Imagine what life would be like if each day you focused on a few small habits that created a chain reaction of positive benefits throughout your life.

You eat a healthy breakfast, have a great conversation with your loved ones, and then begin your workday focusing on the important tasks.

Then, throughout the day, you complete other habits that positively impact your top goals.

I guarantee you’d feel more fulfilled, get more accomplished, and have a better direction for your career.

In today’s email, we will profile 13 small habits that can change your life forever that only take five minutes or less to complete.

Let’s get started.

#1. Schedule Your Day

Setting a daily schedule helps to identify your priorities and make the best use of your time.

To get started, use the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to rank the priority of each task on your to-do list:

● Quadrant 1 (important and urgent)

● Quadrant 2 (important, but not urgent)

● Quadrant 3 (not important, but urgent)

● Quadrant 4 (not important, not urgent)

Structure your day so you work on the first-quadrant tasks, then the second, then the third, and finally only work on the fourth if you have time (or if you want to goof off by completing a mindless task).

The crucial thing here is to make sure that your day is focused on the activities that bring the most value to your job or business.

#2. Work On Your Hardest Task First

When you look at your list of tasks, it’s tempting to choose the smaller, easier tasks to do first.

If you have a big project that fills you with dread, you’re much more likely to procrastinate and put it off until later.

But, if you do the hardest task first, you’ll feel energized knowing that the toughest item has been crossed off your list. The result is that all other tasks will feel like a breeze in comparison.

You can use this planner to set your top priorities for the day.

#3. Break Down Big Goals Into Smaller Goals

Sometimes a project is so overwhelming that you simply don’t know where to get started.

This leads to procrastination and unnecessary stress.

But if you set aside time to create a step-by-step plan for each goal, you can overcome procrastination because you’ll know exactly where to get started.

For each of your major projects, take a few minutes to chunk it down into simple-to-complete tasks that can be completed in a single workday.

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#4. Track Your Expenses

Tracking your expenses is the most important financial habit you could ever develop, but it’s also the hardest because it means you have to be 100% honest with yourself about your spending.

The process is simple:

At the end of the day, write down everything you and your family purchased. You can do this by keeping all the receipts, credit card statements, and notes (in an emergency) for each expenditure.

Then input this information into one of the following tools:

● A notebook

● A printable that tracks your savings and budgeting efforts

● A spreadsheet program, like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

● A Cloud-based app like Mint

Over time, you’ll notice spending trends that can be curtailed. Often, this means making sacrifices and even having a hard conversation about the difference between what you “need” and what you want.

#5. Negotiate Better Prices

Another great way to master your finances is to stop bleeding money. In other words, reducing your monthly expenditures can help eliminate your debt and start putting more money into your long-term investments.

All of this can be achieved by calling each company and negotiating a reduction on many of those small charges.

This tactic works because most companies understand the cost of acquiring new customers is lower than the price reduction you’re trying to negotiate.

So, if you’re aggressive enough to call each account and ask for a deal (or a price reduction), you can save a bit of money on your bills each month.

If you want specific scripts of what to say and how to say it, then check out this article by Ramit Sethi.

To make this a consistent habit, I recommend calling at least one company a week to negotiate better terms for your contract. Then reinvest this money into your credit card debt, student loans, mortgage payments, or long-term investments.

#6. Smash That “Unsubscribe” Button

Email is one of the biggest “time sucks” around. While it’s a critical part of the modern business environment, it’s also a productivity killer because it means most of your day is spent sorting through junk mail.

So one way to fix this is to create a daily habit where you unsubscribe from a few email lists each day.

To get started, you can use a filter that’s available in most email management programs -- like Gmail, Outlook, and Hotmail.

Go to the search bar for each program and enter one simple word:

Unsubscribe

From there, look at each of the messages that this query brings up. Odds are, you aren’t interested in most of these marketing emails.

So if you spend a little time every day, removing yourself from these lists, you’ll see a dramatic decrease in the amount of daily junk email.

Or you can use a tool like Unroll.me that provides a simple bulk process for unsubscribing from all your unwanted email messages

#7. Keep a Food Journal

This is a critical habit if you want to lose or maintain weight. Maintaining a food journal is an effective strategy because it makes you responsible for your actions, encourages you to avoid little “snacks,” and keeps you on track to meet your health goals.

In fact, one study has shown that keeping a food diary can double your diet weight loss efforts.

To get started, you can use a tool (like MyFitnessPal) to get an accurate measurement of the food you’re eating. Add this habit to an evening routine to make sure you’re being accurate about what you eat daily.

Finally, be honest with your logging efforts. If you cheat, then write it down. Nobody will look at this journal besides you, so trying to hide your indulgences will only hurt you.

#8. Make Your Bed

The task of making your bed seems so minor, but it can actually have a pretty big impact on the rest of your day. Making your bed allows you to start your day by completing a task, which will set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

In a commencement speech at the University of Texas, US Navy Admiral William H. McCraven said the following to the graduating class:

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.

Yes, making your bed seems like an unimportant habit, but just remember the advice from Admiral McCraven: “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

#9. Take Pictures

Document your life by taking pictures of anything important or relevant that you come across during the day.

Not only will this give you a timeline of your life in the future, it will also help you pay more attention to the everyday details of your life that may seem insignificant at first, but are actually the events that make up who you are.

#10. Wear a Step Tracking Device (or Watch)

If you begin the habit of wearing a step-tracking device, chances are pretty high that you will find new ways to be active throughout the day.

In fact, one study found that wearing a pedometer can help you increase the distance that you walk each day by about a mile, which is a 27% increase in physical activity per day for the average person, which can definitely add up over time.

If you start each day by clipping on this device, you’ll take that crucial first step to building the exercise habit. And when you constantly wear this device, you’ll find reasons to get more movement throughout the day.

