Tiny Habits That Can Change Your Life and Career

When it comes to the daily grind, time seems to keep passing by – yet many things remain the same.

We are so busy trying to get things done and keeping our heads above water that we don’t take real time to think about things like balance, self-care, or making necessary changes.

Little do we realize that small tweaks at home and at work might create opportunities for us to have true balance.

They can even help us achieve that elusive success.

Let’s look at five tiny habits you can implement today to control the chaos – and start changing your life and career.

Tiny Habits That Can Change Your Life and Career

1. Embrace the concept of a “clean slate” at work.

This involves implementing a few simple routines and organizational tools upfront.

This will save you time in the long run, and will leave you feeling satisfied at the start – and end – of your day.

For example:

• Create folders in your e-mail inbox by person and topic. Be sure to move applicable items there. The feeling of a clean inbox can reduce anxiety and enables you to find important material faster!
• Write phone messages on a notepad next to you each day.
• Return each call.
• Note the status of what you were able to do, what needs to be done, and cross out which ones have been taken care of.
• Complete your list before you leave work.

Nothing feels better than looking at the list and knowing that you have attended to every person, every item, and every task you started with.

Yes, more may come in later.

But these were your starting tasks.

You are leaving with everything crossed off, a clean slate for the day.

You can start tomorrow with a clean slate as well.

You’re more organized: able to look at a detailed history of each item you did, each person you spoke to, and each item you completed.

A well-structured system and way of doing things is mentally good for you.

It’s also a nice feeling to walk away with a complete sense of accomplishment for the day.

2. Surround yourself with people who nourish your soul, NOT people who infect it.

Think about the people you chose to be with.

Don’t feel guilty about setting boundaries, no matter who they are.

Be honest if someone is a “toxic” person in your life.

Surround yourself with folks who build you up, support you, are honest but fair with you, and those who have your best interests at heart.

We of course need people who are going to tell us the truth.

But remember that truth can be told with kindness.

We can give ourselves permission to distance ourselves from or let people go.

These are individuals who make us feel bad about ourselves or take every chance they can get to criticize our every choice.

There is enough negativity in the world.

We don’t need to have it in those closest to us.

You will be amazed at the difference when you give yourself permission to set healthy boundaries.

So surround yourself with healthy relationships.

Stop feeling like you must endure unhealthy ones.

3. Clutter creates anxiety more than you realize.

Whether it’s your home or your workspace, getting organized makes a huge difference in your state of mind.

So start practicing tiny habits that create structure.

At work:

Get those piles into drawers and desktop storage.

File folders are your friends!

Label by topic, date, etc.

Having things organized and at your fingertips will save you time and a great deal of anxiety.

Have trays for things that are needed on a daily or weekly basis.

Organize your office supplies neatly.

Remember that your desk is also a presentation of who you are.

You may think that those piles make you look busy – but they really make you look disorganized.

Create your own system so that you can locate anything instantly.

That is more impressive than a pile.

At home:

Think more in terms of scaling down to get organized.

Make it a goal to make your space your solace.

Organize, donate, and find a place for everything.

If you have not used it in a year, consider donating.

If things belong together, group them.

Get the right storage to hold things.

Group things where they make the most sense.

Move things where they work and function best.

Get rid of things that no longer work, are expired, are outdated, or that could benefit someone else more than sitting in a pile at your home.

You will not miss them.

You will probably feel pretty good for sharing the love.

Nothing feels better than having a fully functional home where you can live and breathe; where there is no clutter, and where everything has a place.

4. Practice good, daily self-care.

It may seem so simple, yet we all seem to fall short when it comes to this vital area that impacts our lives and our careers.

If we practice tiny habits of self-care, we function better, perform better, and surely, improve our opportunities for success.

Good self-care includes things, such as:

• Getting enough sleep each night. This includes going to bed and getting up at the same time, seven days a week. When going to bed, there should be NO electronics, including screens or cell phones, as they stimulate the mind and keep you awake.
• Eating food that nourishes you – such as whole foods, not processed foods.
• Drinking eight glasses of water each day.
• Enjoying treats in moderation, no need to crash diet!
• Be sure to wake up 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual to ease into your day, and allow yourself to practice your morning routine.

Whether it be reading the paper, listening to a podcast, watching a TV show, doing yoga, or morning meditation, how you begin sets the tone for the day.

So set aside time in the morning so you are not rushed.

This is an essential part of your day.

If you start rushed, you are going to feel that way the whole day.

Starting with balance leads to a balanced day.

5. Self-talk is one of the most powerful habits we can change.

If we think about how often we thought something negative about ourselves, someone else, or about a situation, we would see how powerful negative self-talk can be.

Now think about how better our lives could be if we stopped ourselves before doing it.

It’s possible – but it takes effort and conscious work.

You simply need to pay attention and catch yourself.

But as you do, the difference can be profound.

You start to see how by removing negativity and replacing it with realistic thinking, you feel more balanced.

Imagine the impact it can have on your work and relationships, to not see things in the worst possible light?

By implementing these tiny habits, you can bring about tremendous changes to your work and personal life.

A few would only be one-time tasks.

While others require minimal, but – hopefully welcome – effort.

If things are not working well in these areas of your life, why not give these tiny habits a chance?

You will at least be a little more organized.

And hopefully, be well-rested at the end.