A couple of weeks ago I bought myself some toast tongs. What are toast tongs, you may ask. They are small bamboo tongs for getting your toast out of the toaster safely. (I am prone to burning my fingers on hot toast.) Every time I use them I think genius! How did I ever live without my toast tongs?! This simple gadget has changed my life.
It got me thinking about how small changes can become big changes. Whether it is making a small adjustment in your workflow, discovering a new gadget, or changing your approach or a point of view, small changes can bring huge returns.
Here’s an example from my creative life. I dictate the first draft of these newsletters. I never thought that would be part of my creative process. For me the flow always came through my fingertips as I typed. But once I got my dog and started walking him daily, I would think of the first few sentences of a newsletter. I discovered that dictating made my writing process go much faster because I just spoke my thoughts. Keeping it simple, I use the dictation function in Word. I haven’t tried dictation for my fiction, but lots of authors swear by it. It is especially helpful for people that have bad carpal tunnel or other injuries. This is a great example of how experimenting with something new can lead to unexpected benefits.
Here are some places to try implementing small changes:
New Tools: Is there a new tool you can try for your creative process?
What about using a scheduler for your social media? Have you tried ChatGPT or other AI to help you brainstorm? Or using a scheduling tool to keep your calendar? I use Acuity * for scheduling and it is a game changer. It saves so much time and back and forth emails when trying to schedule appointments with clients.
New routines: Is there a a tweak you can make to your routine?
What about changing the time of day you workout? Maybe carve out 10 minutes a day to read for fun. Or for research? Or limiting yourself to checking e-mail once a day? Or forgoing all social media? I check email once a day and social media once or twice a week. This habit has increased my productivity and focus.
New environments: Should you change up the space where you work?
Try flipping your desk to look out the window or towards the wall. If you work at home, try a coffee shop. If you work at a coffee shop, try a new place.
Experiment
Overall, the key to making small changes is to be open to experimentation. Be willing to try out new things and see what works. Sometimes the things you try won’t work out, but that’s okay. The important thing is to keep experimenting and find what works best for you.
I encourage you to experiment with some small changes in your life and see where they can take you. If you have some suggestions or ideas that have worked for you, hit reply and let me know.
P.S. The other thing my toast tongs remind is that you can find inspiration anywhere if you are open and curious.
*Affiliate link. I recommend products I love and use. I get a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Want more content like this? Click here to subscribe to my newsletter.
