Changing your lifestyle can seem like a tremendous task. We often pressurise ourselves with the famous saying, ‘Go big, or go home.’ However, we believe in taking small steps as big expectations are unrealistic most of the time. And it usually ends up in frustration, disappointment, and self-criticism.
Therefore, with little thought and minor changes, improving one’s life is much easier than you’d realise. So, is there really a way of starting small without the emotional toll? Yes! Whether your goal is losing weight, sleeping more, or restoring your work-life balance, it’s 100% doable.
Do yourself a favour by purchasing the book ‘Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy’. BJ Fogg shows how to change our lives for the better, one tiny habit at a time. However, one must have the motivation to change, the ability to change the behaviour, and a prompt, or reminder, to behave a certain way at a specific time.
Setting the bar high low
How many times have you set the bar too high – setting unrealistic goals for yourself? So, how is it possible to set the bar lower? Well, for example, if you want to follow a healthier diet and start exercising, we suggest not changing your current diet entirely and not purchasing a complete home gym, just yet.
If you do the above, your next day will be tough. Guaranteed! Your body takes a while to get used to changes, and you must give it enough time to adapt.
Step 1: Start by writing down your goals and how you plan to achieve them. Stick this list where you can see it constantly, like on the fridge or your monitor screen. This will be a daily reminder of what you’re working towards.
Step 2: Then, make minor changes to help you attain these goals. Stock your fridge with fruits and vegetables you like and try to consume at least one daily. Purchase one of Trojan’s small exercise equipment to help you start your fitness journey, for example, a Trojan Aerobic Step, a Trojan Mini Trampoline, or a Trojan Small Gym Bundle. Try a couple of easy beginners’ workouts to see if the equipment you bought is what you were expecting and if it will contribute towards your goal.
Step 3: Continue with small actions. Drink a glass of water before every meal, so you don’t overeat. Take the stairs instead of the lift, and if the shopping centre is nearby, choose to walk or hop onto a bike for those couple of meters.
Step 4: Celebrate these small achievements. It doesn’t matter how small it is; share it with those around you too. They’ll soon catch up on what you’re trying to achieve, and before you know it, they’ll be your motivators – checking in and checking that you don’t slip up.
If you feel comfortable, praise yourself out loud. The more you feel good about yourself and your efforts, the more you’ll repeat these positive behaviours.
All of these small, successful behavioural changes will soon propagate to other parts of your life – your work, your relationships, etc. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what leads to transformation… the small things in life!
We just have one question: Where will your small start begin?
