Small Changes, Big Impact: Setting Up Daily Routines That Actually Stick

So tell me this - how many of those New Year Resolutions that you made have you actually stuck to?

Yeah - me too!

I don’t make them anymore cos frankly the middle of a Scottish Winter when you are feeling fat and flabby after the feasting season is totally the wrong time to get excited about changing your life in any magnificent way.

That “all or nothing” shizzle is just too much disappointment every year for this Urban Crofter to bear!

Let’s face it: none of us are perfect, and that’s a relief! And that’s why this year I am focusing my limited energy on small, realistic changes which is far better than trying to overhaul your entire life in one go. Progress beats perfection every single time. Am I right?

Pick one thing, just one!

It doesn’t even have to be the most important or life changing thing . Whether it’s making your bed or remembering where you put your glasses, this is about finding the easiest habit to build momentum. Because Rome wasn’t built in a day—and neither was your dream routine.

After the lazy days between Christmas and New Year I got out of the habit of making my bed every morning - returning every evening to a rumpled, crumpled bed with a resident cat snuggled up in a fold. To be honest - even though I KNEW my bedroom was clean it felt dirty and disorganised and I avoided being in there during the day cos it was kind of shameful that a whole-ass grown up hadn’t got her crap together enough to even do that!

When it came time to go back to work I put the “make the bed” habit back on the table - making my bed EVERY morning before I laid out my clothes to get dressed .. and do you know what happened?

I was more motivated to put stuff away when I carried it into my room -returning clothes to wardrobes and PJs to drawers, carrying water glasses back to the kitchen and opening my curtains (and window) every day to air out and freshen the room.

One small habit triggered a whole heap of other changes that naturally flowed.

Consistency is a crap habit to try and create.

I mean I know I could be a size ten if I “consistently” ate my calorie limit. I know I could be a published author if I “consistently” wrote my word limit. I know I could balance my budget if I “consistently” didn’t overspend.

But consistency for consistency’s sake just never stuck for me.

What happened was changing my identity. I had to stop being a person that didn’t make their bed every morning and instead become a person for whom it would be unthinkable to leave the room without making the bed.

I am a bed-maker!

Not just on weekdays - I am a bed-maker EVERY day!

My identity is that of a bed-maker!

I would no more think of not making my bed than not brushing my teeth - because that is not who I am!

Sounds weird - right? But instead of beating myself up for occasionally not making that bed and starting a whole negative spiral to my day I get to it and spend 23 seconds (yes - I know, I timed myself!) and get that bed MADE! The positive start to the day just rippled out for me in so many ways!

Routine doesn’t mean that you have to be rigid.

If there is a whole other person (or cute cat) having a lay-in on a weekend then I don’t turf them all out until I have made the bed - I let them be!

But you can guarantee that as soon as they are up and about I circle back and whip that duvet into place -pronto!

Why? Because I am a bed maker! It’s my identity now!

And somehow - even on those days when it doesn’t happen when it should happen - it still happens! In fact, I often feel prouder of myself on those days when I need to adjust and go with the flow than on normal routine days.

And face it - not doing something for one day usually doesn’t cause the whole deck of cards to fall down - its when you don’t do what is needed over a longer period that the cracks begin to show.

So my routine is going to look like MY routine - and yours will look like yours!

Building your Urban Crofting lifestyle is not about slavishly following someone else’s schedule or “perfect day routine” - its about creating the life that feels like it fits you, that flows without friction and nourishes you rather than drives you nuts with a whole list of things that didn’t get done!

So claim your identity as a “Croftie” - and choose one small thing that you are going to make your identity today? It could be the bed thing, or a clean sink, or sweeping your hallway or airing your rooms out.

Choose just ONE - when you have that one fully integrated you can choose another but for now - be kind to yourself!

What positive thing are you going to choose to do that supports the life you want to live just a tiny little bit - and YES! I would love to hear your answers in the comments below X