Small Changes Are Big Changes

Summary

The author outlines five small morning routine changes that have significantly improved their daily well-being and productivity.

Abstract

The article "Small Changes Are Big Changes" discusses the author's transformation from a stressful morning routine to a more mindful and relaxed start to the day. By waking up an hour earlier, the author has time to mentally prepare for the day without feeling rushed. Investing in personal development, such as reading and writing, has also become a part of the morning ritual, fostering a sense of accomplishment. Packing a healthy lunch saves money, avoids the mid-day energy crash, and increases productivity. Incorporating stretching and meditation, even for a short duration, helps to wake up the body and calm the mind. Lastly, listening to podcasts during the commute eases the transition into social interactions at work. These small changes collectively have led to significant improvements in the author's daily life.

Opinions

The author believes that waking up earlier provides a more relaxed start to the day compared to getting more sleep but feeling rushed.
Personal investment in the morning, such as engaging in a passion like writing, is seen as crucial for personal growth and satisfaction.
Packing a lunch is not only cost-effective but also healthier and more time-

Small Changes Are Big Changes

Feeling stressed in the morning? Here are some small changes in my morning routine that changed my whole day.

I’ve never been a morning person. The soundtrack of my morning has always been my alarm going off at least twelve times after hitting snooze time and again, my grumbling complaint about having to get up. Then, waking up in panic because I dozed off and didn’t hear my snooze alarm which means I only have ten minutes to get dressed and get out of the door. Sound a little familiar? Since returning to work after following stay at home orders, I decided I was tired of constantly feeling in a rush first thing in the morning, so I’ve made some small changes that have carried onto even bigger changes in my day.

1. Wake up an hour earlier than usual

I used to have the mindset that in order to not feel tired throughout the day, I needed to get as much sleep as possible, even if it meant only having 10-30 minutes to get ready and leave the house. At least I got more sleep, right? Well, I’ve found that I was wrong. Yes, getting a good night’s sleep is important, but from what I’ve found, waking up and having to stress about time first thing in the morning wasn’t exactly a great energy booster. Over the past week, I started waking up an hour earlier, leaving me with an hour and a half to relax and get ready for my day. Having this time to slowly wake up, not feel stressed and pressed for time has actually given me time to feel fully awake before stumbling through the doors at work.

2. Invest in yourself at the start of the day

Something that I would think about throughout the week is that I felt there was barely enough time for myself throughout my work week. By the time I got home after a nine hour work day, I would be too tired to do anything more than make dinner, take a shower and maybe watch a show or read a book. Writing is one of the things that I am most passionate about, and want to get better at, but writing while feeling exhausted was giving me major writer’s block. First thing in the morning while I am eating my breakfast and sipping some tea, I read a Medium article or two, jot down some of my own ideas for a new article, or read a few pages of a book. Doing these things in the morning when I am just starting my day after a restful sleep makes me feel more positive going into the day knowing that I did something for me, before I have to go to work and do things for others.

3. Pack a lunch

I was spending at least $55 a week on eating out for lunch, so I decided to pack a healthy lunch in the morning to cut my spending. I found that by doing this it was not only saving me money, but also buying myself back time skipping the process of driving somewhere to get a bite to eat. Also, by not eating fast food I didn’t feel that mid-day crash that I would usually feel. After lunch I would usually feel like I was struggling to keep my eyes open, when now I actually feel more energized after lunch, making my productivity consistent from the beginning of the day to the end with my new level of focus after eating.

4. Stretch and meditate

Stretching and meditation doesn’t have to mean an hour long yoga flow, even just 5–10 minutes, or whatever amount of time you have is great for waking up the body and quieting the mind. Some mornings to keep track of time I turn on two songs that I find relaxing and do my stretches for a song and a half, then sit in stillness for the last half of the last song. Some mornings may call for only 3 minutes of stillness, and that’s good too! Find what you feel called to do each morning and be open to changes in the routine.

5. Listen to a podcast

Some days on my commute to work, I will listen to a podcast, because in some way, I feel like it eases me into in-person interactions. Taking some time to hear other’s viewpoints on topics, comedian’s banter with each other, or educational podcasts is very relaxing for me and I personally like having the chance to just listen to others and not have to respond first thing in the morning. Once I get to work I feel much more sociable, ready to initiate and participate in conversation with my coworkers.

If you’re feeling weighed down by daily demands, start by thinking of one attainable change that could be made and who knows, that one thing could change how you feel each day.