Simple Changes: 5 Easy Steps to Start Today

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

I believe that small, simple changes really add up to make a big difference. Whether you are looking to challenge yourself with a race, go to your limits on a hike, or lose some extra weight, simple changes really make a difference.

When our lives are busy with work, family, deadlines, and other commitments it can seem daunting to take on a new task to become healthier. But, if we break it down in to smaller, more obtainable goals, we are more likely to succeed. If we can see progress we will continue to strive for what we want. That’s why I think setting up these 5 simple changes will help you get to your awesomeness!

1. Get up 30 minutes earlier. I have talked about it before and probably will again. It may sound a little frivolous, like how will this simply change things? But in the great and wise words of Jocko Willink, “Discipline equals freedom“. Once you have established a routine in the AM, your day really seems conquerable. You may still have the normal stressors of your day, but you will feel ready to meet them head on! I promise. Take the time to read, meditate, workout, write, plan your day, or make an amazing breakfast.
2. Say “No Thanks”. I am letting you know right now, it’s ok to say “no”. I’ve learned this lesson and talked to many people about it. The truth is, we are all kind of bad at saying “no”. You can’t do every thing that comes across your agenda, you can’t meet every ones needs, you can’t meet friends at a drop of a hat all the time, you can’t provide every snack for a school celebration, you just can’t, so stop trying to! You can do a lot, and you do, make sure you hone in on what is top priority and go from there. It will serve you well!
3. Get to the Grocery Store once per week. Ok, may be that’s a little aggressive. What I mean is, go to the store and buy a lot. At least once a week you should be buying 75-90% of your food. Before my family did this, we would stop at the store 7-8x a week, possibly more, for random things we needed. This will save you so much time. It’s almost ludicrous how much time we would spend at the grocery store.  Make it a point to do a majority of your shopping at once, the bill may be overwhelming, but then you can be close to done for the week. This is also a great tool for focusing on a food budget. This leads me to #4.
4. Make a Weekly Menu. If anyone hated making a food plan for the week, it was me. There was just some thing about it. I didn’t like thinking about it, which is strange because I would call myself a “planner”. Any way, making a menu, or at least an idea of a menu for the week will really help you when you go to the store 1 time. You know you are going to need chicken for your roast on Wednesday or you don’t have any more eggs, which always seems like a disaster in my house. Make a note of your fridge, what you plan on having, and draw out a game plan. There will be more on this later. But for now, the menu will really help that shopping experience. It is worth the 15 minutes before hand and you will get so much more time back in the end.
5. Have a nightly routine. Just like any good toddler, adults still need some kind of routine. A good night routine will set you up for a good nights sleep and we all know what that means! It could be a shower, reading, stretching, watching a show, or talking with your spouse. How you set the night will set your day. I will suggest trying to turn electronics off about 30 minutes before bed, especially if you find it hard to turn your mind off. You can also get glasses called blue blockers that help filter out that blue light on televisions and computers, which stimulates the “wakeful” hormone. Also, getting enough sleep is key. Did you know that you can be doing all things right in your life, eating the right foods and moving your body well, but If you aren’t sleeping well, then get used to your weight, because you won’t be losing much. A good night’s sleep balances those hormones. It’s really important!

So here are 5 simple tips you can start today. I hope this helps to make things easier. It will free up a lot of time to let you do other tasks!