You can totally change your life if you give it a shot. Seriously, I’m talking about making a real shift in just six months. I know it sounds bold, but I’ve got the proof to back it up.
In the last six months, I’ve:
- Written over 100 articles that brought in some serious cash.
- Achieved my dream of making writing my full-time gig.
- Became a top writer on more than 10 topics.
- Created several viral articles.
All of this happened in just six months. I really did change my life in that short time. I’ve been writing since 2020, but it wasn’t until I picked up these four simple habits six months ago that I finally saw some traction.
Faking Self-Belief with a Hi-Five
Bad mornings can’t ruin your day, but they can definitely slow you down. If you start your day questioning your self-worth and dreams, you’re setting yourself up for a less-than-productive day. You can’t completely shake off self-doubt, but you can pretend to believe in yourself. Fake it till you make it, right?
I picked up a quirky morning habit that skyrocketed my self-belief. It’s a tip from Mel Robbins, the self-help queen. This habit gave me the confidence to tackle my work and silenced that nagging inner critic. It takes less than 20 seconds, so you can squeeze it in even on a busy morning. Here’s what you do:
- Stand in front of the mirror.
- Ask yourself, “What does this human need from me today?”
- Say a simple task that will make your day better, out loud.
- Then, give your mirror self a high-five.
That’s it! You can crush those crippling self-doubts and negativity with this simple morning routine. It boosted my self-esteem and gave me the confidence to pursue writing, even when I had zero followers.
A Quick Fix for a Stressed Mind
Writing can be mentally exhausting. You’re digging deep until you finally hit that golden idea—the one you’re excited to write about. Most of our thoughts aren’t great, and many are just repetitive, so it takes time to come up with something that feels right. You need to feed your mind with good content, but you also need to refresh it quickly after a writing session.
Honestly, I’m pretty useless after finishing a first draft. It doesn’t matter if it took me just 20 minutes; I’ll waste time until I guilt-trip myself back to work. I found an easy, guilt-free way to refresh my mind. Just do a little movement to boost your energy and productivity. Here’s what you can try:
- Walk down a few flights of stairs.
- Do 10 squats.
- Take a stroll while listening to a podcast.
Walking is a gateway to great thinking, so I go for a quick walk whenever I hit a mental block. These simple movements give my subconscious a chance to work through the problem at hand and help me untangle the task.
A One-Minute Lie
I kept my side hustle a secret for two years because, honestly, there wasn’t much to share. I wasn’t making any money, so I thought no one would care. Plus, I didn’t want the added pressure from friends and family. I finally told my mom and sister 18 months later when I had my first viral article. I just couldn’t contain my excitement. After that, I shared the news with my family and friends, quit my job, and became a full-time writer.
In my circle, this job is pretty novel, so everyone’s curious about my income. It’s natural to be curious, but it can feel rude to demand answers. A year later, it still feels surreal, and I worry I’ll wake up and lose it all. So, only my parents know my real income, while everyone else hears a ballpark figure that’s way lower than the truth. I share a modest number because I simply don’t want to reveal the reality. The competition and comparison can really gnaw at my soul.
Here’s what you can do:
- Keep your hustles private until you absolutely have to share.
- If you’re uncomfortable discussing money and people don’t accept a “no,” then don’t share the truth.
- Protect your mental peace at all costs. If you’re not comfortable talking about your finances, feel free to make something up. This one-minute lie can save you hours of stress.
Time-Blocking for Ultra Procrastinators
I’m the biggest procrastinator you’ll ever meet (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating, but there’s some truth in it). If I don’t want to do something, I’ll procrastinate like there’s no tomorrow, and let’s be real—most amateur writers don’t want to write. You’ll do everything possible to delay the actual act of writing. I procrastinated for over two years, and it poisoned my sweet dreams. By the end of the day, I felt terrible, and the stress of not writing turned me into an insomniac.
One night, I tossed and turned for hours, so I decided to write. I slept like a baby after publishing an article. It was the best sleep I’d had in ages. I knew I needed a routine to help me write daily and form a writing habit, but I was self-aware enough to know that a full-day routine wouldn’t work for me. So, I created a bare minimum time-blocking template that allowed me to write without clashing with my procrastination tendencies. Here’s what you can do:
- Time-block just two hours of your day.
- Any more, and you’ll risk pushing yourself off the productivity peak.
- Focus on the most important task during those hours.
- Make sure it’s related to what you told yourself before the high-five.
In those two hours, you can either tackle the task or do nothing. This simple time-blocking habit helped me form a writing routine that changed my life. I won’t lie; it was tough at first, but writing always felt better than doing nothing. This habit helped me create a routine that accommodated both my procrastination and my writing.
Now Tie It All Together
A lot can happen in six months. You can change the trajectory of your life in 180 days if you put in the effort.
- Start your day with a lovely (self) hi-five.
- Add little bits of movement to your day for better stress management.
- Keep your finances private if you’re not comfortable discussing them.
- Master procrastination with urgent time-blocking.
These four changes genuinely helped me transform my life, so give them a shot and let me know how it goes!
