Microsteps to Change

27.January.2021

What microsteps to change can you adopt for a more productive, fulfilling life?

In an insightful Ted Talk discussing the psychology of one's future self, Daniel Gilberts states "Humans are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished" (Gilberts, 2014).

Think about it. How much has your life changed in the last ten years? Do you find yourself evolving and changing into someone you never realised you could be?

Are there things you wish you could have done, want to do now or have always dreamed about but never actually done?

Well, there is a simple way you can achieve this and that is through micro steps.

So what are microsteps and how can they help?

Microsteps are small changes you can make to your daily routine that will improve on an aspect of your life that you would like to change. This is not a call to go running 10kms tomorrow or never eat chocolate again. By breaking down each step into manageable, every day habits you can genuinely begin transforming for the better.

"Every next level of your life will demand a different you"
- Leonardo Dicaprio

Drawing from the Japanese concept of Kaizen, where every small task is an improvement that requires minimal effort, we can recognise the need of microsteps. Additionally, BJ Fogg's research in his novel 'Tiny Habits' reiterates this revolutionary concept.

So, to begin incorporating microsteps into your daily routine we recommend you find one element of your life you'd like to improve on through small actionable steps. To help, we've broken down some key areas that you can start with today!

Key Areas

Food - Fitness - Family - Money - Gratitude - Sleep

Below are ideas for microsteps you can incorporate into your daily routine and begin practising now to see improvements in the future.

Food - Take five minutes in the morning to plan your meals for the day or set a cut off time for food intake before bed (your stomach and sleep will thank you).

Fitness - Dedicate workout time with someone you love, even if its five minutes. Or, choose to take the stairs.

Family - Allocate 10 minutes out of your day to call/message one or all of your family members or reach out once a week.

Money - At the end of each month move all leftover money into your savings account or set up calendar reminders to pay your bills on time. Budgets are your best friend.

Gratitude - Send a hand written thank you note to someone or use a journal to write down just one thing per day you are grateful for.

Sleep - Simply put, sleep is the key to physical and mental wellness. Prioritise sleep in your daily routine by spending just 5-10 minutes creating a sleep routine or add 8 hours of sleep to your diary as a daily reminder of its importance.

Create your own list by writing them down in your journal or diary and find out what works for you. Remember, this is your own journey.

Now you can understand how simple, small changes in your life when practised every day or week can help you grow in different areas of your life. Microsteps are actionable, long-lasting steps to positive change.

Change your habits, change your life.