10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year
Truth be told, I was this close to saving the post 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year for September.
After all, January and September are months typically dedicated to organizing and evaluating habits.
But when I thought about it a little more, I decided I wanted to ease into the back-to-school and holiday season feeling calm, and confident.
And I thought some of you might feel the same way.
So, I thought I would share 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year in case you’re looking for simple tips and tricks to help you get back on track or easy ways to create a more beautiful life.
Here’s a look at 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year…
Prioritizing Sleep
Prioritizing sleep and budget-friendly sleep essentials has been one of THE biggest things that have changed our lives for the better.
While trying to figure out what worked took WAY longer than I anticipated, it was 100% worth the effort.
Don’t get me wrong, there are nights I still struggle with restless sleep.
But at least now I know what to do about it and that feels like a big win.
If you’re still struggling to prioritize sleep, my best recommendation is to talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you develop a comprehensive plan and offer the best advice from things that seem small like what time you should stop drinking coffee to ordering a sleep study.
Sleep affects everything we do. So, the sooner we make it a priority the better our overall health and well-being can be.
Equilibria Soft Gels and Daily Drops
When I first started taking Equilibria CBD soft gels and daily drops almost a year ago, I had zero expectations they would actually work.
That said, I also knew I needed to be open to exploring all avenues. Looking back, I’m so thankful I gave them a chance.
While I still work to manage my anxiety and stress with therapy, meditation, exercise, and a healthy diet, it’s been a huge relief to feel like my old self again.
As always, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before incorporating CBD products into your wellness routine.
Embracing a Pescatarian Diet and Prioritizing Hydration
In May, I got really sick.
Like the kind of sickness that feels like a migraine and food poisoning had a baby.
It was truly awful.
But that experience also launched a journey that helped me finally give up traditional sources of animal-based protein and fully embrace a pescatarian diet.
Something I’ve wanted to do for decades now.
Truthfully, this new way of eating takes being really intentional about how you’re nourishing and hydrating your body.
You have to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients and vitamins each day and you have to make sure you’re eating the right kinds of fish too.
While I’m still learning and trying new things, it’s a journey I hope to continue because I feel so much better.
I’ve found lots of helpful information on the nutrition facts website, Dr. Greger runs, but it’s always best to talk to a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider any time you plan to make changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Especially, if you have underlying medical conditions or concerns.
Finding a Simple Skincare System
As I’ve shared before, I’ve never really been into skincare and makeup all that much.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want to look nice and pulled together, I just never gave skincare and makeup that much thought.
About a month before my birthday though, I decided to try the Colleen Rothschild Discovery Set and completely fell in love with the brand’s easy-to-use products.
It’s been over 6 months now and my skin continues to improve with each use.
I feel so much more confident in photos because my skin feels healthier than it’s ever been!
The Quarter Challenge
If you’ve ever tried to form healthy habits and found it hard to stay consistent, consider taking The Quarter Challenge.
My accountability partner and I had the same problem until we came up with this fun way to help track our progress.
We each chose 5 healthy habits we wanted to incorporate into our daily lives. For every healthy habit we completed each day, we dropped a quarter into a jar.
Truthfully, there weren’t a lot of quarters at first. I mean, the most you could get each day was 5.
But as the weeks and months went on, we could literally see the results of making healthy choices compounding before our very eyes.
When 90 days were over, we took the money to J Crew and celebrated with a little shopping spree which felt so good!
While you don’t have to use quarters to track your goals, there is something about seeing all your hard work in one place that makes a big impact.
90-Day Calendar System and Being Intentional with Our Time
Trying to find a calendar system that keeps us organized has taken a lot of trial and error over the years.
The minute I started using our DIY Framed 90-Day Calendar though something just clicked.
I don’t even know how else to describe it.
Truthfully, I think seeing an entire season laid out in front of you helps you to prioritize your time, energy, and weekends in a completely different way.
After all, you can immediately see where you need to put up buffers in order to safeguard your schedule.
I still enjoy keeping a paper calendar for daily/weekly tasks.
But after using a 90-day calendar system, we’ve become much more intentional about creating the kind of life we want to experience.
And it feels amazing!
Organizing the Week on Sundays
Every Sunday afternoon, I sit down with my calendar and go through the week.
Sometimes, it’s a quick 30-minute check-in and sometimes it takes a little longer.
But it’s always time well spent because it sets our entire week up for success.
I highly recommend organizing your week on Sundays as part of your weekend ritual if you haven’t given it a chance already.
It saves us so much time!
A Home for Everything
Decluttering and organizing our home is something we’re constantly working on and have gotten so much better at over the years.
