29 Days of Small Changes

Lifestyle


Editors’ note: This post has been edited after publication. We review every post to ensure this place is a safe and inclusive space for all our readers and regret that we didn’t remove the polarizing language before publication. Thank you to the commenters who used their voice to speak up! 

The majority of us want to make one change or another in our lives, but how do we get changes to stick? Or when’s the perfect time to try a new thing you’ve been wanting to? What are some small changes to make your life exponentially better? Sometimes change can be uncomfortable, and that’s okay. Breathe and lean into the discomfort. You know yourself best and what’s best for you right now, so pick and choose from these ideas below accordingly. Start anytime, and do as many as or as few as you’d like. 

    1. Put a water glass by every sink and at your desk
    2. Figure out how much sleep you need and GET IT
    3. Abandon social media for a day
    4. Take an alternate route or transportation to work
    5. Avoid doing emotional labor for others in your workplace
    6. Get a lynda.com subscription and learn something weird or new
    7. Buy a houseplant and research how to take care of it (then, take care of it)
    8. Sit at the bar with a friend and order all the small plates
    9. Unsubscribe instead of delete unwanted emails
    10. Try kombucha or kvass to improve your gut’s health
    11. Have two friends over that don’t know each other, but should
    12. Start making your bed. A fresh bed is so much better to get in to.
    13. Get a library card (And use the online request system! It’s amazing.)
    14. Put a nail file in your car
    15. Go to the movies by yourself in the middle of the day
    16. Practice what you’d say if you witness racial or religious discrimination
    17. Stay home on Friday and write emails to your representatives about what matters to you
    18. Practice saying, “Hmm, I don’t know.”
    19. Pay attention to only one reliable news source, once a day
    20. Try doing breathwork
    21. Make an effort to check in with your neighbor(s)
    22. Delete all emails more than 30 days old (and never look back)
    23. Put five snacks in your work bag
    24. Put a lamp where you always need one
    25. Say no to plans that don’t sound fun
    26. Delete that toxic person from your phone
    27. Start practicing intersectional feminism
    28. Try oysters (or another food you’ve always avoided)
    29. Get a fresh notebook—always the best feeling.

If you’re feeling inspired, check out my last post about bettering your everyday life in small and meaningful ways.

Image via Jen Peters


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BY Kate O'Reilly - February 3, 2018

35 Comments
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This is a great list to begin making positive differences to our lives. Thank you! 🙂

Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com

February 3, 2018 10:32 am

I like what you suggest!
With love from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com

February 3, 2018 10:59 am

I’ve listened to some of my favorite podcasters describe their experiences doing breathwork, it was honestly fascinating. I think they were more surprised than anyone with it, especially since their show is all about being skeptics. If the opportunity arose, I’d do it in a heartbeat!

Lucy
February 3, 2018 11:30 am

Maybe ‘privilege’ instead of ‘whiteness’? To assume makes an ass of u and me!

anna
February 4, 2018 3:01 pm
Reply to  Kate O'Reilly

I agree with Lucy that this should be changed in the piece. It implies you imagine your entire readership is white.

lilly
February 5, 2018 2:05 pm
Reply to  Kate O'Reilly

Seriously, I agree with Anna & Lucy. Why do you assume we’re all white and that’s the norm? (Not asking for an answer, but it’s worth examining yourself.)
It’s especially galling in a prescriptive list positioned as ‘what to do’ vs ‘here’s what I’m doing’. What a tone-deaf sentence and response.

February 5, 2018 12:57 pm
Reply to  Lucy

Lucy, we review every post to ensure this place is a safe and inclusive space for all our readers and regret that we didn’t remove this polarizing language before publication. Thank you for using your voice to speak up. I appreciate your comment.

February 3, 2018 3:47 pm

I’ve unsubscribed from a few e-mail lists I was put in and it literally is the best decision ever. Also, I’ve been trying to get a fresh notebook myself! I’ve never tried kombucha though.
I really adore this list, and the small changes seem really doable.
Have a lovely weekend xo

Joanne | With Risa: A Lifestyle Blog

Lauren
February 3, 2018 5:33 pm

Did you know a lot of libraries offer free access to Lynda.com? It’s such a great tool! Love a lot of these and will probably start implementing in my own life… perhaps starting with abandoning social media tomorrow?!

Hannah
February 3, 2018 7:54 pm

What wonderful ideas! And I appreciate how manageable they all seem, nothing too ridiculous.

I love this list, thank you so much for making this, Kate. 🙂

February 3, 2018 7:58 pm

I love this list! I started 2018 with a plan to implement little changes like this in my life by using a habit tracker in a bullet journal. Little things like “Moisturize each night before bed” and things like that. It really does a make a difference in your daily life!

February 4, 2018 6:48 am

I’m stuck on number 9 Read an article about using your whiteness for good

February 5, 2018 1:03 pm
Reply to  christina dem

Christina, I deeply apologize that I did not catch and remove this note before publishing, I review every post to ensure this place is a safe and inclusive space for all our readers and regret that we didn’t remove this polarizing language before publication. Thank you so much for your comment.

Amy
February 4, 2018 7:38 am

I’m with you on the fresh notebooks. I have stacks of them, all with about three to five pages used. Still, I buy more. I’ll add to your list two things: put floss in your car, and take a bath – a real bath, with epsom salts and body oils and dim lights and no interruptions and a book. It works best if, after an hour, you have to add more hot water.

Another Amy
February 4, 2018 1:41 pm

I agree with the several commenters who have bristled at #9: read an article about using your whiteness for good. This is tone deaf. So is brushing off the gentle reminder to not assume all your readers are white as “use whichever word works for you!”

Four individual commenters have taken offense at this. Might be worth recognizing that.

February 5, 2018 1:00 pm
Reply to  Another Amy

I deeply apologize for not catching this note before publishing this article, we review every post to ensure this place is a safe and inclusive space for all our readers and regret that we didn’t remove #9. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate you speaking up.

February 6, 2018 4:45 am

I love the idea..

February 6, 2018 4:47 am

thanku for sharing .. I appreciate your comment.

Lee
February 6, 2018 9:40 pm

I agree on everyone’s sentiment’s on the now edited #9. It took me a few days to process and diminished a once daily read into a pure avoidance. Perhaps, this little place of the internet, is also another avenue in which white women declare their authority on morale and good excluding all others in the process. I really am taken aback by the tone of the writer’s dismissive attitude in her replies to comments she received. The utter tone deafness, “some of these comments will be for some people, and some won’t” is the exact issue with the writer. I… Read more »

February 13, 2018 4:11 am

i love the unic idea

February 13, 2018 4:11 am

i love it ..

[…] Taková milá malá výzva. 30 dní malých změn. […]

March 15, 2018 10:18 pm

[…] 30 days of small changes. […]

[…] Days of small […]

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