Seven Tiny Habits That Are Low-Key Changing My Life

Today we’re talking about self-improvement.

I love it because I didn’t have to wake up at 5 a.m., run five miles, or start journaling gold-inked gratitude letters to the universe. And yet—somehow—my life is getting better.

Not dramatically. Not in a TikTok glow—up kind of way. But in small, steady, why does everything feel easier, kind of ways.

Turns out, it wasn’t a massive lifestyle overhaul I needed. It was these seven tiny habits.

Easy to do. Easy to ignore. And weirdly…kind of magic.

1. Making My Bed (Most Days)

I used to think I didn’t have enough time to make my bed. After all, I’m a single mama for a 2-year-old. Making my bed had to be a waste of time. Like, why make it if I’m just going to ruin it again in 12 hours, and no one gets to see it?

But then I read Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven — the guy who basically said, “Start your day with a win.” And weirdly… he’s right.

It takes 30 seconds, and it instantly makes the room feel less chaotic. It gives me one tiny, smug I-did-something moment before the day starts.

Some mornings it’s the only productive thing I do before noon. But it creates momentum. A little order before the daily chaos kicks in.

Now, when I walk into my bedroom, I don’t feel like I’m losing a battle with the blankets. I feel like I’m trying. And honestly, that’s the win.

2. Decluttering Every Night

Decluttering isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifestyle. Because no matter how much I clear out… more stuff keeps showing up. Receipts. Mail. Random plastic toys. Mysterious Tupperware lids. It never ends.

So now, every night, I do a 5-minute decluttering spree. One timer. One area. Zero perfection.

I toss what needs tossing. Put away what’s out of place. And give my brain just enough visual peace so that I do not feel like I live inside a storage unit.

Cutter is linked to anxiety. And when my space feels overwhelming, so does everything else. It’s harder to focus. Harder to relax. Harder to function.

Five minutes doesn’t solve everything. But it helps me go to bed feeling like I’m in control — just a little bit. And that’s enough.

3. Following the One-Touch Rule (And Cleaning as I Go)

You know what’s wild? Most of my mess wasn’t big mess energy. It was just a million tiny things I set down for now and never touched again.

So I made a rule: if I touch it, I finish it. One touch. That’s it.

If I pick up a dish, it goes in the dishwasher—not on the counter for its spiritual journey. If I take off my jacket, it goes in the closet—not flung dramatically over a chair like I just stormed out of a soap opera.

And while we’re at it: I’ve started cleaning as I go. Wiping the counter right after I make coffee. Throwing things away before they form a clutter cult. It’s low effort. But it adds up.

These habits keep the mess from snowballing into full-blown chaos. And honestly, they make me feel like a person who has her life mildly together.

It’s not perfectly clean—just functional-clean. Which, honestly, is the dream.

4. Setting Just 5 Goals (Warren Buffet Style)

Warren Buffett once said to write down 25 goals—then circle just 5. The other 20? Avoid them at all costs. Because those are the goals that secretly distract you from what actually matters.

And honestly? That hit harder than I expected.

I used to have a running list of 743 things I should be doing.

Read more. Drink more water. Become fluent in Spanish. Organize my pantry by vibes.

It was exhausting just looking at it.

Now? I pick 5. Not 50. Not everything. Just five priorities I actually care about right now.

And I ignore the rest—on purpose.

It feels weird at first—like you’re letting stuff slip. But then life gets quieter. More focused. Less like a never-ending game of personal development whack-a-mole.

Turns out, the key to doing more… is doing less…with intention.

5. Being Present (And Not Wishing Time Away)

Time moves fast. I’d rather live it than wish it away.

I used to live in time when. When the weekend gets here. When things slow down. When I have more time/money/sanity.

But life isn’t on layaway. It’s happening right now—in the chaos, in the quiet, in the weird in-between moments where nothing looks like Pinterest.

So I’ve started practicing presence. Not the deep, mystical, sit-on-a-mountain kind (though that sounds nice). Just the everyday kind.

Noticing the way the light hits my kitchen table. Listening when someone’s talking—actually listening, not just nodding while mentally making a grocery list. Feeling the moment instead of rushing through it.

It’s not easy. Especially when your to-do list has its own to-do list.

But it makes the good stuff sweeter. And the hard stuff? Well, it gets a little more manageable when you stop fighting it and just let it be for a minute.

6. Self-Care That’s Actually Reasonable

Most self-care advice sounds like it was written by someone with no job, no kids, and a full-time assistant named Molly.

I love a bubble bath as much as the next person—but what I really need is a moment to breathe without a notification, a snack that didn’t come out of a toddler’s leftover plate, and five whole minutes where no one needs me.

So I stopped chasing the perfect self-care routine. Instead, I made peace with the reasonable stuff.

Washing my face and not skipping moisturizer. Saying I’m tired without apologizing for it. Asking for help instead of pretending I’ve got it all handled. Being happy with 15 minutes of exercise and drinking more lemon water.

That’s it. Self-care isn’t about escape. It’s about maintenance. It’s not supposed to feel like a second job…it’s supposed to help you show up for your actual life.

And when it’s simple and doable? You’ll actually do it.

7. Self-Improvement, 1% at a Time

James Clear, the author of Automic Habits, wrote that the goal isn’t to be perfect —it’s to be 1% better every day.

That’s it.

Not a full reinvention. Not a complete glow-up. Just small, consistent choices that quietly stack up over time.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. Brushing my teeth like I care. Folding the laundry before it becomes a chair monster. Choosing fruit, or at least not eating the sad snack I didn’t even want.

It doesn’t always look impressive. But it feels better.

And when I mess up—because of course I do—I just pick it back up the next day.

The pressure’s off. The bar is doable. And weirdly, that’s what makes it stick.

One percent better today. One percent better tomorrow. That adds up to a life that feels less chaotic, more intentional, and a whole lot more you.

Shifting My Mindset, Not Chasing Perfection

I used to think self-improvement was about chasing big goals. Now, I see it differently.

It’s not about transforming overnight — it’s about transforming over time.

These small habits aren’t part of some rigid checklist. They’re lifestyle shifts — tiny, intentional choices I make because they help me feel more grounded, more clear, and more like myself.

The old me wanted quick results. The new me? I just want to live better.

Not perfect — just better.

I’m no longer measuring progress by milestones or external wins. I’m paying attention to what really matters: Peace. Energy. Alignment. Showing up for my life in small, sustainable ways.

That’s the mindset shift that’s actually changing everything.