7 Small Habits that Will Change Your Life

It’s hard to imagine sometimes that small things can have such a deep impact. But if you’ve ever doubted the impact of tiny actions then think about how erosion created the Grand Canyon. Over time, something as small as sand, water, and rock have created one of the most awesome of nature’s miracles.

 

So too will small habits affect your life in such a way as to create lasting and significant change. Read on and find some habits you can start immediately implementing that will begin reshaping you into the person that you’ve always been meant to be. 

 

1. Get up on time. Starting the day with multiple hits of the snooze alarm sets a bad tone for the rest of the day. You obviously set the alarm with the intention of rising at that hour – why are you breaking that promise to yourself? By getting up on time, you’re putting a positive start on the day. Shouldn’t you give yourself the best odds of a good day as possible? 

 

2. Eat healthily at every meal. It’s hard to feel energized when you’re slogging along on a diet filled with fats and sugars. When you put more healthy choices onto your plate, you will feel better. Your mind will be sharper, and you'll be better energized to get through the day. Start small. Add a salad to your meal. Or replace dessert with that piece of fruit instead.

 

3. Exercise. Before you get caught up on thinking you need a lot of fancy equipment or huge time investment to feel good, think again. Start small. Try taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator.

 

4. Read more. Dedicating a half hour of every day to your mind means that you’re constantly sharpening your saw and exposing yourself to new ideas. Pick books that inspire you or encourage you to think.

 

5. Realize you’re an ‘idea’ person. Make a goal of writing down a few ideas every day. Some researchers suggest ten but even one new idea a day means that you’ve got source material to draw from when you’re looking for something with which to challenge yourself.

 

6. Become more mindful. Meditate. Even starting small has the positive impact of reducing stress, lowering your heart rate, and bringing a mind that’s running in a million directions at once back on track. 

 

7. Think about your day. When you finish the day, reflect on your accomplishments. Focus on the things you’re proud of, on the things that made you smile.

 

None of these items should take very long – even 15 or 30 minutes a day on some of these is enough to create lasting change. What you’re going to find out very quickly is that by practicing these habits you’ll not only feel better, you’ll like the person that you’re becoming. That is building ‘you’ at your best. If a small change can do all that, then isn’t it time you got started?

 

Setting Up Your Environment for Better Habits

When you are trying to develop good habits, the environment you have set up for yourself can make or break whether you succeed. You want to give yourself the biggest chance of success. It can really help when your surroundings are at their optimal settings.

 

Keep your environment clutter free. There is nothing worse than trying to focus on good habit development than having to fight through a wall of clutter. If you are looking to be more productive, for instance, it won’t help if you are spending a good portion of your day looking for where you put things. Clutter has a negative psychological effect on people. It limits your space.

 

It’s not just physical clutter that’s a problem. Virtual clutter can be just as problematic. If you are spending lots of time wading through emails or searching your disk for files that you saved weeks ago, this is just as limiting as sifting through papers on your desk. There is even such a thing as phone clutter where people spend too much time talking on the phone.

 

Organization is going to be a big help in reeling in clutter. Come up with a good system for both the physical and the virtual assets. There are plenty of books and seminars that exist to help you get a handle on the clutter problem. You can look at solving your clutter problem as developing a new habit.

 

Another important aspect of your environment is mental. If you are stressed out, this is going to take away from your ability to develop good habits. You’ll focus on what is stressing you out and it will become your central target. Without taking the proper measures to reduce that stress, it will be difficult to make any progress with your habit development.

 

There are several ways to reduce stress. The first is to take steps to resolve any situations that you have control over which are causing you to be stressed. If your bills are getting out of hand, try taking on some extra work to make that more manageable. For stress that is caused that is not within your control, consider such activities as exercise and meditation. While these won’t take away those stressful situations, it will make them much easier to manage them. Both of these activities have been proven to help your mind and body reduce the effects caused by stress.

 

8 Steps to Success with Small Habits

What if I told you that you could succeed with small habits?

 

After trying and failing so many times to create the new, more positive habits you crave, is it any wonder that by now you’re probably a little gun-shy about the process? But the truth is, most attempts at forming new habits fail, simply because you’ve tried to bite off more than you can chew. Using small habits instead, you approach your life in a new way, by taking charge in tiny bite-size chunks. Meaning that not only is change possible but so is the ability to become that person you always knew you could be. 

 

How do you create a small habit successfully?

 

1. Don’t try to change the world overnight. Start with just one new habit and then go from there.

 

2. Make a commitment. Not every habit is created equal, and some take longer to embed in your mind than others. But, one thing is true. The longer you perform the same activity day after day, the more success you will have in creating that habit. Decide right now that you’re going to give this new habit at least 3 – 4 weeks to give it a proper start.

