The Power of Micro-Habits
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You surely know the saying: “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed every morning.” This quote became famous after a speech by American Admiral William McRaven.
At first glance, following the personal development advice of a military officer might seem surprising… And yet! This admiral, who notably participated in the capture of Bin Laden, sparked incredible enthusiasm with this speech.
Why? Because it’s the micro-habits that truly transform our daily lives, much more than the grand resolutions we never keep. These small gestures have a considerable impact on our well-being, our productivity, and our lives.
So, why not start changing the world… by making your bed?
Adopting a micro-habit: the small revolution of daily life
A micro-habit is that small gesture that seems almost trivial, which, when repeated, eventually transforms our daily life. Unlike the big resolutions of January 1st – often abandoned before the end of the month – it is easy to implement, realistic, and, above all, it works!
The secret? Start small. Let’s take the example of making your bed every morning. It simply requires putting pillows and blankets back in place to make the room look tidy… and that’s already a victory!
Then, you can add another habit: 10 minutes of tidying up to start the day with a clear mind. Gradually, these small actions become reflexes, habits that, without effort, make us more organized and even save us time. Indeed, change often begins with a very simple gesture.
Why and how establishing micro-habits can (really) change your life?
We all wanted big changes in our lives. Starting with the good resolutions of the new year, which often barely last a few weeks. The reason: they are too ambitious and, when we don’t abandon them before even starting, we drop them fairly quickly.
This is where micro-habits come into play. Rather than trying to revolutionize everything overnight and striving to be the best version of ourselves, micro-habits seem trivial and unambitious. However, they integrate smoothly into daily life, almost effortlessly, until they become second nature.
How to do it? Start with an action so simple that it would be impossible to fail: drink a big glass of water in the morning, take a few minutes for yourself to reconnect with your body…
Just like learning a foreign language, it’s the regularity that will help you progress. It’s better to do a small gesture every day to truly make progress.
Over time, these small gestures accumulate and create a real snowball effect, transforming into a positive change.
The 5 micro-habits that improve your life (without too much effort, we promise)
- Do 5 minutes of meditation in the morning with an intention for the day
This is a small habit that (really) changes lives. Taking a few minutes for yourself, whether following a guided meditation with an app, doing breathing exercises, or a gratitude exercise, will allow you to start the day on the right foot. After a few days, you will feel better, more grounded, and more aware.
- Tidy your apartment for 15 minutes in the morning
It’s impossible to have a serene mind in a chaotic environment. Taking 15 minutes in the morning to tidy your apartment after drinking your tea or coffee will allow you to start the day productively. Consider lighting a candle or incense to brighten the atmosphere.
- Drink more water
We should drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, which corresponds to six large glasses of water. Drinking water is essential for health, of course, and staying hydrated also keeps the skin younger and more elastic. Lack of water often has a misleading effect on fatigue: a slump can come from dehydration.
- Start the day without screens
Our first morning gesture often involves turning on our phone to check our emails, Instagram, or bank account. But what if we gave ourselves a little break and enjoyed waking up gently, starting with a coffee?
- Read a book at bedtime
To end the day as peacefully as it began, the best way is to read a book – instead of scrolling – at bedtime.
Giving up screens is the best way to let your brain rest, and then, we also take the opportunity to educate ourselves.
Image credit: bruce mars/Unsplash