It takes commitment because you have to be intentional about what you bring into the house.
Especially, if you love all things home decor, DIY, and holiday or if you hold onto sentimental things, or if you like to save things for “someday.”
While it almost sounds too simple, the best way to go about decluttering and organizing your home is one drawer at a time, one cabinet at a time, one bin at a time, and one room at a time.
It doesn’t happen overnight and sometimes you might only be able to work on something 15 or 20 minutes at a time.
Keep at it though!
There is nothing better than being able to locate something you need the minute you need it and having space to put things up right away.
You can find our 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge here if you need help getting started.
Asking Better Questions
One of my biggest goals this year has been to ask better questions. I’ve literally questioned everything, and it’s made a massive difference.
Sometimes the questions are simple ones…
- “What can I do to make this meal even healthier?”
- “How can I be more proactive with this situation?”
- “What do I need most right now?”
- “How can I support you better?”
- “What is one thing I can do to make your day easier?”
Taking the time to ask and answer these kinds of questions has helped to improve our lives because asking better questions leads to action and action leads to clarity and clarity leads to making confident decisions and healthy choices which feels like a win.
Creating Soundtracks That Stick
When I first read Jon Acuff’s book, Soundtracks, I was desperate to find a solution to curb ruminating thoughts and to stop overthinking every. little. thing.
Truly, it was such a disruptive season of my life.
Since then, I’ve gotten really good at motivating myself with simple phrases that help keep me on track whenever I feel stuck or overwhelmed.
Things like…
- “Don’t put it down, put it away.” (when I’m tempted to drop my things at the door)
- “Just give it 20 minutes.” (when I don’t feel like exercising)
- “Your future self will thank you for this.” (when I feel like procrastinating)
- “Clarity comes from action.” (when I feel overwhelmed about taking the next step)
- “Simplify the complicated.” (when everything feels like a priority)
- “There’s more where that came from.” (when I’m presented with an unexpected income opportunity)
On the surface, it seems like such a small thing.
In reality, though, those simple phrases help me get out of my head and out of my own way, each and every time.
Sometimes the thing that holds us back the most isn’t lack of time or money or support, it’s our mindset.
If you’re wondering how to get started on mindset shifts or just need a refresher, you can find our favorite self-discovery books here and our favorite podcasts here.
As we get ready to start a fresh season, I hope you’ll find tools that help you like these 10 Things That Have Made the Biggest Difference This Year have helped me.
Never doubt your ability to create an extraordinary life. I’m cheering you on!
Other Posts from the 10 Things That Made a Difference Series to Enjoy:
10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 1
Quarter 2: 10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference
10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference in Quarter 3
How to Host a Restorative Retreat at Home
Many blessings,
CoCo
Oh my goodness! I love the idea of the Quarter Challenge! I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds like something that might work for me!
It helped us so much, Susan! Beyond the monetary aspect of it, seeing all those quarters adding up each day felt like a huge win because it was a visual representation of all the healthy choices we had made for 90 days. It’s so easy to get discouraged and to fall off the wagon when you’re not seeing results right away. But this system helped to change our perpective and I hope it helps yours too. Keep me posted! Big hugs, CoCo
I love these ideas. Hugs and blessings to you, my beautiful friend.
Thanks so much, Renae, I really appreciate it. Hope you have the best week, CoCo
Oooh, I love the “asking better questions” idea! I woke up feeling really bleary today, and was having trouble getting my energy back, but I just tried asked myself, “What’s a concrete thing I can do to feel better?” and I came up with several helpful ideas.
I love that question, Corrie! It is so wild to me that we ask our friends questions and the littles questions and our family questions to help better understand what they need or where they’re at any given moment, yet we forget to ask ourselves basic questions that could help make life so much easier. Especially, when we feel stuck, overwhelmed or bleary. It seems like a small thing but it definitely makes a big impact. Cheering you on sweet friend! Hugs, CoCo
Coco, this is such a great post. Prioritizing yourself is always a challenge but a necessary one. Women often have a problem with that, not to mention that we all(women and men) start to make changes and we try to do it ALL at once and then are disappointed when we don’t see immediate results.
I hope that you continue to see the results and improvements you are working towards.
Hi CoCo – This is such a great post that I am going to share it in my Unboxing email on Saturday morning. Thanks always for being the voice of reason and for always seeing the silver lining!
Thank you for sharing the things that have helped make your life better! I love learning new things and incorporating new strategies into my life! I need to work on my skincare routine and “start asking better questions” as well! I appreciate your insight and your willingness to share! Hugs to you!