 

3. Link the habit to something that already works. If you have a successful habit already in place, ask yourself what small thing you can attach to that habit. For example, you might already be brushing your teeth every day. How hard would it be to add flossing to that routine?

 

4. Keep it small. Knowing that most habit formation fails because you’re trying to do too much too soon, then make a point to keep the changes very small. Mini-habits have a much higher rate of success than trying to create a great big change.

 

5. Have a disaster plan in place. Knowing that things are going to go wrong from the start helps you to be ready when they do. Can’t jog today because it’s raining? That’s ok, you’ve got an entirely different workout in place as a Plan B.

 

6. Grab a friend. The only way to keep on track, especially when building habits, is to use your network. Have an accountability partner or use social media to keep you honest.

 

7. Reward yourself. Celebrate every little milestone with a reward, something that makes sense and will encourage you to keep going when you’re flagging.

 

8. Redefine yourself. Accept that this is the new you. The habits you’re building are going to change who you are – hopefully for the better. Embrace the new identity.

 

By following these steps, you not only will succeed when applying small habits to your life but over time you’ll see some amazing growth and development as a person. That’s pretty exciting, especially when you consider how little you had to do to get there.

 

Why Knowing What Success Means is Crucial to Succeeding

When you go on a journey you know where you are starting from, where you are going and how you are going to get there. If you want to bring success into your life, then those same elements are key. To create success, you must know what success means to you. Success is different for everyone so there is no 'one size fits all' way to achieve it.

 

To discover what success means to you is a simple process. Follow the steps below and you can create a plan to achieve the success you desire in whatever area of your personal or professional life you choose. You will discover the success habits you need to build into your life to achieve your goal.

 

First, you need to decide what you want to achieve (your goal) to be successful. Write it down. Be very descriptive and use the present tense.

 

Write down why achieving this is important to you. What does it mean to you? How motivated are you to achieve this goal?

 

Then, write down how you will feel when you achieve your goal. How will your life change? Again, be very descriptive and write using the present tense.

 

Next, write down your current situation and how that makes you feel. Although that is how you feel right now try writing it in the past tense. This will begin to change the way you think about your situation and move towards creating the success you want. Your mind will begin to distance itself from your current situation and begin to believe that you are moving towards your goal.

 

You now have your starting and ending points on your journey to success. Now you need to fill in how you are going to get there.

 

What needs to change to make your situation change and to get you from where you are to achieving your goal of success? Write down each step. You will find that you will need to look at your mind-set, behavior and habits.

 

Identify potential blocks to achieving your goal. Write them down and add how you will overcome them.

 

By completing the tasks above you are undertaking one of the key success habits; goal setting. You are also learning to know yourself better which is another habit for success because self-knowledge and positive mind-set will help you identify your goal, understand what success means to you and create a plan that will help you achieve it.

 

To achieve success, you need to understand what success is, what it means to you and how you will achieve it.

 

5 Hindrances To Self-Sufficiency

‘Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one’s own person is its ultimate reward.’ Patricia Sampson.

 

Nothing gives you more control over your own life than being independent. Being able to rely on yourself, without constantly seeking the opinion or approval of others, will get you very far. It helps you to be decisive and allows you to go after the things you desire. 

 

There are a lot of misconceptions around self-sufficiency, with some arguing that it breeds egotism and narcissism. Self-reliance eliminates the need to depend on others in a way that does not allow you to make up your mind without consulting them. It is about being able to carry your weight. People shun self-sufficiency because they think it means carrying all the burden of hardships on your own and not needing the company or support of other people.

 

Instead, self-sufficiency is rooted in the need to discover your strength and potential. It is about having the courage to step out and be who you want to be without being apologetic about it. It is about being confident enough to live on your terms without feeling the need to conform to the standards of other people. More than anything, it teaches you to trust yourself to make the right choices and navigate through life without being limited by what other people think of you. 

 

A self-sufficient person makes tough decisions and takes risks. They find the strength to author their own stories. They take responsibility for their life without leaning too much on other people. 

 

The benefits of self-dependence.

 

There is beauty to be found in being able to rely on your strength and abilities. To make it in today’s competitive world, you need to hold your own. Discovering your potential puts you on the path to success. 

 

You learn a lot about your strengths when you have to rely on yourself.

 

Being self-sufficient boosts your confidence. It feeds your self-worth. Independent people often have high self-esteem. They are always up for a challenge because they know their strength can carry them to great heights. Self-confidence allows you to be bold. It gives you the courage to do what no one else is willing to do, which is an ingredient for success.

