As the title of the book states in the image above: Small habits = big change or results.
We Are Creatures of Habits
We are creatures of habit, which is why it is easy to engage in both beneficial and less beneficial habits continually. Every day we are making decisions based on habit, and it’s tough to change a habit you’ve implemented for the long haul.
One of my goals is to stretch daily. Usually, I do, but other times, I don’t. The more days I take off from stretching, the harder it becomes to get back going again. Do you know why? Because a new habit forms when you take time away from a habit: the habit of not doing it; this applies to anything and everything.
For example, if you live a healthy lifestyle, you consciously (or subconsciously) making healthy living a habit you live by. If you stop working out for months on end, you’ve developed a new habit: the habit of not working out.
Small Change = Gigantic Results Overtime
If you want to change anything in your life, start with a small change.
Examples of Small Changes
Let’s say you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but you want to stop. You can start by decreasing the amount you smoke to one less cigarette a week until finally, it’s gone altogether.
Let’s say you want to save 25% of your income, and currently, you save zero. Well, you can start saving 1% of your income each week or month until you reach 25%.
Let’s say you want to publish a book or article each day. Well, start with one book/article a month. Then, move up to one book/article every 3 weeks, 2 weeks, weekly, 5 days, 3 days, 2 days, and then daily.
Let’s say you want to lose 80 pounds, and you eat out daily. Well, you can start eating out 1 less day per week until you’re down to 2 or 3 days. And you can make a pact with yourself: each day you eat out, you workout.
Let’s say you tend to fly off the handle with your anger every time something doesn’t go your way. Well, you can read one page of an anger management book each day, which will eventually take root in your mental, later translating to transformative action.
Let’s say you want a raise at your job. Well, you can start applying yourself by getting certifications, taking relevant courses, and seeking opportunities to improve your organization. Over time, you will be noticed, but if not, you have prepared your resume to be strong enough to find another job that will notice you and compensate you for your newly acquired expertise.
Personal Example
I don’t stretch 30–60 minutes per day. Sometimes, I don’t even stretch for 3 minutes. But I usually stretch daily for at least 30 seconds — 2 minutes, which adds up over the long haul. Sometimes, I stretch for even longer, but I’m more content with stretching daily than getting in a long stretch session a couple of days a week.
The point is to stretch daily to reap the health results, and my body feels less tense, more balanced, and more relaxed. Consistency (stretching daily) always trumps sporadic and lengthy stretching (15+ minute stretching sessions here and there).
Final Thoughts
It’s all about making small changes here, people. You don’t need to take massive action because sometimes it’s not realistic. But what is realistic is small change.
We can all implement small changes. Stop being lazy, look at your goals and the changes you want to make in your life, and get started with 1% changes each day. It’s not hard to change.
Learn More About Me — Destiny S. Harris
Destiny S. Harris is a writer, poet, entrepreneur, teacher, and techie who offers free books daily on amazon. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or @ destinyh.com