haven’t used in a long time. Just one thing.
Then, do it again in a few days. This way you’ll get used to the idea of eliminating stuff instead of getting more of them and will see that you feel freer without them.
You’ll also realize that you’ve been too attached to some of your belongings and that wasn’t good for your personal and spiritual growth.
3. Floss after you brush your teeth for like 10 seconds.
Do it once in the morning for a start.
You’re using a habit you’ve already developed – brushing your teeth after waking up – to build a new one. That makes it easier to achieve without feeling like you’re making a change.
In the long-term, you’ll improve your oral health, your smile will look better and healthier and you may even have to visit the dentist less often if you make it a habit to floss after each meal.
4. Write down a few sentences in the morning.
Morning pages are a creative success habit that people add to their morning rituals. It serves as a therapy, journal and self-improvement technique.
But those who aren’t really into writing, especially first thing in the morning, can start super small – by just writing down a sentence or a few on a piece of paper (which ideally you will have placed next to your bed the night before).
Soon you’ll find yourself completing a whole page effortlessly. And will feel the many other benefits of morning pages like clearing your mind, becoming more productive, getting to know yourself better and expressing yourself more easily in writing and in real life. There are also health benefits to that.
5. Read one paragraph before you go to sleep.
Reading is still one of the best ways to get inspired, move your brain and learn new things. Plus, it’s a great thing to do that helps you fall asleep faster.
Choose a nice book on personal development, a biography of someone you admire, or even fiction if it makes you feel good and you can read between the lines. Don’t read it online thought as it will ruin your sleep.
Start with one paragraph today if reading isn’t something you do regularly. Once you get used to it, read a few pages.
This way you’ll finish one book in no time too.
6. Say no.
Most people do many unnecessary things daily, constantly do favors for other people and spend time with them when they don’t want to, or accept offers just because they don’t want to seem rude and offend someone.
Enough of that. It’s preventing you from doing what you should be doing and making the best use of your time. Plus, over time people start using you more and more.
So say no to something you’d usually say yes. Notice the resistance in the beginning and let go of it. Simply say no. You’ll feel like you own the other person an explanation, but you really don’t.
Doing it once will show you it’s possible and you’ll feel more comfortable doing it a second and a third time.
Soon others will respect you more, you’ll have a higher opinion of yourself and will be selective when saying yes or no.
7. Stop and look around.
We’re always busy, or thinking about the past or planning the future. And as a result we forget to live in the present moment.
But you can become more mindful by learning to stop every now and then, to just look around and breathe deeply. That’s a simple technique that gets you back to the present and lets you pay attention to what’s going on.
8. Track your time.
In the end of the day, or after each activity or task, write everything down. Together with how long it took and how you feel about it.
It takes no time. But lets you see the bigger picture of how you spend your time and whether or not you’re productive.
If you review it and see what can be improved, you’ll notice that some activities during the day can be eliminated while you should be paying more attention to others.
Related: How to Do a Weekly Review in Under an Hour
9. Drink a glass of water right after you wake up.
Most people usually don’t drink enough water and use the excuse of not knowing when to do it.
So start from the moment you leave bed. That’s great for your health as it awakes your metabolism and gets it going.
The productive individuals who live a healthy lifestyle even say they drink a whole liter of water before breakfast.
10. Put everything back after using it.
When you take something, put it back there when you don’t need it anymore.
That’s a simple organization habit that helps you keep things in order. And you’ll be less likely to search for something because you forgot where you put it.
All these small changes are not only tiny, but also simple and don’t cost you anything. Start doing them today and see how they will improve the quality of your life.
What other little tricks and small changes like these do you know of? Share them in the comments below.