 

Another benefit of being self-reliant is the ability to think independently. This gives you control over your life. You have the power to make decisions that are best for you when you are not too reliant on the thoughts and opinions of others. Many people miss life-changing opportunities because they care too much about what people say. Being an independent thinker allows you to silence skeptics. You can develop a positive outlook by being in control of your thoughts.

 

Barriers to self-sufficiency.

 

While being self-reliant is amazing and has many benefits, there are hindrances to it. If you are not wary of them, you will lose your ability to control your life, which can be frustrating.

 

There are five barriers that you need to watch out for to live an independent life.

 

Lack of confidence in yourself.

 

Low self-esteem will stop you from being self-sufficient. If you feel inadequate, you can never trust your abilities. You can never make your own decisions. Believe in yourself and what you have to live an independent life. Be sure where you want to go and what you want to achieve. The more you develop confidence in what you stand for, the more assertive you become. This will make room for you to succeed.

 

The need for validation.

 

We are all guilty of seeking approval. We care too much about what other people think of us. This leads us to do things, not because we want to, but because we believe it will get us to be accepted by society. Many people are miserable today because they live according to other people’s standards. They want to bend so much to what people say they ought to be. To live a fulfilling life, you need to know that the only approval you need is your own. You do not need other people’s permission to pursue your dreams. Rid yourself of the need to be validated.

 

Overdependence.

 

While no man is an island, there is a fine line between needing help and being over-dependent on others. If you base your happiness on another person’s actions, or fail to decide without consulting other people, then there is a problem. Being needy will not help your personal development. To grow, you need to take responsibility for your own life and make your own decisions. 

 

Clinging to your past. 

 

Everyone has a past. If you constantly look back to the failed relationships and missed opportunities, you will not make much progress in your life. You need to let go of the past to step into your future. Get over the mistakes you made when you were younger. They do not have to define who you are or dictate where you are going. To discover your potential, stop camping in the past.

 

Fear.

 

Many people live within the clutches of fear. They are afraid to take responsibility for their lives. They are afraid of making decisions and taking risks. The possibility of failure leads them to average lives where they do not go after what they want. Knowing that failure is a normal part of life allows you control over how you react to it. You should never allow your life to be limited or your potential to be thwarted by fear.

 

To become more self-sufficient, you must know the barriers that you can put up against your independence.

 

‘It is astonishing what man can do when he has no one to do it for him, but himself.’ Eric Paskel.

 

5 Steps To Self-Sufficiency

 

While it is true that no man is an island, we also can’t deny the power that lies in one’s ability to survive with little to no help from others. The quality of life nowadays is not making it easier for anyone to put their trust in any man. We are living in a fast-paced world. At face value, it would seem that everyone else around you has it all figured out. Yet, the reality is that there are carefully selected moments that are also modified enough to give spectators an idea of perfection. Everyone seems to have an idea of how certain aspects of life should work. Yet, not so many seem to care to implement any of it. The point is, our world is already complex and people have their ideas of what life is or should be. As such, you might need to find your path and be prepared to walk it alone at some point if you want more out of life.

 

Living a purposeful and satisfying life is almost impossible when what is meant to be a personal journey becomes more of a community project. Often, he who has the means controls the outcomes. Thus, the help we get from people often comes at a price. For some, this happens at the expense of their dreams and purpose. Independence protects us from such. It allows us to write our stories our way and makes it easier to repel any influence that is likely to derail us. It is rare to have people support what they are opposed to or think is against the current normalcy. Life doesn’t have to be that boring and limited! Hence, the need for individuals to be able to sustain themselves financially and psychologically as they work on their dreams. 

 

There is no doubt, however, that self-sufficiency is not something that you just wake up and start doing randomly. It is a lifestyle that requires you to put your mind to it and carefully consider how you would navigate through life once you go that route. The following can help start and maintain an independent life:

 

1.  Know what you want – the first step to starting a new life is knowing what you want and why you want it. Without a goal or reason for the life you are choosing, you will not have a reason to continue when you face challenges along the way. Knowing what you want is often a constant reminder of why you should keep going despite the hurdles you keep coming across. It also gives you direction. Thus, it makes it easier to make choices and figure out the necessary steps to take to have what you can call a successful and meaningful life. In this case, you will know what you lose every time you ask people for help. For example, you might be missing out on opportunities to grow or discover and use your strengths.

