One small change in your daily life can tip the balance up towards progress or down towards failure.
One small change.
Sometimes it’s such a small change that you don’t consider its ability to build over time.
Every time I clean out my wallet, I leave 4 quarters in the wallet and put the rest into our change jar. I’ve been doing this for almost a year. I think there’s about $40 in change in the jar. All I did was drop pennies, nickels, and quarters in the jar.
Every time I make a recipe, I clean up as I go; clean up at the end is a breeze. When I’m baking, I keep a small plate near the mixer to hold used mixing spoons, spatulas, and the occasional eggshell. Nothing wet sits on the counter making a mess to clean up.
These small things are deposits in the bank of time. As Jeff Olson talks about in his book, The Slight Edge, it’s easy to choose to do something. And, it’s just as easy to choose not to do something. As humans, we struggle with delayed gratification. How often have we grabbed a candy bar and muttered something about paying for it later? We’re already paying for that decision because we chose not to eat healthy at that moment. Those choices add up over time.
What’s your one small change for 2014?
Because I love meeting new people and sharing, this post is linked to:
Wonderful Wednesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thrifty Thursday, From the Farm Blog Hop, Super Saturday Link Party, Simply Natural Saturdays, Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest, MMM Link Party, Busy Monday, Financially Savvy Saturdays
My one small change will hopefully be getting to bed earlier. I’m hoping it’ll encourage me to start my day earlier and get something done even before everyone else is up. Although, here I am at 11pm on the internet … not such a good start the New Year. But we have a snow day tomorrow, so I know I’m not getting anything done tomorrow. 😉
Rebecca @ Stapler Confessions recently posted..Financial Priorities, Resolutions, Goals, and Word for 2014
LOL – You must be getting the same snow storm we are in the Philly area.
I get up about 2 hours before the kids. 4 am is REALLY early, however, I can get in 2 hours of work without interruptions which is nice.
We have used our change jar at the end of the year to put towards vacations or a nice gift for the whole house.
A small change I want to make is choosing the healthier option when going out to eat.
Caitlin recently posted..word of the year
Sounds like a great small change to make, Caitlin!
Those are two GREAT tips! We love cleaning out change and taking it to the change machines at TD Bank. The cleaning as you go principle I’m still working on, but you’re right, it makes a huge difference.
It definitely does. I’m a big believer in touching things once when cleaning up. My dh will pile up dishes and arrange the dirty silverware in the cup BEFORE he gets started. Me – I just rip through the piles.
My small change is to lower my goals to just a few minutes a day. Start there, then build out if I can, and not feel bad when I can’t!
Gina B recently posted..NOT a Resolutions Post (Just Goals…)
A little change can be the first step to BIG changes!
Jeanine @MommyEntourage recently posted..McCafe New White Chocolate Mocha {Giveaway!}
I love this. I will have to tackle one step at a time, but thanks for showing me little things I can do for a big difference.
Jennifer A recently posted..Comment on The Best Places to Go Sledding in New Jersey by County by Jennifer A.
It’s amazing how the little things add up. If I look at the amount of running I did this week, I’d feel frustrated. I’m still not running a full 30 minutes. However, looking at my mileage since the beginning of December, I can see improvement. I can also feel improvement when I run.
What great thoughts and such a fun way to build up coins.
Thanks so much for the invite. I have linked up. Hugs, Marty
I love my change jar. It’s my totally guilt free to spend money. I cash it in like once a year at the local Coinstar and wind up with a $30-50 gift certificate to Amazon.
Mel @ brokeGIRLrich recently posted..What is a 529 Savings Plan?
Thanks for linking this up with us for MMM link up party! I love the mindfulness behind it!I am sharing this on the Adventures in Mindful Livings FB page today. You should go on over to my link up party tab and enter your weekly link up party on there. I am trying to do more link ups this year to help my blog grow and I would love to do yours every week so I created that page so I would remember the link ups I wanted to do.
Thank you, I will do that!
We totally do the loose change thing…it can add up fast! Thanks for joining Financially Savvy Saturdays…would love to have you back!
femmefrugality recently posted..Financially Savvy Saturdays Twentieth Edition
Thank you! I linked up. Have a great weekend!
Thank you! My change jar is about 4 inches high thanks to my ds17 giving me a bunch of change to pay for an Amazon order he placed. I’m debating whether to put the money in the bank or see if we can fill up the jar.
Our change this is year isn’t very small. We are getting better organized and in better health. Both require major changes which we have been doing well on thus far.
We were actually rolling change yesterday from our change jar, it was a good bit! That was fun!
Shirley Wood recently posted..Construction Themed Party