What little things do you do that make a big difference?

[ClandestineAdulation]

I’m no good with new years resolutions, I don’t like them because I think big changes are unachievable for me.

So, can you tell me, what little things do you do that make a big difference, either to your mental health or physical health, or just day to day happiness?

I think one of the things I’d like to do is ensure that I make my bed every day and hit 10,000 steps.

20 mins YouTube HIIT workout each morning. Just get up 20 mins earlier. More energy, better memory, toning up.

I do find building a series of habits helpful, habit stacking I've seen it called.

No looking at my phone for first hour of the day, really has helped get my day going in the right direction. (Now to cut it out before bed )

Run at least twice a week. I actually try to run every other day, not crazy amount like some people do, just for 30 mins which is about 5k. It keeps me sane and over the course of the last 18 months since I started I have lost a stone and just feel better.

12 standing (well, leaning) pushups off the kitchen side while waiting for the kettle to voil

Boil

Doing bootcamp 3-5 times a week. I love it. Feel fitter, stronger and have way more energy.

If I feel anxious or down I get up half an hour earlier and do affirmations or meditation or journalling to clear my head of loops of unhelpful thoughts.

Daily yoga practice (Adriene on YouTube for me). Life changing.

5-10 minutes of Duolingo a day. Once I've done the 5-10 minutes, I often want to do more. I do it in bed when I wake up in the morning.

Introduce a new thing each week
52 small changes a year.
If you just stick with some, it will make a difference and create good habits

Week 1 - make your bed every day
Week 2 - 10,000 steps a day

Build on it

Drinking lots of water

Properly taking care of my skin rather than relying on face wipes

Finishing work at a set time every day

No work at weekends (self employed and this was a really tough one to stick to at first)

Saying no to stuff I don't want to do and don't actually have to do, rather than feeling bad about letting people down

Switched off all the notifications on my phone.

Meal plan properly, and stick to it. Planning out my days and when I'll have time to cook and when I'll want something quick Vs balancing carbs vs lighter meals, fish/meat/veggie etc and not all the same week in week out! I find it really helps my mood to put the work in ahead of time, to know what's coming and to have it matched to what I'll need e.g. later dinner as taking DS to sport activity in the cold/dark, will have a nice pasta dish prepped.

Practising the piano. I'm very bad but it completely calms me down and gets rid of work stress etc. It has really helped to go back a stage to easier sheet music, too, so that the pieces are shorter and sound recognisable when I play them.

Just smile and show an interest in other human beings…do anything that is helpful and thoughtful. Today a lovely phillipino lady was lost in our park…she was so distressed because she was meeting her son for 1st time in 5 years …she was in a park 5 miles from where her son was b😩I got her to follow me …they were reunited and I was happy 😊

Make my bed every day.
Open windows every morning for a half hour even when it's cold out.
Mute group chats- I only check in when I feel like it.
Make a point of doing little things that make me feel happy, like lighting candles each evening or having a vase of flowers in the kitchen.
Take vitamins.
Drink lots of water with cucumber slices and ice.
Walk every day while listening to an audiobook.
Don't walk when it's bloody pissing it down outside. Why torture yourself?

@Gettingthereslowly2020

5-10 minutes of Duolingo a day. Once I've done the 5-10 minutes, I often want to do more. I do it in bed when I wake up in the morning.

Never heard of it but shall google it X

@Ohisitreally

Just smile and show an interest in other human beings…do anything that is helpful and thoughtful. Today a lovely phillipino lady was lost in our park…she was so distressed because she was meeting her son for 1st time in 5 years …she was in a park 5 miles from where her son was b😩I got her to follow me …they were reunited and I was happy 😊

What a lovely story!

Sorry, I should have said, it's a language learning app. It makes me feel more motivated to do other things. Now that I have successfully formed that habit, I'm more motivated to form another habit. I'm trying to add 10 minutes of exercise a day.

I replaced my shoelaces with elastic. You may laugh, but not having to tie and untie laces has genuinely improved my mood.

Exercising every single day. I gym five times a week but also walk outside on the other two days (weather permitting). I love looking at things - the sea, buildings, nature, society.

On a more practical note, I'm intending to drink more milk next year to keep my bones strong

Took Facebook off my phone - I can go on the iPad
Switched off all notifications for social media
Unsubscribed to loads of distracting junk

Vitamins
Flower subscription
30 mins cleaning daily after work - I hate cleaning but 30 mins in achievable and means I don't normally have to do anything on the weekend
Food prepping. I have glass containers with lids that can be microwaved/frozen etc. Sometimes it's batch cooking cottage pie, other times I just have stuff ready like cheese grated, hard boiled eggs, fruit chopped up etc

@clary

Daily yoga practice (Adriene on YouTube for me). Life changing.

Please can you explain a bit more. Thanks

Squat while I brush my teeth
Don't eat after dinner (this one has slipped over Christmas so I've been thinking about it this evening - After the kids bedtime I will brush my teeth.)

If you don't know BJ Fogg's tiny habits you might like to do a search - he has a free 5 day learning thing & lots of videos etc all about achieving big things from small easy changes