 

2.  Prepare yourself mentally – once you know what you want, you should mentally prepare yourself for that life. You should know and acknowledge that the journey won’t always be easy. Most importantly, you should also have plans as to what you will do when the journey gets tougher. Contrary to popular belief, independence has more to do with the mind than physical possessions. It is mostly rooted in knowing and accepting your situation, plans to do more with your life, and learning to live within your means. It also takes mental strength to enable you to stay focused in all of your encounters. Self-sufficiency is not sustainable without such a mindset. This applies to the rich as well because they risk losing it all and going back to dependency if they lack these qualities.

 

3.  Align your budget – this is a crucial part of an independent life as alluded to previously. If you were good at managing your finances before your journey to independence, then you need to get better. Overspending shifts from spending recklessly to include spending on important things that may not be urgent or necessary. You need to ensure that your spending allows you to save for your other plans as well as emergencies. In short, all that is required financially is that you learn to live within your means. Ensure that your lifestyle is in sync with your plans.

 

4.  Set boundaries – boundaries are everything. Set boundaries for yourself and others. You can hardly live an independent life when you don’t limit your movements and everyone has easy access to you. Limit the type of people you spend your time with, and how you spend your time. Doing that will help you stay clear of any drama while you spend time on what is more important. However, this is not the equivalent of being mean to people and not offering a hand where it’s needed. Just be disciplined. 

 

5.  Change your habits – our repeated actions, especially ones that we do impulsively, make up a greater part of our lives than we realize. They often work against our will and pull us back to the exact things that we are fighting. These include how we handle stress and certain hobbies. An independent life requires you to have habits that will help you stay focused and maximize every moment of your life. Thus, although taking breaks from your scheduled tasks is important, the activities we do for amusement should be planned and regulated. For example, if you are planning to watch TV, ensure that you don’t find yourself doing it in place of a task. The session shouldn’t last longer than planned just because the show got more interesting. Cultivating habits that align with your goals will also help get the most out of your time. You can watch documentaries and other educational shows instead of movies.

 

7 Things Self-Sufficient People Do

Self-sufficiency helps you build confidence in yourself. It keeps you trusting in your abilities and working towards your dreams. It is key to accomplishing more and realizing that you have what it takes to live the best life possible. It also reminds you that you are enough.

 

The only way to succeed in life is by learning self-reliance and depending more on yourself and less on others or what they can do for you. This not only keeps you sure of yourself but also earns you respect. When people know that you are an independent thinker, they will respect you. You will not be constantly stepped on. Their criticism won’t affect you much because you have the upper hand and complete control of your life.

 

Here are 7 things self-sufficient people do that you should start doing right away to find the peace you need and become the best version of yourself; 

 

1. Trust in your abilities

 

Self-sufficient people trust in their abilities and know they have what it takes to reach their goals. So, do you trust you can achieve your goals? If not, learn to trust yourself. Build your self-confidence and realize that you are the answer you’ve been searching for. You are the only one who can turn your dreams into reality. 

 

2. Work on your dreams

 

Self-reliant people keep their eyes on their vision and are always working on their dreams. You have to understand that the only way to turn your life around is by acting. So, set goals and work towards reaching them. Make it your aim to get one step closer to your goal every day. 

 

Be content with the life you have right now but don’t settle. Look forward to the life you desire and work hard to bring your vision to life. 

 

3. Stay positive

 

If you spend half the day thinking “My situation is hopeless”, “I will never go that far”, or “This is only meant for so and so” you will lose faith in yourself and fail to find the strength you need to move forward. 

 

Cultivate a positive attitude and tell yourself that you will make it. Picture the life you want and remind yourself each morning that you will get there. 

 

“I deserve all the best that life has to offer”, “Life is what I make of it”, and “I will make it” are phrases you need to use to stay optimistic and motivated.

 

4. Provide for your needs

 

Self-sufficiency is about being able to provide for your own needs and take care of yourself. It’s about taking care of yourself financially and never relying on anyone for anything. So, be independent. Increase your earning potential or start a side hustle. 

 

Learn a new skill or look for ways to earn passive income so you can cover your expenses. 

 

5. Manage your finances

 

Managing your finances is key to self-reliance. So, learn to manage your money the right way. Cut off unnecessary expenses and only spend your money on things that matter. Have a monthly budget and stick to it.

 

Save and make smart investments. Always set aside a certain percentage of your weekly or monthly earnings to sustain yourself or use in case of emergencies. Invest your money or time in things that you believe in or things that will help you get one step closer to becoming independent.

 

6. Avoid debt

 

Debt is one of the main things that lead to stress, quarrels, and feelings of inadequacy. It can distract you from working on your goals and pave the way to negative thinking. So, avoid it. Learn to spend, save, and manage the money you have to avoid stress. 

