Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it…

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📈 7 Strategies to Enjoy the Little Things in Life

The holiday season is upon us.

This is a time when it’s important to slow down, spend time with family, and relax a little.

It’s also a good time to reflect on what’s truly important in life.

Medical studies have proven that people who can savor the little things in life often live longer. Their immune systems are stronger and their hearts are stronger. A lot of this is due to the reduction of emotional pain and stress.

Enjoying the little things gives us an appreciation for life in general. Without this appreciation for life, you feel an emptiness and always seem to be searching for some unidentified something that is lacking.

Many people who have reached an advanced age will state that it is the little things that have kept them going. These are people who have lived through wars, the Depression, and many personal tragedies.

Focusing on only the major things in life create a state of mind that keeps you always comparing your life to others. It also makes it seem like you are never good enough, will never succeed.

Identifying the Little Things

How can you recognize the little things that are worth noticing?

Sit down with a pen and paper and start thinking about the things that never fail to make you smile. Think about the things that make you pause for a moment in the midst of your day. What makes you feel like you are doing exactly what you want to be doing?

As you start to think, the ideas will begin to flow and you may be surprised at just how many times during a day you have the chance to experience the joy. Let's explore some easy ways you can learn to start noticing the little things in life.

1. Take a Walk

This works especially well if you can take a walk in nature. Notice the breeze around you. Let intuition guide you on your path. Don't have a destination in mind. Stop and talk with the dogs and cats you meet, watch children at a playground, and notice the leaves on the trees and the flowers.

Happiness is a state that is very often dependent upon what is happening around you.

Take time to watch a butterfly or bumblebee go about its day. If there are clouds in the sky, try to find pictures in them. If there are no clouds, admire the blue sky, it's a shade of blue that has yet been able to be reproduced exactly, even in photographs.

The exercise helps release endorphins that will lift your spirits… as you take time to notice how the most beautiful things in life go about their day, simply existing, and that is enough.

2. Explore With a Child

Children seem to always see the wonder that is around them. Life is an adventure and there is so much that is impressive. They can watch an ant hill for hours, find beauty in a rock, or feel exhilarated over jumping in a puddle.

Take a walk with a child. If you don't have one of your own, you probably have a friend or two who wouldn't mind a break!

Let the child lead the way. Notice what they find interesting. Listen as they talk and see how they view the world in such a different way than the adults in your life. They dream big!

The sound of a child laughing is often on the top of any list of the small pleasures in life. It is so pure and often makes us smile, or even laugh with them, even if we don't know why they are laughing.

Take notice of what interests the child so you can remember to look for the same things when you are out on your own.

3. Practice Gratitude

Keeping a gratitude journal will help you realize how many things you do have in your life to appreciate. It is easy to forget about things like a warm shower or the ability to relax in the backyard when you spend time worrying about tomorrow or next year.

When you spend time thinking about the person who cut you off in traffic, that piece of cheesecake may be eaten without thought of its delicious creamy texture.

Each night, take time to write down all the things you can think about that you are grateful for that day. Try to find at least two things each day that you didn't think about before. Maybe you managed to get through three green lights in a row. Maybe you noticed a bird's nest outside your office window.

Maybe a special treat that reminded you of a special childhood moment caught your attention at the grocery store. Write it down!

4. Create a Vision Board

We've talked about vision boards before, but this vision board doesn't serve the traditional purpose of looking toward the future. Find a large piece of poster board and start looking for pictures and words that describe things that make you smile.

Look for old photos that bring back memories that still make you happy. Use markers and draw pictures if you can't find a visual representation. The aim at this point isn't to fill the board.

Every time you experience joy from something small, find a way to post it on your vision board. Press a beautiful flower; include a picture of a rainbow or a photo you took of a squirrel playing.

Hang this board in a place where you can see it whenever you are feeling down or need a reminder that life is full of little pleasures that add up to a lot of happy moments.

5. Disconnect From Technology

We are so involved in technology, something that has never been an issue in the past. It may even seem impossible at times to function without our phones, a tablet, or computer within arm’s reach.

Go anywhere where people gather and notice how many people are talking, you won't find many. In fact, making eye contact and sharing a random smile with a stranger are almost unheard of these days.

By taking the time to put aside your electronics, you get a chance to see what is going on around you. Look how happy the children playing in the park sprinklers appear.

The smell of freshly cut grass, a squirrel scampering up a tree, or the elderly couple just sitting and taking it all in as they enjoy each other's company. All of these are bound to bring a lightening to your heart and a smile to your face.

6. Slow Down and Be Present

You've heard a lot about meditation and the art of mindfulness. That is because these things work. Not only do they help reduce stress levels and create a good sense of well-being, but they also help you become more aware of the little things in life. As you slow down, you notice things that don't normally enter your consciousness.

For example, pick up an apple. Take time to notice how red the peel is. As you take a bite, notice the tartness of the peel compared to the sweetness of the flesh. Notice the sensation on your tongue. When was the last time you actually thought an apple tasted so good? 

You don't have to spend hours meditating to gain the benefits. Take five minutes to slowly breathe. Notice the tension in your body begin to ease. Any activity you do is an activity that allows you to slow down and experience it fully.

Over time, you will learn to take a few moments when you are in the midst of chaos to breathe and just feel the moment. You will find that afterward, it will be easier to deal with the situation from a place of greater calm. The bad may not seem so bad after all.

To take action on this idea, check out our 64 Mindfulness Activity Cards Printable Bundle.

7. Grab a Camera

Everyone has access to some device that takes snapshots these days, but how often do you find yourself with a real camera in your hands, one that has a viewfinder? Digital cameras often give you a choice of viewing the scene on a screen or through a viewfinder.

