Small habits have made a big difference in my life. Choosing to set small, measurable goals instead of big, lofty ones have helped 
me be more successful in bringing order and simplicity to my life. As a widow with young kids, this also helped keep me from feeling overwhelmed as I tried to navigate being a single Mom. I couldn’t even fathom trying to accomplish a big change, but little tweaks and creating systems around what I was already doing was sustainable and saved my sanity.
me be more successful in bringing order and simplicity to my life. As a widow with young kids, this also helped keep me from feeling overwhelmed as I tried to navigate being a single Mom. I couldn’t even fathom trying to accomplish a big change, but little tweaks and creating systems around what I was already doing was sustainable and saved my sanity.I didn’t start all of these small habits at once. They came about over many years as a need arose, a stress point became frustrating, or as I saw something I wanted to change or add into my routine. I didn’t realize how life-changing these small habits would be and how they would free up so much time and mental clutter.
Here’s a few examples of small habits I’ve GRADUALLY added:
- Picking out my clothes the night before - my Mom taught me this when I was young (eliminates overwhelm and decision fatigue)
- Folding the clothes directly out of the dryer (reduces procrastination)
- Stacking folded clothes in the order of the dresser drawers (creates efficiency)
- Drinking 2 big glasses of water first thing in the morning (easy hydration, helps me reach my water goals for the day)
- Deciding once on breakfast - high protein smoothie every morning (eliminates decision fatigue, helps me stay on track with my wellness)
- Making breakfast the night before (saves time in the morning)
- Meal planning (saves time and money, helps me prepare healthy meals)
- Reading every night before bed (relaxes me, slows down my brains, helps me sleep better) - my current bedtime read is pictured above; I highly recommend this series!
While none of these are earth shattering, these small changes have made a PROFOUND impact in my everyday life. It has helped me simplify things by deciding once about how or what I will do for a certain task, eliminates overwhelm, and keeps me from putting things off.
Do I always do them perfectly? No. But when I am consistent, everything flows more smoothly.
But how do you begin making small changes?A good starting point is to choose ONE area of frustration or one area that you see a need for change. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What is causing stress or taking extra time right now?
- What isn’t working right now?
- Is there an area you’d like to improve upon?
- Is there something you could tweak, change or delegate that would simplify your life?
- Is there a mindset you’d like to change?
Avoid the temptation to make a list of everything that you want to do or change. Just choose one area to focus on and create a new or tweak an old habit until it becomes second nature. Only then should you think about moving on to the next thing.
Here are a list of small habits to get some ideas flowing:
- Journaling a few sentences each day to help you focus on gratitude.
- Using a devotional to help you start a consistent daily time in God’s Word (here's a link to what I am currently using - see picture; here’s a link to one of my favorites)
- Getting up 15 minutes earlier to take a walk or do a short workout.
- Making school and work lunches the night before to save time and energy in the morning.
- “Don’t put it down, put it away.” - this suggestion was from a friend, and I think it’s absolutely brilliant!
- Using your crockpot a couple times a week to make healthy eating and dinner time run more smoothly.
- Delegating loading the dishwasher, washing the dishes, or other chores to your capable kids.
This is not an exhaustive list, but it might be helpful as a jumping off point. One small change at a time is the way to make big improvements in your life.
As we start 2025, what is one small thing you want incorporate this year that would simplify and improve your life?
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