Better than Yesterday: Start Small With Tiny Victories
Written by Katelyn Likas, Digital Marketing Manager at Midtown
Being better than yesterday does not mean making radical changes over-night. More often than not, it is the small, steady changes that we make in our lives that have the biggest impact on our health and happiness.
Below are some simple tips to help you achieve tiny victories, one day at a time.
Start Your Day Earlier: Regardless of age, occupation, or family circumstance, the morning is often the only time of day that people can control. By committing to start your day earlier (30 minutes) you build in a buffer of “you time”, allowing for time to exercise, meditate, have breakfast with your family, plan your day, or work on something that you’re passionate about.
Keep Things Tidy: Small tasks can snowball into big projects if they are not addressed right away. Commit to keeping things tidy. Wash that coffee cup when you’re done with it. Make your bed when you wake up in the morning. Fold that load of laundry before bed. By attacking the small things, in real-time, you avoid the huge projects that become daunting tasks over the weekend.
Commit to Positivity: It can be hard to see the bright side of things when the world around us seems to be consumed with negativity but making a commitment to positivity can do wonders in terms of reprogramming your mind to stay optimistic. Easy ways to take charge of your thoughts and your outlook on life include:
Keeping a gratitude journal. Writing down the things, people, or experiences that you are thankful for every day. Gratitude will make you happier, increase your productivity, and help you sleep better at night.
Creating and repeating positive affirmations that recognize the progress you are making in the areas where you want to improve.
Surrounding yourself with positive people who lift your spirits. Emotions are contagious.
Stay active! Exercise releases endorphins but idleness leads to over-analyzing and overthinking.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Success looks different for everyone. For some people, success is defined by a dollar amount while for other success is defined by experiences. Figure out what success looks like for you and work towards attaining the things that matter to you (not others).
Break Out of Your Comfort Zone: While there is something to be set for setting routines, it good to break out of monotony from time to time. Commit to trying something new at least once a week. Whether it is trying a new restaurant, attending a new fitness class, or taking a different route to work – new experiences introduce you to new people, new opportunities, and fresh perspectives.