Choose the viewfinder option. Why? You tend to see things differently when you are restricted to that small window and it allows you to hone in on things that may easily be missed when viewing with both eyes.

For example, you are at a wedding reception. Most people would be watching the bride, maybe paying attention to a disc jockey or talking with the bartender. Few would see the young father sitting in a corner alone except for his young daughter, who he is holding so she can dance on the table.

As you slowly pan the camera, however, you capture that tender scene and the looks on their faces. It is priceless moments like these that make one's day.

Final Thoughts on Enjoying Life

In a world that is so determined to make us feel that our lives aren't as good as they could be, unless we are experiencing big moments or great successes every time we do something, it becomes easy to feel depressed. It leaves a person feeling empty.

By being able to see the many wonders that are sprinkled throughout our lives like glitter, we can feel an inner peace that has eluded us for so long.

Life is meant to be enjoyed. So look for the shooting stars, the baby animals, and the complete joy of a child or animal at play. Allow them to show you that life is about living in the moment.

⚙️1% Habit Idea

We all have one life to live. If you’re not proactively experiencing all that this world has to offer, then you are missing out. Sure, I get that you have a job, family, and an infinite number of other obligations—but you should also try to expand on your long-term plans.

The simplest way to do this is to create a “bucket list” of all that you’d like to accomplish in your life.

This concept was popularized in the 2007 movie called The Bucket List. In case you haven’t seen it yet, the movie is about two men with terminal cancer who leave a hospital to accomplish all the things they’ve ever wanted to do before they inevitably die. Their goal is to cross off as many items from this list as possible before they “kick the bucket.”

My suggestion is to create a list of your own and then regularly add to it on a monthly basis. More importantly, make a plan for how you’ll check off items from this list.

How to Get Started

First, create a list using an idea-capture device that you always have nearby. It could be a journal, a computer document, or a platform like Notion.

It doesn’t matter where this list goes—just make sure it’s an item that’s always on you.

Next, start filling out this list by answering five simple questions:

1. “What do I want to be?”

Imagine the different things you would like to be before you die. This can include building specific skills or roles you’d like to achieve. Simply think of the perfect version of yourself and what type of person you aspire to become.

Here are a few examples:

● Be the best boyfriend (then fiancé, then husband, then father) in the world

● Be someone my friends and family can always count on

● Be an Ironman Triathlon finisher

● Become a successful six-figure public speaker

● Be a New York Times bestselling author

2. “What do I want to have?”

For some people, material possessions are important, while others don’t care about the amount of “stuff” in their lives. If you’re someone who is interested in enjoying the finer things in life, then you can jot down the items you want to own before you die.

Here are a few examples:

● Have a nice home on the ocean

● Own a vintage sports car like a classic Ford Mustang

● Earn enough passive income to allow you to quit your job

● Buy a nice vacation home in my favorite travel destination

3. “What do I want to do?”

Here, you’ll determine what you want to accomplish in life. These can be small goals or a major life-defining moment.

Here are a few examples:

● Get married to a true partner who you share adventures with

● Have two healthy, happy children

● Visit at least twenty different countries

● Hike the entire Appalachian Trail

4. “Where do I want to go?”

It’s important to visit places you’ve never been before. I believe you can learn a lot about yourself by traveling to a new location and having new experiences that outside your comfort zone. In this section, you’ll jot down a list of the places you would like to visit.

Here are a few examples:

● Visit France and bike through the countryside

● Go to Tanzania to hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro

● Travel through all of Australia and New Zealand

● Visit all fifty states in the United States, plus Canada

5. “What do I want to see?”

This last question is a “catch-all” for the previous four sections of your bucket list. Here you’ll write down the memories that will last a lifetime. This could be a specific event you’d like to experience or a simple moment that adds significance to your existence.

Here are a few examples:

● See the northern lights in Norway

● Watch the Running of the Bulls in Spain

● See a sunset in the Australian Outback

● Be surrounded by loving friends and family around your deathbed at the end of a long, fulfilling life

Now, these are my examples. I urge you to come up with your own ideas that relate to your dreams and aspirations.

Sure, this habit might sound a little selfish and superficial, but it’s important to actively think about what you’d like to do before “shuffling off this mortal coil.”

Finally, I recommend adding to this list as a monthly habit. Whenever you think of something you’d like to do, or hear of an interesting experience, take a few seconds to pop it into this list.

Do this often enough and you’ll come up with an extensive collection of ideas you can share with others or do on your own.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

❄️ The Art of Wintering: How to Find Strength in Slowing Down - Feeling drained as the year winds down? This article from Ness Labs explores the transformative concept of "wintering"—embracing rest and renewal during life’s darker seasons—to help you recharge and grow with resilience.

💪 What I Learned About Getting in Shape After Reading 13 Books This Month - How do 13 books and one month of dedication reshape everything you thought you knew about fitness? Scott H. Young’s deep dive into exercise wisdom blends practical advice with fascinating insights, offering a must-read roadmap for anyone aiming to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

⚙️ A System for Strategic Thinking [SWOT Analysis] - Want a fresh approach to making better personal and professional decisions? This article breaks down how to use SWOT analysis in everyday life, helping you assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for smarter, more confident choices.

🪜 Practice Is the Point of Practice - Do you feel trapped in the cycle of chasing happiness or outcomes? This article reveals the transformative power of embracing practice for its own sake, offering profound insights that can help you find joy and fulfillment in the journey rather than the destination.

🎯 5 Tips for Staying Focused (When You’re Stressed) - Struggling to stay focused under stress? This article offers five practical strategies, including reframing tasks as experiments and rewarding effort over results, to help you combat anxiety and boost productivity.

Thanks for reading.

Happy holidays!

Talk soon.

Cheers,

Steve Scott 

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