What Are Some Small Changes that Make a Big Difference?
Discover the power of small changes as 20 successful professionals, including founders, CEOs, and directors, share the tweaks they’ve made in their lives or at work that have led to big improvements. From embracing a self-care routine to understanding your chronotype, these insights will inspire you to make impactful adjustments in your own life.
- Embrace Self-Care
- Establish a Daily Morning Routine
- Boost Productivity with Body Doubling
- Unlock Clarity and Success with Journaling
- Practice Daily Gratitude
- Experience Hypnosis for Personal Growth
- Reap Benefits of Quitting Caffeine
- Jump into Morning Exercise
- Incorporate Mindfulness Daily
- Try a Four-Day Workweek
- Change Your Workout Schedule
- Simplify Life and Work
- Limit Morning Communication
- Commit to Continuous Learning
- Schedule Timely Cleaning Habits
- Prioritize and Delegate Tasks
- Create a Clutter-Free Workspace
- Adapt and Stay Active Abroad
- Implement a Digital Detox
- Understand Your Chronotype
Embrace Self-Care
One thing I’ve learned throughout my journey is that setting and sticking to a self-care routine is essential to self-care. It’s about creating a sacred space for yourself, where you can recharge, refocus, and show up as your best self.
A self-care routine acts as a daily anchor, reminding us to prioritize our physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s about carving out time for activities that nourish our body and soul, whether it’s practicing mindfulness, a skincare routine, workouts, or engaging in activities that bring us joy and relaxation.
Diane Howard
Founder, Esthetic Finesse
Establish a Daily Morning Routine
As a serial entrepreneur, I have learned the importance of constantly seeking out ways to improve my productivity and efficiency. One small change that has made a big difference for me is implementing a daily morning routine.
I used to wake up and immediately check my phone or start working on my computer, but I found that this often led to a scattered and unfocused day. Now, I wake up at the same time every day and spend the first 30 minutes doing a series of activities that help me start the day on the right foot.
I begin with some light stretching or yoga to wake up my body and get my blood flowing. I then spend a few minutes practicing mindfulness meditation to clear my mind and set intentions for the day. Next, I make a cup of coffee and spend some time journaling to reflect on my goals and priorities for the day ahead.
Matthew Ramirez
CEO, Paraphrasing Tool
Boost Productivity with Body Doubling
Today, a lot of work is done remotely or at least in an individual capacity, which can really hamper productivity. One trick I’ve seen some success in is “body doubling” or having a stranger see you work.
The resource for this is Focusmate, an online platform that randomly connects you over a webcam to a total stranger for just under an hour, where you both can observe each other while getting your work done.
Not only does this give you a small feeling of being in a workplace, but also knowing someone’s able to see you makes it less likely that you’ll put down your work to do something unimportant.
Manasvini Krishna
Founder, Boss as a Service
Unlock Clarity and Success with Journaling
Every day, I adopted a simple practice that transformed my life and work: journaling. By dedicating a few minutes each morning to jot down my thoughts, goals, and tasks, I unleashed a wave of productivity and clarity. The impact was astounding.
According to a study by the Dominican University of California, individuals who write their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Similarly, journaling enabled me to prioritize effectively, organize my ideas, and track my progress. The structure it provided guided me toward success.
For instance, by maintaining a work journal, I boosted my productivity by 25% within a month. This small change revolutionized my daily routine, offering a clear roadmap to accomplishment.
Himanshu Sharma
CEO and Founder, Academy of Digital Marketing
Practice Daily Gratitude
I have implemented a daily gratitude practice. Taking a few minutes each day to reflect on and express gratitude for the positive aspects of my life has had a profound impact. It helps to shift my focus towards appreciation, fostering a positive mindset, reducing stress, and enhancing my overall well-being.
Ben McInerney
Director, Go Tree Quotes
Experience Hypnosis for Personal Growth
I regularly see a hypnotist to work on challenges in my life. I have been doing this for years and it has helped me with anxiety, leadership, relationships, and more. I am 100% a believer in the power of hypnosis. My hypnotist is very much a guru and has impacted my life in multiple positive ways.
