It’s hard to make a full commitment to changing our lives for the better because at the end of the day, improving takes time. We won’t see change in the blink of an eye, rather we’ll see change over a period of time — patience is key, but that can be difficult to achieve. We live fast-paced lifestyles, and it seems that each day has become a race for survival instead of actually living.

One way we can see progress in our life is by focusing one day at a time. There’s no need to rush things over: every day is a chance to be a better person, and it takes constant effort to become the person we want to be. That begins by focusing on the little things, and enjoying the process.

1. Smile
   • This seems easy enough, but in the rush of our daily lives we find it hard to genuinely enjoy the little things going on through the process. Studies show that smiling, real or fake, helps reduce the body’s response to stress, and helps relax the heart rate. Smiling is contagious, and it can make others smile too, creating a more positive environment more welcoming for everyone.
2. Prioritize yourself
   • You don’t need to spend hours on yourself — that would be nice, but could also be unrealistic. Try waking up a bit earlier than usual, and give yourself more time to use. Find time to watch that show you’ve put off for a while, or read a good book.
   • Maybe go for a walk or exercise. Studies show that staying active helps our mental health, and has been associated with increased self-esteem and reduced anxiety. Whatever you do, make sure to prioritize time for yourself; eventually, you’ll find that taking time to destress and relax will play a role in reducing your stress and help your overall health. The healthier you are, the more motivated you will be in successfully accomplishing your goals.
3. Reduce social media usage
   • Research has shown that social media can negatively impact your health by increasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Try turning off your notifications, or disabling your account. If you want, you can take it a step further and delete social media altogether. When you don’t have to worry about your phone buzzing from posts and stories of others, you’ll find yourself to be more productive with more time on your hands, reducing stress.
     • Using social media addictively can elevate levels of dopamine; quitting social media can at first cause you to feel anxious because of a reaction called withdrawal due to the sudden reduction in usage. Fortunately, these effects usually subside within the first few days of quitting, and the positive effects come soon enough.
   • Reducing your social media usage can also help you get more sleep. It’s become common to scroll, like, and comment mindlessly for hours on social media, all resulting from checking one notification on Instagram. When you reduce your use of social media during your bedtime, you’ll give yourself the benefit of a good night’s rest, and that will in turn help your productivity the next day.
4. Make your bed
   • During his commencement speech at the University of Texas, US Navy Adm. William H. McCraven told the graduates of his alma mater, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” He continued, explaining that if you make you bed you will have accomplished the first task of the day, and with that accomplishment will come a small sense of pride. It will encourage you to accomplish more tasks throughout the day, serving as motivation.
   • A made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. Consider each day as a fresh start, and a new opportunity to improve your life and take advantage of new opportunities. Avoid dwelling on the past, and look more toward the future but seizing the day ahead of you and making it better than the day before.
   • Not only can making your bed motivate you, it will also reinforce the little things in life.
     • “If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right. And if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made. And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.”