Here is a selfie I took in Slovenia during our European Adventure, first time snowboarding as a family.
I’m the kind of person who loves space in my days leading up to the new year—and even after—to dream, plan, and put habits into place. That’s why this dream-come-true European adventure with my husband Alex and my daughter Jess was ideal. We had so much fun, and there was room for wonder—following our curiosity, enjoying and indulging in a spa, snowboarding, and so many hot chocolates and croissants I’ve lost count!
(More on that in my next post. For now, let’s focus on how we can bring our dreams to life, no matter what they may be…)
Welcome to a brand-new year—a time to dream big, set new intentions, and, get excited about all the possibility life holds. In planning for our intimate mastermind call this month (co-led, for January with my dear friend Amen). Amen is a genius—seriously, I love her and all the adventures we have as friends. Well, this year, she put together a brilliant outline on habits for our mastermind call, and I found myself diving deeper into habit formation. Between Amen’s incredibly inspiring outline of habits and my own exploration of books like The Power of Habit (Charles Duhigg) and Atomic Habits (James Clear), I’ve uncovered so many nuggets of goodness that I had to share them with you.
My Real-Life Habit Journey
One of the habits I picked up while on our European Adventure was, well, eating all the things—the bread, the sugar, the pastries. Zero regrets because #lifeisshort. But when I returned home, I knew I had to slowly wean myself off this sweet tooth escapade. How? By mixing in healthier routines—like my favorite green juice in the morning, sipping on soothing herbal teas and/or mushroom coffee (a.k.a chagaccino), and planning out balanced meals. And guess what? I’m giving myself room for that decadent treat here and there. Because, life’s about flexibility, am I right?!
Meanwhile, there’s one habit I picked up that I refuse to let go of: and that’s laughter. On my travels, I found myself laughing loud and often with family and friends —those hilarious, soul-reviving moments have now become a daily non-negotiable. Leaving space for joy, wonder, and play is essential to me, and it brings the spark we all need in our routines.
Why Tiny Habits Matter
Did you know James Clear has a MasterClass all about small habits? (If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend it.)
Here is my personal link for a 14 day guest pass. The big takeaway for me so far, has been that you don’t need grand, sweeping changes to transform your life. You just need to get consistent with tiny habits—ones so small they feel almost effortless. Consistency, rather than perfection, is the name of the game.
“it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being consistent” James Clear
Bonus Book Plug: If you’re curious about the science behind why we do what we do, check out Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit. It’s a current read of mine, and it’s blowing my mind with all the ways our brains lock in on routines—good or bad.
A Genius Podcast Takeaway (Thanks, Steven Bartlett!)
On The Diary of a CEO, behavior expert Chase Hughes shared a concept I can’t stop thinking about:
“I want past tense me to be a source of dopamine for present tense me.” Chase Hughes
In other words, set yourself up for success in all those small, thoughtful ways—like leaving money in a coat pocket to be found next season or prepping your coffee pod and cup the night before or what about thinking ahead about the outfit you’ll wear and setting it all out as if you were your own personal butler. The future you wakes up feeling grateful, excited, and ready to tackle the day. It’s like having your own built-in cheerleader from the past. (Seriously, try it. It’s surprisingly fun.)
“I define discipline as your ability to prioritize the needs of your future self ahead of your own present self…I’m prioritizing the needs of future me.” Chase Hughes
5 Tiny Habits You Can Start Right Now
- Set Up Your Environment
- Keep healthy snacks within reach, hide the candy stash (or avoid buying it).
- Lay out your workout clothes, or queue up an inspiring podcast for your morning commute.
- Did I mention prepping your water bottle and yoga mat? Huge difference.
- Celebrate Every Win
- A quick “Yes, I did it!” or a mini dance party (my personal favorite) can go a long way.
- These micro celebrations feed your motivation, making it easier to do the habit again.
- Try Habit Stacking
- Link a new habit to an existing one. After brushing your teeth, do a 2-minute stretch, check in to see how you’re feeling, say some uplifting affirmations or a journal entry. Or while your tea is brewing, jot down 3 things you’re grateful for.
- These small pairings add up quickly.
- Get (or Be) an Accountability Buddy
- A quick voice note or video from a friend cheering you on is sometimes all you need.
- Join or lead a mastermind with like-hearted individuals to help you soar. (email me if you’re interested in learning more about Cultivate, our intimate yet mighty mastermind).
- Allow Flexibility (and Fun!)
- One off day doesn’t mean it’s all ruined—just pick it back up tomorrow.
- Keep the habit (and your mindset) playful. You’ll stick with it much longer if it feels good.
What I’m Loving Lately
- Laughing out loud: Even if it’s just a silly thing our dog Ted did, a funny joke Alex tells or an inside joke with a friend, a daily burst of laughter is hands-down my favorite “habit.”
- Quiet Mornings: I’ve been waking up super early (thanks to our European Adventure time clock disruption) and have been lavishing in the time I have to journal, read and all my morning practices that set me up for success each day.
Wrap-Up: Start Tiny, Keep Going
Whether you’re stacking squats onto your morning coffee routine or sprinkling laughter breaks throughout your day, remember it’s the small, consistent steps that spark the biggest results over time. So go on—pick one new micro-habit and give it a go. Future you is already cheering you on!
Cheers to a year of joyful, playful, and oh-so-rewarding progress!
Remember, the key here is fun + consistency + celebrating every bit of progress. I’m cheering you on all the way!
Cheers to a year filled with joyful habits, helpful checklists, and laughter galore!
I genuinely appreciate your friendship, continued encouragement, and generous referrals. Your thoughts, suggestions, and questions are welcome, making this post a vibrant conversation.
May this post inspire and ignite in you the potential to dream, grow, and create in authentically fabulous ways. Let’s embrace the transformative power of self-love, creativity, and positive change. May we cultivate continued peace and joy in our lives. Let’s take time to acknowledge all that we have to be thankful for and recognize that we are truly magical!
Looking for inspiration for your next adventure? Check out this post on a European Travel Adventure.
Follow along with more travel and photography insights by subscribing to my newsletter here.
Wishing you epic travels ahead!
Comments +