David Wachs
Founder and CEO, Handwrytten
Reap Benefits of Quitting Caffeine
Quitting caffeine is a slight change that has made a big difference. Caffeine, commonly found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks, can have stimulating effects that contribute to restlessness, anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns.
By eliminating caffeine intake, I’ve improved my quality of sleep, reduced jitteriness, and had a more balanced energy level throughout the day. This change has also improved my focus, enhanced my overall well-being, and increased my productivity.
Josh Amishav
Founder and CEO, Breachsense
Jump into Morning Exercise
Starting my day with a 30-minute run or workout session has made a tremendous difference in my productivity, focus, and overall well-being. It sets a positive tone for the rest of the day and helps me feel energized and mentally sharp.
Making time for exercise in the morning has also helped me establish a routine and stick to it consistently. It has become a small habit that has had a big impact on my life and work.
Jefferson McCall
Co-founder and HR Head, TechBullish
Incorporate Mindfulness Daily
One minor change I’ve made that has had a significant impact is incorporating the practice of mindfulness into my daily routine. My days can often be filled with back-to-back meetings, decision-making, and problem-solving, which can sometimes be overwhelming.
I started dedicating 10 minutes each morning to mindfulness meditation. This practice has helped me to start my day on a calm note, reducing stress and anxiety. It has also improved my focus and attention throughout the day, making me more effective in my work.
More than just those 10 minutes, I try to bring mindfulness into my everyday activities—being fully present in meetings, attentively listening to others, and taking mindful breaks. This small change has made a big difference in my overall mental well-being and productivity. It’s a practice I would highly recommend to anyone, regardless of their profession or level of experience.
Bowen Khong
CEO, GameDayr
Try a Four-Day Workweek
A three-day weekend isn’t just for holidays anymore. In 2022, I shifted to a four-day week and never looked back. Having Fridays for myself has improved my mental health and made it easier to prioritize self-care. I use this day for errands, housework, or personal projects I never had time for before. I’m happier, plus I find it easier to disconnect from work.
Alli Hill
Founder and Director, Fleurish Freelance
Change Your Workout Schedule
For years, I would go to the gym every Monday morning. This really compounded the stress of a usually packed Monday. Not only would I have a long day of meetings ahead, but I would be completely tired midday because I woke up very early and expended a ton of energy.
I find workouts to be refreshing in their own way, but also a strong jolt at the start of the week. When I moved my workout to Tuesday, I was much more consistent and felt much less pressure to get to bed early on Sunday nights.
Trevor Ewen
COO, QBench
Simplify Life and Work
I’ve spent a good amount of time and energy simplifying things in my business. I used to use many tools and resources to run my business and now my focus is more on answering this question: How can I simplify this?
Simplifying my business has bled into simplifying my personal life as well. I try to take small steps to do this whenever I can, such as spending a few minutes decluttering a space.
Kelli Anderson
Career Coach, Resume Seed
Limit Morning Communication
I keep my phone on airplane mode and don’t check email, WhatsApp, or any other means of communication before lunchtime. This allows me to fully focus on my most important task of the day and is actually way less tiring than having to toggle between different tools and topics. It’s very rare that someone needs me urgently and the people I’m most in contact with know I won’t get back to them before a certain time.
It has freed up a lot of mental space and has made my mornings calmer.
Sofie Couwenbergh
Content Strategist and Writer, Let Me Write That Down for You
Commit to Continuous Learning
Cultivating a habit of continuous learning and personal growth has made a significant difference in my life. By dedicating time each day to expand my knowledge and skills, I have experienced professional growth, gained confidence, and opened doors to new opportunities.
Whether it’s reading books, taking online courses, or attending webinars, this small change has had a transformative impact on my mindset, career trajectory, and overall fulfillment. It has fueled my curiosity, kept me adaptable in a rapidly evolving world, and empowered me to embrace lifelong learning as a source of personal and professional development.
Ben Lau
Founder, Featured SEO Company
Schedule Timely Cleaning Habits
One slight change I’ve made is to not procrastinate in cleaning up. If you think about it, things like making your bed in the morning or cleaning your dishes right away only require around two minutes of your time. Your daily routine and your attitude can be greatly affected by those seemingly unimportant little things.
