10 tiny changes that could transform your life

When it comes to your health and happiness, a boost may always feel welcome. But ditching unhelpful habits and making positive changes isn’t always easy.

Yet interestingly, even tiny tweaks to your daily routine could have a big impact on your health, wellbeing, and happiness.

Read on to discover 10 tiny changes that could transform your life.

1. Smile more

You might not always leap out of bed with a smile on your face. But smiling more could help you feel healthier and happier.

Research published in Verywell Mind has revealed that smiling, even when you don’t feel cheerful, can trick your brain into happiness, while also boosting the mood of those around you.

In fact, choosing to smile every day could deliver a host of mental and physical health benefits, including:

• Helping you live longer
• Alleviating stress
• Elevating your mood
• Lowering blood sugar
• Improving the immune system
• Making you feel more positive.

2. Leave your phone downstairs at night

If you’re constantly checking your phone for work emails and texts from friends, it might feel difficult to completely switch off and relax.

And yet, both your body and mind need some downtime at night to recharge, so that you’re energised for the next day. 

Even if you’ve switched off notifications, the blue light your phone emits could be enough to disrupt your sleep cycle. 

So, leaving your mobile downstairs when you head up to bed could be one tiny change that has a huge impact on your wellbeing.

3. Swap the news for classical music

The news often contains stories and information that may trigger stress and anxiety in some people. 

If watching or listening to the news is part of your daily routine, consider switching to a burst of classical music each day instead.

According to Classic FM, listening to classical music may offer some incredible benefits including:

• Improving memory
• Reducing stress
• Relieving pain
• Promoting better sleep
• Boosting mental wellbeing
• Removing the causes of depression
• Lowering blood pressure.

So, why not try some Bach over breakfast or enjoy a Mozart Monday this week? You might be rewarded with some surprising benefits.

4. Batch cook your meals

On busy days, it might be tempting, or even essential, to eat on the run. But when time’s short and your energy is low, you’re more likely to make unhealthy choices that could leave you feeling sluggish.

Batch cooking could save you time and ensure that there’s always a healthy, homemade meal ready to zap in the microwave when you’re in a rush.

The next time you cook a meal, consider making two or three times as much as you need and freeze or refrigerate the rest in portions.

For those who like to be super organised, labelling the containers with the name of the dish and the date you made it could make batch cooking an even bigger efficiency boost as you’ll quickly be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. 

5. Go for a walk in your lunch break

Spending time outdoors and upping your levels of physical activity have both been shown to improve physical health and mental wellbeing.

So, by adding a lunchtime walk to your day, you could enjoy a double dose of health benefits.

If you want to add more “green exercise” to your routine, consider investing in some all-weather gear so that you can benefit from this tiny change all year round.

6. Take a short cold shower every morning

If you struggle to get going in the morning, taking a short, cold shower could make you feel instantly alert.

According to research published on Healthline<, this daily habit could also increase endorphins, improve metabolism, fight off common illnesses, and improve circulation.

While the thought of stepping under a cold stream of water soon after you’ve woken up may not sound appealing, the potential benefits might make it worth the short-term discomfort. 

7. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier

Between work, family, and any other commitments you may have, finding time for yourself might feel like a challenge.

Unfortunately, you can’t stretch the day beyond 24 hours, but you could set your alarm 30 minutes earlier to create some valuable “me time”. 

Giving yourself the opportunity to do something you enjoy – be that reading a book with a coffee or doing some gentle yoga – could put you in a positive mindset for the day ahead.

8. Keeping a gratitude journal

Writing a journal each day might feel like adding to your already lengthy to-do list. But keeping a gratitude journal doesn’t have to involve pouring your emotions out over pages and pages of writing. 

Jotting down two or three things you’re grateful for each day could improve your mental health.

According to research published in Forbes Health, practising gratitude could help regulate your emotions, elevate your mindset, and make you feel more connected to others. It may also offer physical benefits, including reduced stress, a stronger immune system, and improved sleep quality.

9. Breathing mindfully

Breathing is something we constantly do, usually without conscious thought. 

However, breathwork meditation – mindfully changing your breathing patterns – could reduce stress, improve your sleep, boost your mood, and may even help you cope with various physical ailments.

If you’re interested in giving it a try, the 4-7-8 breathing method is a good place to start. This involves inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds, and exhaling for eight seconds. You can repeat this cycle as many times as you need to.

10. Learning to say “no”

We all want to be helpful and feel liked by other people. But always putting the needs of others first could lead to burnout. 

Learning to say “no” sometimes is an important self-care skill. It can help you create space in your schedule to recharge and allow you to set boundaries with family, friends, and colleagues.

If saying “yes” could prevent you achieving your own goals or have a detrimental effect on your mental health, consider politely saying “no”.

Get in touch

If you’d like to learn more about small changes you could make to improve your finances, please contact us by email at info@lloydosullivan.co.uk or call 020 8941 9779 to see how we can help you.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.