Micro habits that will transform “you”
Change is not something that everyone embraces on the first go but sometimes, it transforms your life. The type of change that most people neglect but has a huge impact on their lives are micro changes. Micro habits are those small habits you can add to your day-to-day schedule without aggressively affecting your routine. These changes don’t happen immediately, they happen over a long term. They are more sustainable, and if they’re specific enough, can lead to mindset shifts.
James Clear, the best-selling author of Atomic Habits wrote, “Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.” Micro habits can relate to any aspect of your life and there’s simply no restriction on where and when to adopt these tiny shifts. If you want to transform your life, start with some of these micro habits:
What makes you happy and the kind of life you want to live
Most people don’t even realise what kind of life they want to live for a very long time. You must make it a habit to find out what you want, and then constantly make conscious efforts to get there. It’s better not to end up like a lost sheep, following wherever the crowd is going. Maintaining journals and planning out your goals is something that you must do every few months.
Daily planners and task lists
Another micro habit that you would want to build is the habit of planning. A lot of us only plan our weekends, dinners, and leisure time, but not our lives. To live a proactive life, you need to have a plan, else you will end up becoming a part of other people’s plans. You don’t need to wait for things to happen. Instead, you make things happen. Becoming conscious of the things you want will help build the habit of planning. If you want to improve and change your life, start planning your day, week, month, year, and even your life.
Take that step, even if it isn’t easy
Yes, develop the habit of taking action. You don’t have to make big and bold changes but commit to taking one small step each day. Understand that success is created through small, continuous actions, and not through one big decision or action. Extraordinary people like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Richard Branson, etc., didn’t achieve their success overnight. No matter how big your goal is, you can get there by taking one step at a time and by committing to make consistent progress each day.
Pursue an active lifestyle
Exercising and having a healthy body are one of the most important keys to success. It doesn’t just improve your health, it also improves your mood, attitude, and mental power. Do you know what people like Barrack Obama, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Mark Cuban have in common. They exercise regularly before they start their day.
Start reading
If you want to bring a positive change to your life, you must adopt the habit of constantly improving yourself. And the easiest way to do so is to read books or just start with anything that interests you. Make it a habit to read every day, even if it is just 15 minutes a day.
Take time to do what you enjoy
Making time for your hobbies and things that you are passionate about is the answer to living a more fulfilling life. We all need time to recharge and refresh. Why? Because success is a marathon, not a sprint. Hence, making time to recharge yourself by doing things that will make your heart sing is integral to the process.
Spend time with those who motivate and inspire you
Haven’t you heard that you become who you spend the most time with? Therefore, if you want to improve and change your life, change the people you spend time with. Build relationships, whether it is with people you care about like your family members, or with those who will benefit your business. Make time to build and grow relationships as it helps in the long run.
Celebrate your wins
Always celebrate your wins, even if they are small. Develop the habit to feel great and praise yourself for all the progress you have made. It is said that the more you celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
Gratitude
Why do we want to feel grateful for everything that life has provided us? Because when you are grateful, you are happier. So, let’s make it a habit to practice gratefulness and appreciate everything that you have in your life. And how does one do it? It’s simple! You can express your gratitude by simply thinking or writing about the things you are grateful for.
Turn off notifications
“Me time is the best time. This is the best time that you can have. Block a period during the day/night to just be you — uninterrupted by emails, phone calls, texts, and social media updates. Try this and watch your productivity soar.
What’s your stress mantra?
Stress is inevitable, whether it’s work, home life, or even as a result of current affairs. Keep a short mantra to recite quietly to yourself when things get stressful. Something like, things happen for good. Something good always comes out. Anything that can calm you down will help.
Get that fresh air
This sounds easy, but with more and more people working from home, spending time outside is a rare occurrence. Whatever the weather, fresh air can offer a few moments of relaxation, relieve stress, and a different perspective. Getting outdoors can be effective if you’re struggling to come to a decision.
Sometimes saying “no” is what you need
While there are many benefits to being the “always says yes person”, remember that your daily energy reserves are limited, and you should practice saying no to things that don’t serve you or your long-term goals. This micro habit is particularly effective for productivity because you end up redirecting that time to work on your vision. With time and practice, you’ll become comfortable with the idea of only giving your time to things that truly serve you.
Eat one less unhealthy snack
You don’t need to completely overhaul your diet and perfect every single thing on your plate. Focus on foregoing that one unhealthy choice. Just one!
Drink one more glass of water
Focus on drinking one more litre. When that becomes a part of your routine, add that another litre.
Prioritising how you feel and what you want is what led you here. So, commit to making choices for the benefit of your future self. You’re already one step closer to changing your life, one micro-step at a time.