When you return home, your bedroom won’t be a complete disaster with empty water bottles, clothes, and pillows strewn around. Neither will the dishes keep piling up. Even though it might not seem important, picking up after yourself straight away encourages the development of other positive habits.
Knowing that you had a good start to the day also kind of gives you a little sense of success. Although it’s a minor adjustment, it can have a significant impact. Picking up those small items and tidying them up or putting them away “as you go” is far simpler than having to spend a whole day cleaning your home. You won’t be angry or resentful with yourself when you return.
Joe Li
Managing Director, CheckYa
Prioritize and Delegate Tasks
Making a conscious effort to prioritize and delegate tasks has made a significant difference in my work life. By identifying the most important tasks and tackling those first, I’m able to manage my time and workload more efficiently.
Delegating tasks to team members who have the expertise and capacity to handle them has also freed up my time to focus on higher-level projects and strategic planning. This combination of prioritizing and delegating has allowed me to be more productive, less stressed, and ultimately more successful in my career.
Basana Saha
Founder, KidsCareIdeas
Create a Clutter-Free Workspace
One minor change I’ve made in my life that has made a big difference for me is implementing a clutter-free workspace.
By decluttering my desk and organizing my work area, I have experienced improved focus, increased productivity, and reduced stress. Having a clean and organized workspace allows me to find things easily, eliminates distractions, and creates a more peaceful and conducive environment for work. It helps me stay focused on my tasks, enhances my creativity, and boosts my overall efficiency.
I have noticed that when my workspace is tidy, my mind feels clearer, and I am better able to concentrate on the important tasks at hand. Additionally, a clutter-free workspace has made it easier for me to prioritize and manage my workload effectively. I highly recommend this small change to anyone looking to enhance their productivity and create a more pleasant work environment.
Roy Lau
Co-founder, 28 Mortgage
Adapt and Stay Active Abroad
I have spent some time living alone working remotely, and it can be very overwhelming at first. Here are some of my best tips to make the time not seem as bad, and you may actually get something out of it!
Try to participate in anything. It can center on a hobby you already have, such as joining a reading club, sports team, or acting troupe. On the other hand, since you instantly have something in common when you learn something new, it’s a terrific way to meet new people. Although learning a language is a no-brainer, you may also try something more challenging, like taking up golf, public speaking, or coding.
By giving to those in need, you may also battle loneliness. You gain perspective and are certain to make the necessary human connections.
Aiden Higgins
Senior Editor and Writer, The Broke Backpacker
Implement a Digital Detox
One slight change that has made a big difference for me is implementing a digital detox. Taking regular breaks from electronic devices and reducing screen time has improved my focus, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
By intentionally disconnecting from screens, I have created space for mindfulness, creativity, and deeper connections with others. These breaks have allowed me to recharge, reduce digital distractions, and be more present in the moment.
Whether it’s taking short breaks throughout the day, designating device-free evenings, or incorporating screen-free activities into my routine, the digital detox has had a transformative impact on my productivity, mental health, and overall quality of life.
Jason Cheung
Operations Manager, Credit KO
Understand Your Chronotype
Becoming aware of my sleep patterns and energy levels during the day has incredibly influenced my well-being.
Society favors early birds. Business hours, morning meetings, medical appointments, and the education system have convinced us that waking up early makes you a winner. Otherwise, you are considered lazy, irresponsible, or, at best, disorganized.
Once I realized I am not all these things, but my chronotype is simply atypical, I rescheduled my life to suit my energy levels.
Whenever I could, I started working in the evening. I found out it took me 15 minutes to complete the tasks I struggled with for an hour in the morning. I stopped setting up an alarm clock and innumerable snoozes, the nightmare I had lived with for 30 years.
With the discovery that my brain can be as sharp and efficient as the others’ came the confidence. After all, nothing is more painful than negotiating an important deal when you can barely keep your eyes open.
Martyna Szczesniak
Community Expert, MyPerfectResume
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