When the kids were younger, I used to really look forward to September when they would go back to school after the Summer holidays because I loved the fresh start that September gave us all. New school year, back to work after time off over the Summer, the change in weather from Summer to my favourite season and the promise of the last few months of the year which happen to be my favourite few months.
I always felt super motivated to make positive changes in my life in September and I still get that feeling today so September is still a time for me to make a few changes (even the end of September).
When I was feeling all inspired at the start of September, I bought a book called ‘Just One Thing’ which I’m really enjoying as it gives so many ideas of small changes that you can make to your life that will make a difference along with some of the reasons why that change can make a positive difference to your life. None of the changes in there are huge and I’ve genuinely felt inspired by some of the changes that are suggested in there…
It’s all about making small sustainable changes, one at a time, with the idea that it’s easier to adapt one new thing and keep focusing on that until it becomes a habit. Then you can layer the next change on and gradually, you’re healthier and happier. 😁
The first habit I’ve started with myself is to walk ten more minutes every day, whether it’s a walk around the block in my lunch hour at work or parking a bit further away if I take the car out. It’s not a huge amount but it’s something I didn’t do before and it’s good for me so if I can keep it up then I’m winning,
I don’t want to ruin the book in case you decide to buy it yourself (the link is here if you do) but I did want to share a few ideas for a new habit to start this September, or whenever you’re reading this post. Each of them will make a difference to your life in a small way and once you’ve started one and it’s become part of your routine without even thinking about it, come back and pick another one to layer on top.
It’s all about small changes and baby steps.
Here’s a few ideas for new habits that will make a difference…
Morning Routines
Set your alarm for 15–30 minutes earlier than usual to give yourself time to wake up before you do anything or even better, use the time to do something that’s going to energise you for the day. A walk, some stretches, or even a yoga session if you’re super fit will really get your energy flowing before the day begins.
Swap your breakfast to warm, healthy and sustaining options like porridge, eggs or overnight oats to keep you going until lunch without needing to snack. Take time to eat your breakfast rather than rushing it to get on with your day.
Bedtime Routines
This post has six things that you should do before you go to bed to make your next day easier and for years that was one of the most popular posts on this blog. I swear by some of the suggestions I made in this post – even the controversial one about the drink of water. 😁
- Go to bed half an hour earlier and read a book to help you switch off. I used to love to read every night before I went to sleep and I swear it helped me sleep easier. I am trying to get back into that habit but I find I’m just so tired that as soon as I get into bed, I’m too sleepy to read.
Work & Study Routines
Work smarter, not harder. Use the alarm on your phone to set aside time to work on bigger tasks and really focus on them for that time.
- Take a break! I am so bad at this as I often work right through forgetting to take a break so I’ve now added breaks and a lunch to my work calendar so no-one can book in meetings over the time I’ve set aside for time away from my laptop.
Pick one thing to learn or improve before Christmas (Excel shortcuts, a new recipe, language practice).
Home & Lifestyle
Set your alarm every day for 10 minutes and tidy as much as you can in that time. I do this in my break when I’m working from home but for 15 minutes and in that short time, you’d be surprised at how much you can do. It makes it so much easier to have a tidy house. I’ll often do similar on a weekend with a shorter period of time for each room in the house.
If you don’t meal plan, start. 😁 Here’s a post that will help you get started.
- Set up a monthly budget and really start to understand where your money is going and learn how you can improve your finances.
- Use Sunday evenings to plan the week ahead so that you know where you need to be and when. We also sit together and write a list of our priorities for the week so we know what jobs or tasks we need to do between us.
Wellbeing
Try and set aside some daily outdoor time to get some fresh air. I’m really trying to do this more as there are days when I work from home that I wouldn’t get any fresh air if I didn’t make an effort.
If you can, create a “no screens” time before bed which should help your mind relax a bit quicker when you turn off the light (so the theory tells me). Replace the time you’d be on your phone with time reading a book and you’ve created two habits in one.
Note down 1–2 things you’re grateful for each evening to close out the day positively and if you keep them all together, when you’re in needed of a pick-me-up then you can just have a read through them to put things into perspective.
- Spend time listening to a podcasts rather than music – something I keep saying I’m going to do on my drives into work but I just love singing at the top of my voice in the car too much!
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