Yahoo Lifestyle 16 Small But Life-Changing Habits That Miiiight Just Shift Your World A Whole Lot
Recently Reddit user VanessaEstrada asked the community, "What small habit changed your life significantly?"
Well, these habits may be small, but oh lordy, have they had a huge impact on many lives!!! Like, I wouldn't have thought of half of these things...I'm definitely getting my pen and notepad out.
So, here are some small but life-changing habits that miiiiight just work for you:
1."Being okay with accomplishing little things is better than accomplishing nothing. If I don’t have a big workout in me, a 10-minute walk is better than nothing. If my bathroom is messy and I don’t have time to clean it, just wiping down my sink still makes a big difference. My whole mindset and life has really changed with this."
2."Saying positive things about myself/affirmations out loud when I’m home helped me quiet my inside voice significantly. I definitely don’t have as many intrusive thoughts as I used to have. I noticed it the other day and thought to myself, 'Huh. Maybe it has been working.' I was skeptical at first, but I’ve been doing this for months now. I went through some hard times earlier in the year, and it was part of the healing process for me."
3."Waiting at least a week before making any purchase that wasn’t an actual need right then and there. I’ve really cut down on spending and have fewer 'needless' things. For big purchases, I try to limit it to at least a month. It's really amazing how much stuff you might want and think you need at the moment, but are totally fine without them a week later."
4."After I started putting things strictly in designated places, be it underwear, socks, office work, or pens and spare cables, life got easier. You need to have a designated place for everything — it saves you time and money."
5."Learning to become an active, engaged listener, as opposed to merely looking for an opportunity to talk about myself. The secret to being a great conversationalist is being more interested in learning about the other person than you are in discussing yourself. It's not even that much of a skill. It's an attitude towards others."
"It's wild how your life changes with that simple shift. You're respected more in meetings, your company gets sought out, and your friendships are more trustworthy. You learn more about the world and the people around you. Even the most routine interactions have the potential to become interesting.
At the same time, it becomes a litmus test when meeting someone new. Not only do you become more adept in the small, self-revelatory nuances of what others say, but you also learn who they are. Because if someone still has no interest in you after several minutes of talking about themselves, you know what kind of person you're dealing with."
6."Letting things go because I've realized I can't control everything. Sometimes things just won't work, and that's okay."
7."Practicing gratitude. For everything that goes well, say, 'thank you.' Found a good parking space? 'Thank you.' Woke up this morning? 'Thank you.' Husband made you coffee? 'Thank you.' The more grateful you are, the more you realize how much good there is in the world and your life, and you'll become happier and more resilient. Less anxious."
"I started doing this in Thailand and learned about Buddhism. Be mindful. Be present. Understand that the desire to want things makes us unhappy. Being grateful for what we have makes us less unhappy.
It’s not just a cheesy sign you hang on the wall — it’s an exercise for your mind. It works."
8."Washing the dishes right after eating. I used to put them in the sink with some water and wash them when needed. It turns out that washing right after eating...makes it easier to wash (obviously, duh). And, since I don't have the mindset that 'I have to wash the dishes before cooking,' I tend to cook more and better. I know that sounds weird, but that's what it did for me."
9."I switched my 30-minute dog walk to the morning. It’s the very first thing I do, and it really sets the tone for the rest of the day. I was already a morning workout person, but indoors. There's something about being in the outside air first thing with my adorable pupper that makes me feel so freaking happy. It's a vibe 😊."
10."Being honest about my feelings and not swallowing or ignoring them. I have deeper relationships with everyone in my life now, and they never have to question where they stand with me. I also don’t overthink or feel insecure about people’s opinions of me anymore."
11."Deciding to 'think about something later' when I'm in a better headspace."
12."A small habit that really changed my life was setting aside just five minutes every morning to reflect and plan my day. It doesn’t sound like much, but those few minutes helped me organize my thoughts, set clear intentions, and approach the day with purpose. It’s like a mental reset that helps me avoid being overwhelmed and makes it easier to stay focused on what matters."
13."I stopped throwing dirty clothes on the floor and put things back that I tried on and didn't want to wear. My life became so much less cluttered."
14."I dance five to 15 minutes in my backyard everyday. I wear earbuds and listen to whatever sounds good. I look ridiculous and laugh, and my dog runs around. It makes a huge impact on my mood."
15."Deep clean at least one thing every day. A sink, a toilet, a rug, a dog bed, the disposal, the inside of the trash can, the fridge shelves, or the bed sheets. Just at least one thing each day."
16.And finally, "Every time you think of something 'negative,' like a personal failure, an event, something unfortunate, be honest with yourself about how awful something is. But then balance the books with a separate follow-up that has a positive connotation."
"A few examples of this:
-Someone passed away who meant the world to me, and it's making me so down and upset. But they gave me qualities that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life and will help keep their spirit alive.
-I've just broken up with someone and I thought that they were the one. I feel so broken. But, at least it means I now have the possibility of being happier with someone else or don't have to deal with that person's nonsense anymore."
In conclusion:
Note: Some submissions were edited for length and/or clarity.
