When you think about making changes in your life, what is your first reaction?
Is it overwhelm? Do you think : “I don’t know where to start”, “I can’t stick to it”, “There are too many things I want to change”, “I’m not disciplined enough”, “I don’t know how”.
We have been misled into believing that changing your life means you have to do a huge overhaul, all at once, of everything in your life. And that will feel overwhelming for anyone, even a seasoned goal-setter like myself.
So how do you create lasting changing so that you can start experiencing the life you want to live as the best version of yourself?
By creating small, intentional changes in your habits. Here’s how.
The Power of Small Daily Habits
When we think about changing our lives, we often imagine massive overhauls—quitting our jobs, moving to a new city, or adopting an entirely new lifestyle overnight. But the truth is, real transformation happens through small, consistent, daily habits.
Tiny daily actions, done repeatedly, have a compounding effect over time. For example:
Drinking one extra glass of water each day might not seem like much, but over time, it leads to better hydration, increased energy, and improved overall health.
Reading just 10 pages a day might feel insignificant, but in a year, that adds up to 3,650 pages—equivalent to 12+ books!
The key isn’t dramatic, unsustainable, overwhelming changes. It’s about small, intentional, daily habits that, over time, create major transformations.
Step 1: Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with habit-building is perfectionism. We believe that if we can’t do something perfectly, we might as well not do it at all. But that mindset keeps us stuck in a cycle where we get frustrated for not being able to stick to it and making the necessary changes in our lives.
The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to be consistent. Even a 1% improvement every day adds up to 37 times better results in a year. Small progress, repeated consistently, leads to exponential growth.
🔹 Mindset Shift: Instead of asking, “Did I do this perfectly?” ask, “Did I show up today, even in a small way?”
Step 2: Choose Tiny, High-Impact Habits
You don’t need an elaborate morning routine or a 10-step self-care plan to change your life. Instead, pick small but powerful habits that fit naturally into your daily routine and that are aligned with what you are trying to achieve and create in your life.
Here are a few high-impact micro-habits that require less than five minutes but can create profound changes:
5 minutes of journaling → Increases self-awareness and clarity.
Taking a few deep breath before responding in a stressful situation → Helps regulate emotions and improves communication.
Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning → Boosts hydration and kickstarts digestion.
Writing down three things you’re grateful for → Trains your brain to focus on positivity.
Spending 2 minutes stretching → Improves flexibility, posture, and energy levels.
Small actions, when done daily, lead to huge long-term results while building momentum and energy that will keep you motivated and will help you continue and stay consistent with more changes you want to make.
The secret is about empowering yourself and building the evidence that you CAN make changes happen and the missing key was about how you were going about trying to make those changes.
Step 3: Habit Stacking – Make It Easy
One of the best ways to create a lasting habit is through habit stacking—attaching a new habit to an existing one. This makes it automatic and effortless to maintain.
🔹 How It Works: Find something you already do daily, and attach a new habit to it.
Here are a few examples:
While waiting for your coffee to brew, write down three things you’re grateful for.
After brushing your teeth, spend two minutes stretching.
Before checking your phone in the morning, take three deep breaths to set a mindful tone for the day.
By linking a new habit to an existing one, you remove the need for willpower—your environment will naturally remind you to do it.
Step 4: Be Patient – Change Takes Time
In today’s world, we expect instant results. But real, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight—it happens through small, consistent effort over weeks and months.
If you don’t see results right away, don’t quit. Trust the process. A tiny habit may not feel like it’s making a difference today, but in six months, you’ll look back and realize how much has changed.
🔹 Reminder: The goal isn’t to see instant change—it’s to become the type of person who consistently shows up for their future self.
What Habit Will You Start Today?
The smallest habits often lead to the biggest transformations. Whether it’s drinking more water, journaling for a few minutes, or taking a deep breath before reacting, the key is to start.
So, what’s one small habit you can commit to today? Here are a few action items to get you started:
What’s one small habit that will have the biggest impact on your overall well-being?
Break down the habit:
What is the habit? (i.e. 5 minutes of journaling)
When will you do the habit? (i.e. every morning)
With what other habit will you stack it with? (i.e. while drinking my morning coffee)
What can you prepare ahead of time to make it easy to show up and do the habit? (i.e. leave your journal and a pen in the spot where you usually drink your coffee)
What reminders will you use to do the habit? (i.e. leaving your journal and pen out will serve as a visual reminder, and you can also set a reminder on your phone that will automatically pop up at the time you want to be journaling).
Keep repeating the above strategy as you implement more habits in your life and most importantly, start paying attention to how much better you are feeling as you are being more intentional with the small changes you are making over time. Watch the positive effects compound and affect your overall happiness and well-being.
Want More Clarity on the Small Changes That Will Have the Biggest Impact?
If you’re ready to identify the key areas in your life that need small shifts, my Life Audit Workbook can help.
This free guided workbook will help you:
✅ Identify areas where you feel stuck or unfulfilled
✅ Pinpoint the small, high-impact habits that will create real change
✅ Set goals that align with what truly matters to you
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