Do you ever feel like life is just too chaotic and overwhelming? Like you’re constantly struggling just to keep your head above water financially, emotionally, and mentally? If this sounds familiar, I’ve got some good news for you – adopting just a few simple habits into your daily routine can work wonders to reduce anxiety, improve your overall wellbeing, and set you on a pathway to lasting positive change.
I’ve seen it happen firsthand. Let me tell you the story of my neighbor Nicole.
Meet Nicole – A Woman on the Verge of Burnout
Nicole is a young mom with a successful career that, unfortunately, demands the majority of her time and energy. Every morning, she’s up by 5:30 am getting the kids fed and ready for school before battling hellish traffic to make it to the office just in the nick of time. As you can imagine, her boss isn’t very sympathetic on days when she rolls in late.
The daily chaos was taking a serious toll on Nicole both physically and mentally. Though she put on a brave face, behind the scenes this woman was barely keeping it together.
An Unexpected Meeting With a Mentor
Enter Olivia – Nicole’s next door neighbor who, despite being 70 years old, seemed to have more energy and enthusiasm for life than her frazzled friend less than half her age. Nicole couldn’t help being drawn to Olivia’s infectious optimism and warmth.
One evening while chatting across the fence, Nicole decided to be vulnerable and confided to Olivia that while on paper it looked like she “had it all”, in reality she felt like her life was spinning out of control.
Rather than responding with sympathy as Nicole expected, Olivia’s eyes lit up. “Oh my dear, I know exactly how you feel! Here – come over every evening this week at 6 pm sharp. I’ve got some habits to share that will change everything, you’ll see!”
Though initially skeptical, Nicole didn’t have any better ideas for fixing her situation and figured an hour out of her day couldn’t hurt. Little did she know what a profound impact it would end up having!
Habit #1 – Start Your Day With Gratitude
Olivia didn’t waste any time, diving right in during their first session:
“I don’t care if your morning feels crazy – take just one minute while you sip your coffee to close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and name 5 things you’re grateful for today.”
She went on to explain how this one simple act of naming daily blessings changes your mindset and mental filter to one of abundance rather than lack. Nicole reflected on prominent figures like Oprah Winfrey who attribute much of their success to a daily gratitude practice.
Habit #2 – Hydrate With Intention
“I want your first drink when you wake up – even before coffee if you can swing it – to be a big glass of cool water with lemon,” Olivia instructed on their second evening. She said proper hydration jumpstarts your body’s systems, fires up metabolism, gives skin a healthy glow, and provides a boost of natural energy.
“Entrepreneur Aubrey Marcus swears by this practice. He says how you start your morning sets the tone for your whole day so why not send the signal that you value your health and are ready to crush it!”
Habit #3 – Make Your Bed, Change Your Life
If making your bed first thing every morning seems trivial, consider that it was significant enough for former Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven to write an entire book on the subject. As he explains:
“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.”
On day 3, Olivia drove home the importance not just of household chore completion, but of understanding the mindset shift that happens when you feel a sense of order and control from accomplishing what seems like “small” tasks.
Habit #4 – Clear Your Mind With Meditation
“Surely as a busy mom you don’t actually expect me to find time for sitting in silence,” Nicole lamented when Olivia presented this next habit.
“My dear, it’s non-negotiable. Even just five minutes a day has been proven to dramatically reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.”
When Nicole continued protesting that such “hippie dippie nonsense” wasn’t relevant for a working professional like herself, Olivia dropped a bombshell. “Well I happen to know for a fact that Lady Gaga incorporates meditation into her daily routine. And I’m quite sure she’s busier than either of us!”
Touché. If Lady Gaga can become both massively successful AND less stressed by meditating, Nicole was willing to give it a shot.
Habit #5 – Fuel Your Body With Nutrition
“I’m lucky if I even have time to grab a protein bar as I’m racing out the door,” Nicole admitted when Olivia emphasized the importance of breakfast. “Not only that, my kids are so picky they’d rather go hungry than eat something with nutritional value!”
“Say no more!” Olivia replied with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ve got three words for you: smoothie prep stations.”
She went on to explain that by preparing grab-and-go smoothie “stations” filled with spinach, fruit, nut butters, protein powders and the like over the weekend, even picky kids – and busy moms – could get wholesome nutrition into their bodies amidst the morning rush.
When Nicole pointed out the effort involved, Olivia reminded her that icons like Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington, and Elon Musk almost universally start their days with ample nutrition to power their jam-packed schedules.
The proof was in the pudding… err, smoothie. Nicole’s kids began looking forward to breakfast, she had more energy, and scramble to make it out the door on time became almost non-existent!
Habit #6 – Put Your Goals On Paper
“I know in my head what’s important, I don’t need to write it down,” Nicole insisted when goal-planning was introduced.