 

Look for ways to double your income if you have a 9-5 job. Start a side gig or invest in something that will improve your earnings. 

 

Learn about entrepreneurship and find out how you can earn more money daily, weekly, or monthly. 

 

7. Manage your relationships

 

You are only as happy as the people you surround yourself with. Self-sufficient people know that. That is why they are careful of who they spend their time with. 

 

Consider your inner circle. Who are the people you spend most of your time with? Are you learning anything from them? Do they motivate you to chase your dreams and constantly progress? Do they challenge your thinking and the way you see life? Do they encourage you to grow? If you answered NO to any of these questions, you need to re-consider your relationships. 

 

Surround yourself with optimists and people who challenge you to do better and be more. 

 

Your inner circle has the power to make or break you. So, be careful who you spend your time with.

 

Have the right people in your life and learn to make time for your relationships because they are as important as becoming independent in all areas of your life. 

 

Be The Anchor Of Your Life

An anchor is a tool used to hold a ship or boat in place to keep them from sailing away on their own. One of my favorite old hymns says, 'Will your anchor hold in the storms of life when clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, will your anchor drift or firm remain?’. Forget about singing the song and ask yourself those questions. Considering that life is so fragile and complex with so much going on, what is the best thing, or who is the best person to entrust your journey here on earth with? For most people, the source of strength is the faith they have in celestial beings. Their absolute being relies on their spiritual life. Thus, if you were to ask what their anchor is, they would name whichever deity they believe in. However, our faith normally lays a foundation for us to build our lives and leaves the rest to us. Can whatever you rely on for strength pull you through the worst situations of life? 

 

After our faith has built a foundation, it is up to us to then build the walls and secure our lives. Storms of life are inevitable and, they will come in different forms. Some will shack our boats to a point where we don’t see the possibility of a better life beyond the storm. As much as it would be greatly beneficial to have others carry our burdens with us, how effective or sustainable is that? 

 

Being the anchor of your life means having the ability to keep your life on your purposed track regardless of what you encounter. Even where you do find help, you are still the one responsible for the major tasks meant to carry you forward. It requires you to put together your faith and life lessons to build a more secure life. It is also about you finding ways to be your own hero. Here is why you should be the main actor in your story and be the anchor of your life:

 

1.  Others may not always be there – it is very common for people to put way too much trust in others particularly their friends, spouse, and family. This happens mostly in codependent relationships where one attaches their entire being to their relationships with other people such that they lose a part of themselves to those people. What happens when those people leave or grief strikes? That is where you then find people broken, confused, and hopeless, unable to move forward. What happens when the friend who often offers a shoulder to cry on is having issues and is unavailable to give you support. Does life have to stop and wait for that person to get back to you? As your support system, you learn to control emotions and other mental issues enough to stay focused and keep going even when people come into your life and leave. You maintain your identity and find contentment in the person you are.

 

2.  You know yourself and your life better – no one can understand your situation better than you do. That makes you the best person to deal with your situation where others would most likely miss the mark or mislead you. Sometimes we handle situations better with fewer voices suggesting to us different ways of running our lives. Handling our situations gives us a chance, to be honest with ourselves and self-introspect. Other than that, your dreams will keep you going where those who don’t understand your purpose give up on you and your dreams. 

 

3.  You become stronger and wiser – imagine yourself having people assigned to take care of all your tasks including solving personal problems. Where would that leave you? You miss the opportunity to learn more about life and yourself. When you are independent, everything goes through you. You know what you did wrong or right for things to turn out the way they are, which allows you to build onto your existing knowledge. Exposure to challenging situations will help you become mentally stronger while you also discover more of your abilities.

 

4.  Safety from exploitation and unhealthy relationships – self-reliance protects you from those who would take advantage of your situation had you relied on them more. Many people have fallen victim to various types of abuse while some have found themselves trapped in difficult situations because they put too much trust in other people. Being in control of your life allows you to choose the path that works for you. Dependence exposes your weaknesses and makes you easy prey to predators.

 

5.  Independence and identity – as alluded to previously, with self-reliance you choose how you want to run your life. You are not under pressure or too desperate to please people to the extent of losing yourself in the process. For example, some people are often forced to match their parents’ achievements and some are used to correct their parent’s mistakes. On the other hand, some spouses give their partners too much control and voluntarily surrender their all to the partner in an attempt to prove their commitment. Such levels of submission hinder people from living their lives to the fullest.

 

6.  Easier to stay true to your purpose – being the one who calls the shots keeps you from forgetting who you are and losing direction. Due to that, it is easier to keep your eyes on your goals and to work on the latter at a pace that works for you.