Is anyone else a self-development nerd?
Learning is a huge part of my life, and I’ve realized that learning new information means nothing without practicing and implementing that information.
One of the most valuable books that I’ve ever read is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s extremely easy to understand, and his wisdom applies to quite literally everyone on the planet.
Yes, including you!
James Clear has sprinkles extremely important lessons throughout his book, and hands down, my favorite takeaway from his book is:
In order to make big changes, you do not need to start by taking big actions.
PHEW.
Instead you need to take small actions, consistently.
You just need to get 1% better every day.
What does he mean by this? Here are some examples.
- Instead of telling yourself you’re going to start running 5 miles daily—why not start with 1 mile and build from there?
- Instead of eliminating social media altogether—why not start with putting your phone away for 1 hour before bed, and expand after that?
- Instead of promising yourself you will save $10,000 in 6 months—can you start with $1,000? Gain some momentum, and the rest will take care of itself.
Did you know that if you get one percent better each day, you'll end up THIRTY SEVEN times better by the end of the year? (credit to this article)
thirty. seven. times. better.
Source: https://jamesclear.com/continuous-improvement
How cool is that?
Because this is a relationship blog, I want to share some practical tips for how the 1% better every day concept can be applied with your significant other, starting right now!
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Implement a morning gratitude routine with your partner
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Make date night reservations at a restaurant you’ve never been to before
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Cook dinner together and try a new recipe
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Write your partner a love letter and mail it to them
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Buy your partner’s favorite candy or sweet treat next time you are at the store
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Go for a long walk without cell phones
The things I just listed are pretty minor, but they add up.
A relationship filled with little moments of happiness, and little 1% improvements can really go a long way.
Don’t you want to say your partnership improved 37% year after year?
I know I do!
The moral of the story is—the bar does not need to be set too high.
Start small.
Start with 1% better every day.
The rest will take care of itself.