Finally, if you don’t have a step tracker, then I recommend the Garmin Forerunner 55, which is what I personally use (and love).

#11. Get Rid of One Thing

By either donating, selling, or throwing away an item a day, you can reduce clutter and possibly earn back some money on an item that you no longer use.

This will help create more space in your home and it will probably lead you to think twice before making unnecessary purchases in the future.

To get started, create a three-box system for items that you’d like to eliminate.

Label them as

Sell
Donate
Toss

Next, while cleaning and organizing your home, look for items that you no longer need, like old clothes that don’t fit or toys that your children have outgrown.

You can make quick decisions here by asking yourself two questions:

“When was the last I used this item?”
“Why am I still keeping it?”

If it’s been over a year since you’ve used this item and you can’t come up with a valid reason for why you’re holding on to it, then get rid of it. And commit to this habit by getting rid of at least one item per day.

To get started, we have a collection of decluttering printables.

#12. Learn a New Word

Expanding your vocabulary comes with a wide range of benefits. You’ll increase communication skills, give your brain a small workout, and improve your confidence in social situations. All of this is possible if you commit to learning one new word every day.

There are five ways to learn new words:

1. Change your Web browser homepage to the “Word of the Day” from Dictionary.com.

2. Subscribe to a daily email, courtesy of A.Word.A.Day.

3. Buy a word-of-the-day desk calendar.

4. Download a word of the day mobile app.

5. Look up word definitions whenever you hear a new one.

Just pick one of these five methods and focus on learning a new word to start each day -- with the correct pronunciation.

#13. Plan Your Meals Each Week

We often make poor financial and health decisions due to a lack of proper planning. One reason people consume fast food is because they think about what they’ll eat at the last minute and then buy whatever is immediately accessible.

You, on the other hand, can prevent this from happening by building a weekly habit where you plan your meals for the next seven days.

Each week, think about your family’s schedule, identify the number of meals to prepare, and then map out what you’ll cook during the upcoming week.

Not only does this help you eat healthy, it also reduces the amount of money you spend on takeout and eating at restaurants.

To get started, here is a collection of meal planning printables.

Final thoughts on Small Habits

Integrating small habits into your daily routine can lead to significant and lasting changes in your life.

To truly experience the impact, I encourage you to pick just one habit from the list and focus on it for the next 30 days.

By dedicating yourself to this single, manageable change, you can build a strong foundation for personal growth. Remember, the key to success lies in simplicity and consistency.

Start with one habit, stay committed, and watch as this small change transforms your life in profound ways.

⚙️1% Habit Idea

Today’s idea can help you tackle a common hassle that many people experience – managing your email inbox.

Many individuals find themselves tethered to their inboxes, constantly responding to emails as they arrive.

This habit can lead to constant interruptions and decreased productivity.

The 3-21-0 method introduced by Jessica Dahlberg is a structured approach to managing emails, designed to boost productivity and reduce the time spent composing unnecessarily long emails.

The 3 Components to Master Your Emails

Three Sentences - Give a concise answer to emails by limiting your responses to 3 sentences. It’s a timesaver for both you and your recipient. Brief and direct messages help prevent email fatigue and ensure your message gets across quickly.
Twenty-One Words - As much as possible, use up to only 21 words per sentence. Having a word limit encourages you to get to the point. Concise sentences are more likely to get a swift response.
Zero Attachments - Avoid email attachments, as much as possible. This reduces clutter. For file sharing, you can use collaboration platforms or cloud storage. In addition, zero attachments make file/information retrieval easier for you and your email recipients.

How to Get Started With the 3-21-0 System

The following steps helps you successfully implement the 3-21-0 System:

Write clear and informative subject lines. This will help recipients understand the context of your message and make your email a priority.
Focus on your main point. Organize your message around this goal to ensure that you are immediately understood.
Use cloud storage. For file sharing, consider using cloud storage or direct links to these files. This way, you avoid cluttering the email threads.
Use simple language. You can improve the readability of your email by maximizing the use of short paragraphs, bullet points, and section headings.
Proofread your emails before sending. This lessens the likelihood of misunderstandings. In addition, a typo-free email shows your professionalism.

This structured approach in creating and responding to emails helps you maintain control over your communication, ensuring that it supports rather than hinders your productivity.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

🧠 Your Mind Needs Chaos - This article dives into the fascinating intersection of creativity and cognitive science, showing how our brains balance order and chaos to spark innovation. It's a must-read for anyone curious about the mental processes behind creativity, offering insights that could change the way you approach problem-solving and artistic work.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 How to Make Friends with Fear: The F. E. A. R. Framework - Ever wondered how fear can actually work for you instead of holding you back? Here’s an article that introduces a practical framework for turning fear into a tool for growth, helping you understand and harness it to overcome challenges and reach your goals.

😡 What’s the Difference Between Stress and True Burnout? - Feeling overwhelmed but not sure if it’s stress or something more serious? This article helps readers distinguish between stress and burnout, offering guidance on how to address each to maintain a healthier, more balanced life.

🔋 How to be enough – This Vox article highlights the connection between the hedonic treadmill and our cultural obsession with self-improvement. It explains how the constant drive for self-betterment can lead to perpetual dissatisfaction, as we quickly adapt to new achievements and crave even more. To foster a deeper sense of contentment and well-being, recognize this pattern and shift your focus from relentless self-improvement to appreciating your current state.

🚫 The joy of missing out – Ever heard of JOMO? The “Joy of Missing Out” is all about embracing the satisfaction that comes from disconnecting and focusing on what truly matters, rather than getting caught up in the fear of missing out.

That’s it for today.

Happy Halloween to all who celebrate. 🎃

Cheers,

Steve Scott

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