Turns out, that approach is likely holding her back big time. Olivia explained research done on Harvard Business School graduates found that the simple act of writing your goals down makes them much more likely to happen.
Why? Because it moves them from the nebulous world of thoughts and ideas into concrete tangible reality. The exercise taps into the power of visual reminder as well as physically engaging more parts of your brain.
“Even if you never look at the list again, the simple act of writing sets in motion internal changes that propel you toward achievement,” Olivia explained.
Now every night before bed Nicole journals goals for the next day. Even more transformational? Her monthly and yearly goal setting. Harnessing the power of writing things down has been life changing.
Habit #7 – Unplug From Technology
On evening number seven, Nicole arrived looking especially frazzled. “It’s just been one of those days where everything went wrong,” she lamented. “Meetings got cancelled last minute, the kids’ schools called needing stuff, I got stuck in traffic… UGH!”
“I have just the trick,” Olivia relied gently. “It’s digital detox time.”
When Nicole gave her signature “I literally can NOT unplug from technology as a working mom” spiel, Olivia reminded her of popular figures like Grammy-winning musician Adele who passionately protect their mental space by taking tech breaks.
“Even 30 minutes before bed or when you first wake up can work wonders. Turn your phone off, ditch screens, and give your mind room to breathe and refocus on what really matters.”
Though hesitant, Nicole agreed to give it a try. It turned out to be one of her favorite new habits!
Habit #8 – Just Move Your Body
If you’re thinking “easier said than done!” when it comes to establishing an exercise routine, you’ve got something in common with our overwhelmed mom Nicole. Juggling responsibilities of family and career doesn’t leave much time for elaborate workout regimens.
Fortunately Olivia provided both perspective and practicality: “Did you know even just 15 minutes of movement a day has been shown to vastly improve mood, focus, stress tolerance, energy levels, and metabolic health? We’re talking going for a brisk walk or doing a few YouTube workout videos in your living room.
Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston who seem to effortlessly ooze vitality credit daily movement, whether an intense gym session or quick yoga flow. This my dear is one area where no excuses will be tolerated. We’ve got to get you moving!”
Habit #9 – Declutter Your Space
By day nine, Nicole’s home environment seemed to be mirroring the chaotic state of her life. Though she barely seemed to notice the out-of-control toy clutter and overflowing laundry bin, Olivia recognized the anxious mindset it perpetuated.
“Think how peaceful, clean, open spaces set the tone for relaxation,” Olivia pointed out. “Clutter begets clutter! But organization breeds peacefulness.”
She shared Marie Kondo’s famous daily tidying system: commit to picking up, sorting, and properly putting away one area in your home before going to bed. This relatively small daily investment compounds, so before you know it you’re maintaining order rather than fighting against entropy!
Nicole began tackling her bedroom closet, then the kids’ play area, then the home office. Like magic, as physical order set in her mental clarity and focus improved too.
Habit #10 – Prioritize Rest
By the last session, Nicole’s energy reserves were clearly depleted. Olivia compassionately instructed her exhausted neighbor to head straight to bed.
“Skip your usual late night scrolling, turn off screens, do some gentle stretching and meditating, and let yourself sink into a nourishing slumber.”
The next morning Nicole raved it was the best night’s sleep she’d gotten in years!
Olivia smiled knowingly and began educating her on sleep’s role in health, wellness, and performance. Citing research on circadian rhythms, rest cycles, and benefits offered by icons like Arianna Huffington, she made Nicole a deal:
“One week. Commit to prioritizing sleep over screens and everything else for the next week. Then come back and tell me if you don’t feel like a whole new woman.”
Nicole took the plunge and indeed got hooked on an earlier bedtime and feeling recharged each morning! Her job performance increased, irritability decreased, and general sense of wellbeing skyrocketed thanks to sufficient rest.
Small Changes. Big Magic.
After just a couple weeks, the transformation in Nicole’s life already seemed almost miraculous. Though incredibly simple, the small daily habits Olivia prescribed tackled Nicole’s health, mindset, environment and priorities on multiple levels simultaneously.
Nicole was astounded how challenges she previously sweated and stressed over now seemed to flow almost effortlessly. Her kids were happier and more resilient, her home became a sanctuary of peace, and a new lightness permeated even mundane tasks.
I’m proud to say my good friend incorporated these same principles into her own life with fantastic results. While by no means an instant fix, patiently sticking with just a handful of microscopic changes cultivated radical shifts for both her and Nicole from overwhelm to optimism.
Just imagine what’s possible when you commit to stacking small positive decisions in your favor day after day. Like compound interest, before you know it your life savings account is overflowing!
Now I’d love to hear from you: of all the simple yet highly effective habits we covered, what resonates most? Which do you currently incorporate that I didn’t mention? Share your insights on the habits you find most life-changing in the comments below!
