Are you looking for a fresh start in your life? All you need to do is adopt a few small changes and you’ll be well on your way!
I’m about to say something radical to some of you. I’m not making a New Year’s resolution this year. I know! Gasp! New Year’s resolutions have worked pretty well for me in the past, so I’m not anti-resolutions. I just want to try something new and different this year.
Instead of focusing on one resolution this year, I want to make several small changes to give me a fresh start in the new year. I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed this year with changes to my work schedule and increased kid activity time commitments and just plain old life stuff. Small changes just seem more achievable and impactful this year. Ain’t nobody got time for a big project.
If you’re feeling similarly overwhelmed or you just want to spread your self-improvement energy around a bit, you might also want to ditch the big new year’s resolution for several small changes too. I’m sharing the small changes I’m making this year – I hope they give you inspiration and that you give me accountability!
Small Changes
Snooze button
I have gotten into a terrible habit first thing every morning. The snooze button. I used to NEVER hit the snooze button. The alarm would go off, I would get out of bed and start my day. Over the last year, though, I have been hitting the snooze button almost every morning. And then some mornings, I hit it again. After I’ve hit the snooze button a few times, I find it almost impossible to get out of my warm, cozy bed and then, once I do, I’m rushed and agitated. Friends, this is no way to start off the day!
So, top of my list of small changes for the new year is to stop hitting the snooze button. I’m very optimistic that this small change will have a huge impact on how my days begin and proceed. Why? Because I know that my days are better when I don’t hit the snooze button.
Overnight phone charging
Another item on my list of small changes for the coming year should also help me avoid the snooze button, but it’s bigger than that. Like most adults, I charge my phone overnight on my nightstand. I started this practice years ago when I ditched my standalone alarm clock for the alarm on my phone. It just made sense to keep the phone by my bed, plugged in while I slept. And while I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with charging your phone on your nightstand, one of the small changes I’m making this year is to move the charger.
Why am I moving where I charge my phone overnight? First of all, having the phone (and alarm) within arm’s reach makes it very easy to hit the snooze button in the morning. I’m trying to avoid that, so requiring me to get up to turn off the alarm seems like the smart move. Second, and maybe more importantly, I’ve been having trouble sleeping (hello, perimenopause!). When the phone is right next to me when I wake up, it’s too easy to grab it and start scrolling. This behavior certainly doesn’t help me get back to sleep faster! So, I’m banishing the phone from my nightstand for two good reasons. I hope this one small change helps both of these current issues. If not, the next step is going to be the Brick.
Water
Last year, my new year’s resolution was to drink more water. I wouldn’t say that I failed at keeping this resolution, but it also wasn’t a smashing success. I’m still dehydrated. You probably are too.
To really get my hydration under control, I want to start my days off on the right foot. Instead of focusing on lots of small changes related to hydration, I’m planning to make one small change that will hopefully give me hydration momentum throughout the day. I will start out every day with a glass of water before I drink my coffee. I’m really hoping this starts me off on the right note so I drink enough water all day.
Protein for breakfast
Like everyone and their brother, I’m trying to eat more protein on a daily basis. I know I’m not getting enough, especially because a large portion of my meals consist of the scraps of food my children don’t eat.
When I think about where I can make small changes to get more protein, breakfast makes the most sense for me. You see, I usually eat a simple bowl of cereal for breakfast, which isn’t exactly the most filling option in the world. That decision leads me to feel unsatisfied all morning, which means I snack to try to make up for that empty stomach feeling that creeps in a few hours after my measly bowl of cereal. I’m hoping that eating a protein-packed breakfast in the mornings will leave me feeling satiated and remove the urge to snack. My waistline would really appreciate it.
Smile
For the vast majority of my life, I have been a smiley person. My laugh lines can attest to that fact! Lately, though, life has seemed to be a lot, so I find myself smiling less frequently than I used to. I’m not saying I’m depressed or upset, I just don’t smile as easily as before because I’m bogged down in the mental load of work and motherhood.
One of the small changes I’m most looking forward to this year is to lower my threshold for cracking a smile. I want to lead with a smile, not work for one. I have a feeling this one might be harder than I think, but I’m really going to try to make a smile my default facial expression.
Curtains
Not all small changes have to be profound or a step toward some sort of self-improvement goal. They can be silly little things that just put a smile on your face. Like making a point to open your curtains and let the sun shine in your space every day. There’s nothing profound here, just a little extra sunlight and a little extra happy.
Phone game
I’m not proud to admit this, but I’m addicted to a phone game. Ok, that might be a bit of hyperbole, but I play a phone game way more than I should. I started out playing this simple matching game on my phone as a way to take a quick break when I was feeling overwhelmed. Nothing wrong with that. But it has developed into a monumental time suck. To avoid wasting time every day of my life, I’m deleting this game from my phone. I need to discover better mental breaks. I’m hopeful that this small change leads to big changes in my life.
Connection
Our modern world certainly has its benefits, but one huge detriment is that we have lost meaningful connections with other humans. Sure, we still have relationships, but it’s hard to keep them going with so many distractions constantly bombarding us. I’m definitely guilty of letting my existing relationships wither and not putting effort into developing new relationships. But I want to change that this year.
A small change that I think can help strengthen and create connections this year is to take some action every day to foster connection. A call, a text, a note, an in-person meet-up (gasp!) – whatever I can manage that day. I’m really hoping that by reaching out, others will reciprocate and I will get back to having strong, healthy friendships and family relationships.
Other posts
Are you looking for other self-improvement tips? I try to improve myself constantly, so I’ve got quite a few posts you might want to check out:
Are you tackling one big New Year’s Resolution this year, or are you into the idea of making small changes? If you’re focusing on small changes, what are you doing to make incremental progress? Share below or over on Instagram @sarainseason!