The past few months have certainly been strange for all of us. It may as if we’re stuck like Bill Murray was in the movie, Groundhog Day. Every day seems to be the same. Our way of life has been disrupted and we are on a continual loop. I’m sure some of you have decided to do something positive during this time. We’ve all had that moment when we declare, at least to ourselves, “Enough is enough; I’m going to make some changes in my life!” Maybe you want to drop a few pounds or pay off some debt or reduce your time on Facebook. So you start planning and scheming. You tell yourself, “This time is going to be different.” But then… You had a long day and just can’t make it to the gym. An unexpected expense came up. Or you got a FB friend request and find two hours have passed while you caught up. Within a matter of days, your ambition has disappeared and you’re back to where you started.
It’s time to get off the self-improvement roller coaster. Instead of trying to make radical changes in a short amount of time, just make small steps forward every day that will gradually lead to the progress you want. Each day, focus on getting 1% better at whatever it is you’re trying to improve. That’s it. Just 1%
It might not seem like much, but those 1% improvements start compounding. In the beginning, your progress may be so minimal you won’t even notice a difference. But gradually you’ll start seeing yourself getting closer to your goals. It may take months, but the positive momentum will move you forward if you just stick to it and get 1% better each day. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Little strokes fell great oaks.”
So if you want to change things up, ask yourself this question every single day: “What’s the one small thing I can start doing today that would improve my life?” Then, start small.
I’m going to start by cutting down on watching so much TV! Instead, I’ll spend 1% of each day cleaning up around my house. Hey, wait a minute; The Andy Griffith Show just came on! It’s only 30 minutes…
