We often look for something big when we try to make a difference in our lives. But that’s rarely necessary. All you really need is to find and implement small habits into your life.
Let’s have a look at what small habits are, why they matter, and 26 small behaviors that make a big difference in your life.
What is a small habit
A habit is a behavior that has been through the habit loop often enough to become unconscious and automatic. These can have a positive, neutral, or negative impact on your long-term health and potential. They can be either simple or complex.
Small habits are simple habits. They are quick to perform and often require no more than 1-2 steps.
Why small habits make a big difference on your life
Good small habits can make a big difference in your life in several ways. Let’s have a look at the 2 most important reasons why.
1. Provides small wins
The key reason why small habits can make such a big difference in your life is that they provide something called small wins.
You get a small win when you do something good or overcome something difficult. These small wins are crucial for feeling good about yourself and reaching any goal.
2. The behavior itself is beneficial
When you have a good habit, it contributes positively to your life. It’s no different with small habits.
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator brings you closer to getting in shape. Spending 5 minutes of writing brings you closer to finishing the project. Reading just one page brings you closer to finishing the book.
It might not look like these small habits are bringing you much closer to reaching a goal or becoming a better person. But they are. When they’re done consistently, they’ll accumulate, and you’ll get much further than if you never did anything.
27 small habits that make a big impact on your life
Now that we know what small habits are and why they’re so important, we can have a look at some small habits that can change your life. Below are 27 small habits that make a big impact on your life.
Related: The best habits for self-improvement
1. Make your bed
Making your bed in the morning gives you the opportunity to start each day with a small win. Take this win and continue your day with discipline and good decisions.
2. Keep only the essentials on your to-do list
A messy to do list is doomed to never be finished. Keep only the essentials on your list and make an effort to complete it.
3. Give yourself deadlines
It’s difficult to do anything if there is no end date on it. Give yourself deadlines and watch your productivity soar.
4. Avoid social media breaks
There’s nothing wrong with occasionally scrolling through social media. However, it can be a problem if that’s how you chose to spend your down time. Give yourself time to rest and recover. Allow yourself to be bored occasionally.
5. Read one page every day
Constant learning is essential for continuous growth. Reading one page a day might not seem like much, but it’ll have a huge impact over time.
Related: How to read more
6. Keep a clean bedroom
Sleep is crucial for staying sharp during the day. Keep your bedroom clean to give yourself the best conditions to start each day well rested.
7. Take the stairs when possible
A simple way to get more exercise is to take the stairs whenever possible.
8. Get more steps every day
The optimal here would be to get 8000-10,000 steps every day, however, this isn’t realistic for everyone. Instead, aim to slowly increase your step count. You can do this in several ways, such as taking the parking spot the furthest from the entrance or walking instead of taking the bus.
9. Say no when you want to say no
Doing things you don’t want to do is draining. It can take all your energy and leave nothing for the things that truly matter. Remember, you don’t owe anyone anything. What really matters, is you.
10. Get more sleep
Get enough sleep. Aim to get 7-9 hours every night.
Related: The best habits to get better sleep
11. Stop snoozing
Snoozing might feel pleasant in the moment but does nothing good for you. It can make you more tired throughout the day. Stop snoozing and see if you don’t feel more energized.
If you struggle to do this, leave you alarm away from the bed, forcing you to get up.
12. Get up a bit earlier than you need to
How you start the day will dictate how you feel the rest of the day. Give yourself time to eat breakfast, and relax in the morning, even if it means that you get up a bit earlier than you have to.
Related: How to create the perfect morning routine
13. Limit your need to make decisions
Every decision you make requires energy and can leave you drained if you have to take too many. Try to limit your need to take decision by taking them beforehand or refrain from taking meaningless decisions.
14. Prepare for your difficult habits the day before
The more steps you have to take from where you are now until a difficult habit begins, the less likely you’ll be to complete it. Prepare the day, and make sure that it takes no more than 20 seconds to begin.
15. Prepare lunch the day before
Food is fuel, and you can’t perform without putting the right things in your body. When you prepare your own lunch, you decide what you eat, and it’ll be easier to take the good decisions.
16. Drink enough water
Dehydration can have several side effects including, fatigue, brain fog, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and much more. Luckily, there’s an easy solution. To drink more water.
17. Meditate more
Meditation is one of the best habits you can have, and it can be quite simple. Take a couple of minutes every day to sit with yourself. Breath, feel your body, and be present. It can be that simple.
18. Get out in nature
This might not be possible for everyone, but if it is, I recommend trying to get out and enjoy nature every day.
19. Cut back on caffeine
Getting caffeine occasionally might wake you up but doing it too often will leave you dependent and more tired. Cut back or remove it completely and feel your natural energy return.
20. Do the small tasks straight away
If you can do a task in less than 2 minutes, do it straight away. It’ll shorten your to-do list and leave you with time for the important work.
21. Write down your thought every night
Journaling is another great habit that can be done in a simple and quick way. Take 2-3 minutes every night to write down everything that’s on your mind. It’ll leave you with less mental clutter and prepared for a good night’s sleep.
22. Limit the news you read
News is created to invoke a feeling in you, in most of these are related to fear. Limit the amount of news you read, and only focus on those that matter to you.
23. Celebrate the small wins
Every day is filled with small wins. Celebrate them and use them to propel you towards a better life.
24. Remove unnecessary distractions that doesn’t provide happiness
If something isn’t making you better or happier, why would you hold onto it?
25. Don’t stay in bed when you wake up
Staying in bed after your alarm rings, will make you more tired throughout the day, and increase the risk of your morning becoming stressful. It can also make it harder to fall asleep at night. Get up as soon as possible and start your day.
26. Avoid spending time in bed during the day
Spending time in bed is comfortable but it might hurt your sleep. Teach your body that lying in bed means sleeping, and it’ll drastically improve.
27. Never miss two days in a row
Every body misses a day once in a while. That doesn’t hurt your progress but how you respond will. Don’t beat yourself up but get back the next day as if nothing happened. Never let yourself miss two days in a row.
Sum up
Small habits can make a big impact on your life when you let them accumulate. Start implementing some of the habits mentioned in this article and change your life.
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