Making big changes in life is all about hitting singles. My brother used to tell me that about business (and he’s right), but this also applies to making changes in other areas of your life as well.
It’s the little things, done consistently, that provide lasting change and produce the greatest results over time. Let’s take weight loss for example. If you want to drop 10 pounds, then do you try to spend 12 hours a day for three days straight at the gym or do you make the decision to go for an hour several times each week and make small choices in your nutrition to move the bar?
The answer is obvious here – it’s the little things done consistently that move the needle and make a lasting impact.
Then why is it that we don’t use these rules in other areas of our life? It’s because it’s just easier not to. As your day goes by, it’s easier to do what you’ve always done and forget about the change you want to make. You conveniently forget. Another year goes by, and you’re in the same place you were before if not worse off as it relates to your goals.
Short of having someone follow you around all day to remind you to do those little things in your life, there is a way to keep yourself in check. How?
By leveraging the super computer that you carry with you at all times, your smartphone, you can set reminders at regular intervals to keep you on track.
This is easy to do, therefore it’s easy not to do… so grab your phone and let’s get this done now.
Step 1: Decide on a habit, thought, or feeling that you’d like to have. Some examples could be:
- Get up from my desk and move
- Text my spouse or loved one to let them know I love them
- Ask myself, am I breathing from my chest or stomach?
- “I love myself, and I am perfect just the way I am!”
- Do 10 pushups
- Drink a glass of water
- Take 10 deep breathes and enjoy this moment
You can choose whatever you’d like, and you can also change it anytime. Don’t get caught up in making this perfect – that’s an excuse. The important thing is to pick something and start now.
Step 2: Set your first alarm 1-2 hours after you wake up and in place of where it says “Alarm” change the wording to what you want to focus on. For example, I’m very cerebral and therefore am working on being in my heart more. It’s a bit esoteric for me, but I’m trying it, so I have my alarm set to say “Head or Heart?”. Alternatively, you can set this to be your alarm for when you wake up as well.
Step 3: Set this alarm to go off every day.
Step 4: Set another alarm to go off every two hours (or hour) thereafter. Start with 6 total alarms and change each one to follow steps #1 and #2. Note: the alarms should be consistent or have a consistent theme. For example, I have mine set to say the same thing and will do this as long as it serves me or until it becomes a natural practice for me. Alternatively, you can set it around a theme. Here’s an example of what you could consider doing if your goal was to get into better shape:
6:00 AM: 10 pushups
8:00 AM: 50 jumping jacks
10:00 AM: 20 flights of stairs at the office
12:00 PM: Fuel my body with nutrition
2:00 PM: 10 pushups
4:00 PM: 30 air squats
Step 5: Enjoy. Life is a journey to be enjoyed. It is human nature to fight this process and want to simply hit the snooze on your alarm or take them off all together. I challenge you to remember why you decided to make these changes. You’ve read this far, so there’s certainly something you’re interested in changing in your life. This is an easy and simple process that works.
I’d love to hear how this works for you and what you decided to work on. Please let me know in the comments below or by shooting me a message via email or on Facebook.
Here’s to the new you!
I've helped thousands of people break through personal barriers and grow their business to heights previously unimagined. Read more 
