Why Not . . . Make a Small Tweak? Part Deux

Life is very much like a mosaic.  It is made of many details, each detail having an extraordinary power to shape our lives if used in certain circumstances or paired with other decisions. Can you think of small actions you have made repeatedly, eventually becoming a habit that have a great value of appreciation in your life?  Let’s begin with an example on a smaller scale – brushing your teeth. Consistently taking the few minutes each day in both the morning and evening at the time seems as though a major effect wouldn’t be possible. However, if you look at it from a different perspective, the effect is hard to miss. Imagine what the smile of a fifty-five year old woman might look like if she has never picked up a toothbrush.  It all comes back to the details – the seemingly small efforts made day in and day out multiply into major positive or negative effects.

The series continues this week with five more small tweaks that you could potentially incorporate into your life which would in turn produce tremendous results in relationship to your waistline, your budget, your growth and your appearance.  If you missed last week’s or would like to go back, click here to view part one in the series.  Let’s get started.

 

Downsize

Size really does matter when it comes to how much you eat, and the question you have to ask yourself is do I really need to eat an Olive Garden helping of pasta? When is enough enough? Recently, I’ve noticed at Starbucks that they now have mini scones, donuts and cookies, and I hope this continues to be a trend.  The reason being is that when something is placed in front of you, no matter what its size, if it is good, it will be hard not to finish it.  So why not put less in front of you. Upon finishing, stop, and gauge how you feel.  More likely than not, you have probably satiated your hunger and are satisfied.  An idea to help promote smaller portions might be swapping out your traditional size dinner plates with salad plates that way there is less room for excess food.  Personally, I love this option because it allows me to eat what I want, just less, and I get to do a little shopping.

 

Set An Example

Often times, a situation arises where the only comfortable topic to talk about with someone is someone else’s situation.  But how do you feel afterwards when you reflect on that particular conversation?  Eliminating the practice of gossiping really is a simple tactic to reduce a bit of anxiety, stress and worry in your life.  Not only do you feel better about what you didn’t talk about, but hopefully you’ve taken the conversation to a place of learning something new, discussing a current event, engaging in a healthy debate to exercise your mind or talking about something that is inspiring and uplifting.  Gossip is a mindless activity that doesn’t produce positive results, and don’t you want to know the conversations you’ve had are contributing not lessening the value of someone’s day? 

 

Only Once

Snack time is something that tends to be a daily habit that can easily put on pounds gradually if done repeatedly. Reducing your snacking to once a day reverts back to what was mentioned last week about paying attention.  How many times have you taken something out of the fridge or stopped to pick something up to eat at the store and mindlessly ate it while in the car or working at your desk.  Why not enjoy and look forward to a decadent and filling snack which only happens once during your day, and at the same time fills you up because you don’t feel as though you are doing something you shouldn’t?  Choose the time of day when you tend to feel the most lethargic and in need an energy boost – maybe it’s a few hours before lunch or during the middle of the afternoon.  Whenever it is, listen to your body and feed it, but feed it so that it’s content, not miserable.  You’ll be amazed after having stuck to this philosophy for awhile how you won’t feel you’ll need a snack so often. You’ll also appreciate and enjoy this break time more because you won’t feel you have to deprive yourself.

 

Rejuvenating Slumber

As you know, the body does a lot of repairing while the lights are out during your slumber. And one of the many ways to take advantage of this time is to provide even more assistance when it comes to your skin.  Did you know that Oil of Olay Regenerist night sculpting cream was proven more effective at repairing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as revealing a more radiant glow, than all other high end brands over a year long trial? Why not make a small tweak to your nightly skincare routine and add a rich night cream?  The results will gradually be evident and immediately you will feel your skin become more hydrated. A small and easy tweak that can make quite a difference in your appearance.

 

Switch It Up

A simple, yet easy way to decrease your electric bill, help the environment and eliminate not having to go around the house changing light bulbs every six to nine months is to switch out all of your traditional light bulbs and replace them with energy efficient bulbs. The endurance is outstanding.  In my master bedroom, it has been over four years and both bulbs are still without need of replacing.  The fact is “if every American home replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR light, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, about $700 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.” Something to think about and a simple thing to do. 

It always amazing me how actions that initially appear small, can have lasting effects.  Permanently including any of these changes in your life will require patience, but in due time, the results will begin to show themselves, rewarding you for your discipline.  Click here for the last part in the series as I share five more tips on how to bring more quality, beauty and good health to your life.

And if anyone has already tried and seen the benefits of any of the suggestions shared, I’d love to hear, as I know the rest of my readers would as well.  Have a great Wednesday!

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Images: (1) We Heart It (2) Source  (3)  Piper Pearl Page (4)   Destined to Design(5) 79 Ideas

Why Not . . . Make a Small Tweak?

