SMALL CHANGE - BIG DIFFERENCE
Small Changes, Big Differences
Sometimes we think transformation has to be dramatic. A brand-new lifestyle, a total overhaul, a big leap into something unfamiliar. But often, it’s the tiniest shifts—the ones that feel doable, sustainable, and importantly, chosen by us—that make the most powerful difference over time.
Our brains love this. From a neuroscience perspective, small changes are easier to embed because they don’t set off alarm bells in the part of the brain that resists threat or overwhelm. Instead, they slide gently into our routines, creating new patterns and pathways without all the drama.
And here’s something important: the changes need to be your choice. Not something imposed on you, or copied from someone else, but something that fits with your life and feels possible today.
“I used to do that…”
One of the simplest ways to find your first small change is to look back. Think about the things you used to do, the habits or rituals that made you feel better, calmer, or stronger, but somehow slipped away in the busyness of life.
“I used to walk to work and notice the trees changing with the seasons. Now I drive everywhere. I could start by walking to the shop once a week instead.”
“I used to read before bed instead of scrolling. I could put a book on my pillow tonight as a reminder.”
“I used to make time to sit outside with my morning coffee. I could go into the garden for five minutes tomorrow before the day starts.”
“I used to exercise regularly….. I could roll out my mat and stretch for just three minutes while the kettle boils in the morning”
These aren’t life-changing on their own. But stacked together, repeated, and chosen by you, they begin to change how you feel. They reset the nervous system, remind the brain that you are in charge, and ripple outwards into bigger changes. Watch how Eddies tail creates ripples when he wags in response to our voices :)
Watch how Eddies tail creates ripples in the water as he wags in response to our voices :)
Ideas to Try
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some small shifts that many people find helpful:
Swap one caffeinated drink a day for water or herbal tea.
Add one extra vegetable to your plate.
Notice one thing you’re grateful for at the end of each day.
Get outside for five minutes of daylight before 10am.
Move your body in a way that feels kind, not punishing.
Send a quick message to a friend, just to connect.
Turn off notifications for an hour and notice how your mind feels.
Why Small Works
The science of behaviour change shows us that success builds success. Each small step achieved gives you a little dopamine rfind out hoeward, making it more likely that you’ll keep going. The key is to make the step so small that you can’t fail—because the sense of achievement, however modest, is what rewires the brain for the bigger shifts to come.
So rather than setting a huge target that feels overwhelming, start tiny. Choose something you want to do, something that feels like a gift to yourself, and begin.
Your Next Step
What’s one thing you used to do that helped you feel better, but slipped away? Could you bring a small piece of that back this week?
Sometimes the big difference begins with something as small as a glass of water, a breath of fresh air, or a page of a book.
