Change doesn’t have to be big
- We don’t have to make drastic changes to our lives to make a difference
Big changed all at once can be intimidating and overwhelming. If we get too overwhelmed and intimidated we are more likely to give up. Small changes add up to make big differences and are less intimidating. It may take longer, but we will be more consistent and more likely to stick with it for the long haul and make real changes in our lives. Small changes are more sustainable. Therefore small changes over time can make more of a difference than trying to make a huge change all at once.
- Small steps over time can lead to big change
One small step might not seem like much by itself. But, if we can turn that small step into a sustainable habit, and add other sustainable habits to it we can stick to these habits for the long haul. If we do stick to these habits in the long run, then big changes will happen.
- Small steps are more sustainable than a drastic change
If we try to make a huge change all at once we often end up feeling quite intimidated. It is almost too much for us to handle. It is difficult to keep up with these drastic changes and we end up feeling like we can’t do it. This is when we give up. However, if we make small changes it’s not so bad. It is quite a bit easier to keep up with and handle. We end up sticking to it longer, as previously mentioned. This ends up boosting our confidence and we feel more empowered to make even more changes. Then, before you know it our lives are drastically different for the long haul.
Looking for small choices
- Small choices are everywhere
There are small improvements that we can all around us. To start it could be as simple as drinking more water or getting more sleep. There is no end to the things we could tweak in our lives. We just need to be on the lookout and honestly asses what could be better in our lives.
- What is one small change that you could realistically make?
After we’ve seen the small choices we could make, we need to choose where to start. Not all of the things on our list of what could be better are going to be realistic changes at whatever point we are at in our lives. We need to look at this list and pick just one thing to focus on. Ask yourself a couple of questions: (a) what are you realistically willing to change right now? (b) which of THESE things means the most to you, which would make you feel the most accomplished? Now you have your one thing, one habit, one change to work on. Focus on this first until it becomes natural. Then pick another one thing to work on.
- When it seems things aren’t changing
Now, there are going to be times when it seems like things are not changing. It might seem like you are doing it all for nothing and getting nowhere. In these times it can be hard to keep up the motivation to keep ongoing. It is important to remind yourself why you started this journey. Was it for your children? Was it to fit into a certain size of clothes? Was it to pass a fitness test? Whatever it was, remember that reason. Then you need to remember where you started. In all likely hood, you have made more progress than you think.
Environmental stimuli
- What are environmental stimuli and how to use them?
Environmental stimuli are anything around you. It’s the things you see, hear and touch. The point is to use environmental stimuli to remind you to stick with your goals. It can be laying out your workout clothes at night before you go to bed to remind you to workout in the morning. Or, it could be putting your gym bag in the front passenger seat of your car to remind you to go to the gym after work. It could even be putting a glass or bottle of water o your desk to remind you to drink more water.
- Removing Barriers
Adjusting your environmental stimuli to remind you of your goals also removes barriers to perform your goals. When you have your gym bag already in your front seat not only does it make you think about how you wanted to go to the gym, it makes it a lot easier because it’s right there and ready to go to the gym. Therefore the barrier of needing your gym things is removed. When your bottle or glass is already on your desk, not only do you see the water, the barrier of having to get up to get water is removed.