Make Small Changes to Prioritize What Matters Most to You

Often the most impactful changes happen by taking small changes to prioritize what matters most. These changes take time and patience to implement. You may even battle yourself to take those tiny changes!

In fact, that very thing happened to me while attempting to write this post.

I have overthought how to write the post way too much.

Seriously, I’ve spent weeks thinking about this post and how to provide the right amount of information. Just enough but not too overwhelming.

Fortunately, I drank a crazy good iced coffee recipe that’s gotten jittery Cortney going. I’d been living the decaf coffee life. Who knew what instant coffee would do to me?!

Back to the point, though, rather than overthinking this uber simple tip, I should have just freaking done it.

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

Evaluate How You’re Spending Your Time

Really, ask yourself these questions. If you’re going through this with someone else, ask it as “we” questions. Do what works best for you.

What were we doing with our time?

It’s probably pretty easy to think about what you tend to spend your time doing.

The trickier part is recognizing how much time you spend doing what you do.

What activities would stay? What could be reduced or eliminated?

For you, some activities are obvious and necessary, such as:

• Meal times
• Showers / daily hygiene
• Putting your kids to bed
• Doing your job…

Some activities could be reduced or eliminated, such as:

• Watching TV
• Scrolling on your phone
• Checking your email, social media, stocks, etc. every hour

So, what’s your things that need to stay? Can be reduced or eliminated?

Write it down!

What positive, small changes could make a difference?

So, let’s say that you want to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.

What are some small steps you can take to sustainably reach that goal?

You could…

• Set reminders for you to walk a certain number of steps throughout the day (like 1K in the morning, 1K around lunch, and so forth…)
• Get a pedometer/watch that tracks your steps. Set it up to remind yourself to move when you’ve been sitting too long.
• Have a standing walk date with yourself to get your move on
• Stack it with something fun, like music, audio book, a podcast, TV show, etc.
• Give yourself a healthy reward when you reach 10K each day (like a relaxing stretch, a cup of tea, your favorite song, etc.)
• Tell those near you that this is your goal – accountability can help you stick with it more
• … and so forth

(Confession: This is actually one of my goals that I really struggle with hitting consistently. Surprise! Thanks for walking through this with me!)

Rather than continue over-thinking it, join me in taking my own advice to just…

Pick One Small Step to Implement and DO IT

That’s it!

Build it into your daily rythms. Put it on your calendar/planner/whiteboard/whatever. Put that ish on your schedule.

Then, track if you’re doing it. (Bonus: If it’s on your calendar, you can just check that bad boy!)

Miss a day? That’s okay. Start again the next day.

Just do it. You can do this.

Small Changes, Big Rewards

Taking small, incremental steps is more effective and realistic and than taking ginormous leaps.

I’m not hating on the leaps, by the way. They’re just less likely in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of life.

Call to Action: Pick a small change and do it

Don’t overcomplicate it (like I overthought this post!). Pick one small change to make, decide how you’ll track your progress, and do it.

Heck, go do it now if that makes it happen!

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

I’m curious – what small change are you going to implement? Tell me about it in the comments!

P.S. Want some crazy simple steps to start living intentionally? Grab the Embrace Your Potential Playbook. It’ll help you zoom in on your God-gifted personality and give you practical tips to be more intentional, passionate, and purposeful as God’s beloved so you can become the best version of yourself.