It always amazes me how the smallest things can bring a great deal of pleasure and happiness.  In last month’s newsletter which focused on fitness, I suggested to my subscribers to set small goals, little tweaks in their lifestyle that would eventually add up to lasting results.  I also promised that the results of the changes I had incorporated as of late June  would be shared on the blog at the end of July (and I do, I promise – just read the first two suggestions to see how I did).

But my wheels began to turn about the concept of making small tweaks in our lifestyles that can yield very consequent results. And with that said, a new Why Not series came into being.
Throughout the next three weeks on Wednesday, I will propose suggestions of small tweaks that can improve the quality of your life whether it be in the area of health, organization, serenity, beauty and other aspects of your life that are often attempted but aren’t adhered to consistently due to lack of time, energy or the acceptance of the reality that a major change is hard.

This is precisely why the tweaks, or changes, I am going to suggest should be small.  By making simple small tweaks, the change is more likely to stick permanently because they only slightly impose on your life as it is, thus making it easier to do repeatedly (because in our minds, it’s easy to do) and the more often you are repeatedly doing it, the more likely it is to become a habit. Let’s get started.

Pay Attention

In other words, do one thing at a time so that you are conscious of what you are doing.  Americans are well-known for being multi-taskers, but in participating in this habit, the quality diminishes, because something isn’t being done well, it is simply being done and you might just get smacked in the face with something you didn’t expect because you aren’t committing your full attention.  For example, when you are driving and eating – are you enjoying your food? If you’re not enjoying your food, why eat at that particular time? Why take on the extra calories if they aren’t bringing you pleasure? 

Eating is the one area I wanted to change in my life with regards to this concept.  I, for the last month, have not allowed myself to eat while driving, but especially not while I was watching television.  And I have to say, two “light bulb moments” occurred to me – one - I’m eating slower which causes me to become full faster, thereby decreasing the amount of food I eat, and two – I find I’m not choosing to snack nearly as much because if I chose to snack before it was while I was rushing around doing something else or lounging and these aren’t viable options anymore, thus reducing my calorie intake.

Once a Week

So often, we make promises to ourselves and sign up for a tremendous undertaking of responsibilities which is then piled upon what we are already doing.  When we do this, even if the addition is an improvement or a positive change, it is added stress which makes it less likely for the change to continue to occur.  Instead of taking those new Pilates classes three times a week, why not start with just once a week?  The change you are seeking won’t happen rapidly with this type of a small tweak, but you are much more apt to continue to be enrolled in the class six months from now than you would be if you overwhelmed yourself in the beginning. And ultimately, don’t you want the changes you make to be lasting, not quick and fleeting?  So just think of the saying that goes “Easy does it.”  Be the tortoise. (My goal was to include yoga in my fitness routine, and I have been going to just one class a week, which for me works, otherwise I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much.  By taking it a little at a time, I truly do look forward to it each week.)

Clean it Up

Your language that is. Recently on Balance in Me by Anastasiya Goers, she made a point I found myself agreeing with wholeheartedly.  A simple positive change we can make in our lives is to clean up the language we use.  Not only is cussing impolite, but it causes others to be made uncomfortable, even if they aren’t the person it is directed at, and displays an uneducated mind who hasn’t the wherewithal to come up with something more creative to say.  So the next time you are frustrated (because I recognize that this is a reality in everyone’s life), make up your own word you use to express your anger that isn’t belligerent.

The Right Way

This one may sounds silly at first, but hear me out.  The UPS delivery company has a policy that 

drastically reduces their gasoline costs and time on the road, and all it is is “only making right turns”.  Think about it, the less time you spend idling your car in the middle lane to make a left turn, the less gas you’re using and less time wasted.  You add up how many minutes you’ve eliminated from your day, and you’ve decreased your gas budget.  Now this may take some more thought because you will be taking slightly different routes, but it has the potential to not only help your pocketbook, but help to decrease emissions a bit too because you won’t be on the road as much. 

Tidy Up

A simple tip I learned shortly after I graduated from high school while staying with some family friends was to upon leaving the house, or going to bed for the night, tidy up the room you were in or were using.  Another way to look at this is, when you arrive home from work, or being away, the peace of mind that you feel knowing your house is put together and ready to be lived in eliminates quite a bit of stress.  It is a similar thought when you wake up in the morning.  Who wants to walk into the kitchen for breakfast to find dirty dishes – not a great way to get started on the right foot.  So the next time you are walking out the door, look around, pick up the blanket, put the dishes in the dishwasher and in less than two minutes your house is tidy and ready to be enjoyed.

Click here to read part two in the series and here to read part three.  I’d love to know your thoughts, if you’ve tried any of these suggestions already, or what other ones came to mind that you would add to the list.  Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by.

Images: (1)  Fashion Box (3) Sebastian (4) Source (5) Piper Pearl Page (6) Brabourne Farm