Micro Habits that Delivered Results in 2024

For the past few New Years, right after I get into bed around 12:15 AM, I do something that takes minimal time and has a huge impact on my motivation, confidence, and focus: I open up my Notes app and search “New Year Goals”. There, I refer back to the ~5 item list that I made in the exact same bed, just after midnight, the prior year. I get a little boost from moving in the direction of some items on the list, and give myself grace for when I took a detour.  

This annual habit works for a few reasons: 

• Items on the list are not specific. For example, I will include “Experiment with X idea at work”, rather than “bring in $XXX from this by the end of 2025.”.  

• Items on the list are directional, not destinational. This concept is inspired by Megan Hellerer’s book “Destinational Living”. Included items help push me in a desired direction rather than direct me to a precise destination. “Read more at night” rather than “Read 30 books” is a great example of directional vs. destinational line items. 

• Items on the list are written when I am notably overtired, prompting me to think in the most simple terms: what worked last year that I want lean into for the year to come?

This last point is key: with the way I write these lists, there is no opportunity for overthinking. I am too tuckered out to dwell on what wasn’t done well last year and instead am able to zero in on what I want to do more of, starting the next morning, that makes my life better. 

Here, I’m sharing a few of the items that made my list because I am 100% confident they can make your life better too.

1. Surround Yourself with People that Lift You Up

I once heard an analogy that each person has a flame. Some will try to extinguish your flame (either sometimes or always). Others will protect it. Stick with those who consistently protect it. We embraced this concept last year and it was one of the most fulfilling conscious choices made to date. With this in mind, we had more energy to focus on the positive, and built countless rewarding relationships through conversations, 1:1 mentorships with aspiring art advisors, our Mastermind Retreat for Art & Design Entrepreneurs, and more. The collaborative, supporting mindset shared by people we chose to spend time with was contagious, and it came with more joy, energy, and gratitude, and less anxiety – all of which we want more of in 2025.

2. Remove Activities that Don’t Fuel You

Removing activities that don’t fuel you opens up time and energy for those activities that do.  Here is an example of activities that drain me, and the actions I take to remove them from my life: 

• Unfollow or mute draining IG accounts. You know what they are - acquaintances from high school, skin care influencers, news channels. You will not miss them. 

• Do not shop from your phone. Not even on Amazon! Online shopping is too easy with links and Apple Pay. If you commit to only shopping online from a laptop, you will spend less time scrolling, buy less, have less clutter to deal with, and have more time and energy to focus on meaningful activity. (Also, even if you replace online shopping time with nothing — space for daydreaming and zoning out, you are doing yourself a favor. We all need more silent moments to think.)

• Remember a rule about focus: it takes us 6 minutes to get mentally into a task. In that first 6 minutes, we are primed for distraction doing ANYTHING but getting started. Know this and power through. The distracting tasks are likely time sucks, and your day is better without them on your plate.

The most welcoming place to reset: a family room in Weston, CT with a Robert Kingston painting on the left, and a Raymond Hendler on the right. 

3. Start or Maintain an Abridged Journal Practice 

Journaling and Gratitude practices have been statistically proven to positively impact people’s lives. And, not everyone can do these consistently. I created an abridged version that has been easy and enjoyable for me to maintain over the past 12 months, and I will absolutely be continuing this through 2025 and beyond. Here’s what I do: 

• I use a planner because I like the format: each day is listed with a small notes section, giving me accountability to stay on it, and with just enough room to write. (I got this one in green suede this year and love it.)

• Every Sunday night, I write: “How do I want to feel this week?” I then answer the question in one or two words, and list out what I can do to feel that way. Here’s an example:

How do I want to feel this week? 

• Refreshed

What do I need to do to feel this way? 

• Get enough sleep

• Turn off phone by 9pm

• Finish organizational chart for work

• Go to SLT workout class

Lastly, I keep the planner by my bed, and every night, I write one thing that was great about the day. It’s a way of remembering the good and hitting the pillow on a positive note. Consider how different this is from shopping online, an activity that draws your attention to what you don’t have and want, vs. intentionally focusing on your One Thing, turning your focus on what you have and love. Sometimes my one thing is obvious, like cooking dinner with my girls, and other times it’s not, like hearing birds chirp in the park. Either way, this one sentence practice is so easy to maintain and improves my sleep, mood, and life.

I hope hearing about these habits is helpful. Last year’s similar post was such a hit that I was inspired to do it again, and I will say that all of last year’s items could have very well been added here as well. We’d also love to hear what other people do that worked for them because we’re all learning together, and lifting each other up is one of the best parts of this community.