Making small changes add up!

We seem to all have a small habit that we are doing daily that we are simply almost unaware of. It could be eating chocolate candy a couple times a day from the candy jar on the desk. Or, maybe it is getting the mail and placing the junk mail on the dining room table and never sorting. There are many things that we just go through the motions and keep doing these little things and then all of a sudden we notice a change. I huge pile of mess on the dining room table suddenly stick out. Or the skirt zipper does not zip up any longer. Our habits are controlled by the primitive part of the brain that is automatic. Unfortunately, automatically doing what it thinks is keeping us safe, fed, and happy. So, how do we stop? First, ask yourself today if there is something you wish was different. Maybe the kitchen seems to always be messy, your weight is heavier from all the indulgences from the holidays, or maybe it is just not drinking enough water. Take notice first. Then think about your routine and what might be happening in your routine that is adding to the issue. Make a few adjustments and be cognizant of these changes. This can sometimes be the hardest part. Breaking those habits surrounding the problem. Having reminders can help. Post-it notes on the coffee table! No chocolate LOL. Or put it away until. Here is the fun part. All these small changes add up.

According to the Atomic Habit by James Clear, we only have to get 1% better each day to have a 37 times better than before. Clear calls our habits the compound interest of self-improvement. He explains how in our minds we think we need massive change to have massive results but that is not true. Unfortunately, what happens is that we tend to want to give up before we notice the change. I know I have talked about this before, but think the topic is so fascinating. We don’t see the results quick enough to keep us from giving up. For example, he explains how if we go to the gym several times in a week, we are still not going to notice any results. The slow pace of transformation also makes it easier to talk ourselves out of the change.

The valley of disappointment is what gets to us. We think progress is linear and consistent, but it is not. James Clear gives a diagram that shows where we tend to fall off. If we stick it out, we will begin to notice the results. Stick with it! Remember, the valley of disappointment and push through. You got this.