SMALL HABITS, GREAT SUCCESS

We all know that money can't buy us happiness. We also won't wake up as a completely different person one day, without any worries or weaknesses. Neither our family, nor our boss or our partner are responsible for making us happy. It is in our own hands. We need to get moving in order to achieve our goals. And this is not as difficult as it may sound...

Sometimes, there are days when we feel like nothing is moving forward. We could not motivate ourselves to spring into action and get things done and it makes us feel like the laziest person on earth. Shame on us! Of course, this is only a distorted perspective. We are focusing so much on all the things that we did not take care of, that we forget about all the things we actually did achieve. But even if this feeling of inefficiency is basically unnecessary, it is still there and it is annoying.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Let me assure you that the world won't come to an end just because you preferred to watch some episodes of your favorite TV series instead of sending the job application or mowing the lawn. You don't have to turn yourself upside down and forbid yourself all kind of pleasure to become a super human. In fact, some tiny adjustments in your daily routine can already lead to an impressive outcome. Let us introduce you to some useful habits that are incredibly easy to apply:

1) Plan your day

Imagine there were no timetables at school. The children would not know where to go or which class to take at what time - they would be completely lost and probably stay home. Well, the life after school works about the same way. At least it does for me. I can have 100 ideas about what I could do or what should be done - if I have no clear schedule, I will most likely do nothing at all and be completely dissatisfied afterwards.

This is why I sit down for 5 minutes every evening before going to bed, to prepare a small timetable for the next day. This gives me a rough overview about my priorities and the doability of certain tasks. Of course, I don't always fully stick to the plan. There can be unforseen events that need my attention or maybe it takes a bit longer than expected to finish one task, so I have to adapt the rest of the plan. The main objective here is to have the tasks written down and allocated to a certain time frame. This makes it harder to find excuses why we cannot take care of them.

2) Find a routine

You know best whether your're rather a morning or an evening person. No matter what time of the day works best for you, we recommend to develop a routine to begin / end the day (or even both, if you like). In the morning, this could for example be waking up a bit earlier than usual and use this time to stretch, meditate or read. No duties, no evaluation. Just some time for yourself, to free your mind and find some strength for the day ahead.

In the evening, it would mean to turn off the TV a bit earlier to take a bath, read or do some yoga. It will also give you time to take a step back, review the day (either in your head or by means of a diary) and prepare your schedule for the next one. In any case, there should be no interruption involved. Turn off your phone and close the door - this period is reserved for yourself only.

3) Do it now!

One of the most important points (or maybe even the most important one) is to simply START! German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe already knew this in the late 18th century: "Success has three letters: ACT(ION)!" Research and planning are definitely necessary, but they have no value if the plans are never put into action. If you leave the dishes for tomorrow, you will find even more dirty plates and saucepans in the sink the next day. The bank account won't close itself magically, and the phone call will only take two minutes. Don't wait for the right moment to do something, or you will most likely wait forever (or at least too long). Now is the right moment! Even if you only have half an hour before you have to leave for dancing class, it's enough time to START. You don't have to finish the first time, but one small, concrete step is better than an elaborate plan or good intentions. And I can guarantee that you will be amazed about how much you can actually accomplish in only a few minutes.

4) An apple a day...

It is not only about our visible actions. The way we are treating our body also has a great influence on our overall wellbeing. Nutrition and exercise are the two keywords in this matter. Try to eat a juicy fruit for dessert instead of the usual chocolate bar. This is not supposed to be a harangue about the negative effects of sugar, please treat yourself as much as you want - you deserve it! Simply smuggle in at least one fruit or a small dose of veggies per day (the more, the better) to give your body some vitamines and thus energy.

Same goes for physical activity. Maybe you can get off the tram one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way to work. Or you find a time slot in your weekly schedule to go for a small jogging tour. You don't have to become a bodybuilder or sign up for the next marathon - it is many pennies that make a dollar!

5) And don't forget to smile

Have you looked into the mirror today? Try it right now, look at you - and smile! How does this simple movement of your facial muscles make you feel? Yes, our mimic can influence our mood. With this secret weapon, there is almost nothing left that can get in your way. When you're feeling stressed or down, take a deep breath and smile. This simple habit won't solve all your problems, but it can make it easier to deal with them. Because everything seems a little less overwhelming and easier to tackle when you are in a good mood.

And the best thing is: laughing is not only healthy, it is infectious as well! So if you share a cheerful smile with someone (a colleague, the cashier, the lady that walks her dog), it won't only brighten your day, but theirs as well!

Some further advice about this topic can be found in our articles "How To Get Things Done" and "How To Gain Time". Enjoy!