Creating Habits to Change Your Life: Small Steps, Big Impact

FIT4MOM x Lisa Druxman

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of setting goals and not following through, you’re not alone. I used to believe that achieving my dreams was all about motivation and willpower—until I learned that neither of those things can carry you for long. The real key to change isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about building habits that work for you.

In Level Up Your Life, I share how small, consistent actions have transformed my life. Habits are the foundation of everything I’ve accomplished, and they can change your life too.

Step 1: Understand Why Habits Matter

Habits are like the autopilot of your life. Once they’re established, they require little effort to maintain, leaving your energy free for other things. When I realized how much of my life was dictated by habits—good and bad—it became clear that changing my habits was the path to changing my life.

Here’s the truth: Motivation and willpower will fail you. Think about it. How many times have you started a new routine, only to give up when your energy dipped or life got busy? Habits eliminate the need for constant decision-making because they become automatic.

Step 2: Start Small and Build Momentum

I’ll never forget when I first tackled changing my habits. I was overwhelmed, so I decided to start with just one tiny step. I had a tendency to try to change too many things at once. Every new year I vowed to eat healthy, exercise every day, take my vitamins and more. I tried to do too much, too hard, too fast. And wound up in exactly the same place a year later. Sound familiar? The most life changing habit was to choose only a few very small things and to stick to it. If it felt too big, then I chunked it down to something even smaller. Success begets success.

The key is to start so small that it feels almost too easy:

Pick One Small Habit: Instead of saying, “I’m going to start exercising,” commit to doing one push-up a day.
Anchor Your Habit: Pair it with something you already do, like brushing your teeth or making coffee. For example, I started my gratitude journaling habit by doing it right after my morning coffee.
Celebrate Every Win: When you complete your habit, celebrate! That little dopamine hit reinforces the behavior and makes you want to do it again. For me, I tracked each win in my journal. This is now the Level Up Journal that I share in my book.

Step 3: Track Your Progress

Tracking your habits is a game-changer. It’s a way to hold yourself accountable and see how far you’ve come. I use my Level Up Journal to track the habits I’m working on, from meditation to exercise.

Here’s how to make tracking work for you:

Keep It Simple: Create a chart or list where you can check off your habits each day. Seeing those checkmarks build up is incredibly motivating.
Use Data to Learn About Yourself: Over time, tracking can reveal patterns. For example, I noticed my mood was better on days I exercised, which inspired me to stay consistent.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: You don’t have to get it right every day. Aim for consistency over time—progress is what matters.

Step 4: Build Habits That Align with Your Goals

Your habits should support the life you want to create. If your goal is to be healthier, focus on small changes like drinking more water, eating whole foods, or moving your body daily. If you want to strengthen your relationships, create habits like regular date nights or weekly check-ins with friends.

Here are some examples of habits I’ve built over the years:

Waking up at 5:00 a.m.
Journaling for gratitude and intentions each morning
Drinking 64 ounces of water daily
Meditating five times a week
Planning a monthly date night with my husband

These didn’t happen all at once—they were built one at a time.

Step 5: Give Yourself Grace

Change doesn’t happen overnight. There will be days when you miss the mark, and that’s okay. What matters is that you keep showing up. I often remind myself: “I don’t need to be perfect. I just need to keep moving forward.”

Let’s Create Your Best Life

Habits are the building blocks of your dreams. They’re the small, daily actions that add up to big results over time. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your life transform.

You don’t need motivation. You don’t need willpower. All you need is the commitment to take one small step today. Let’s Level Up and create habits that change your life!

Want help implementing new, healthy habits?

Join us for the next session of Body Well Transformation— our 8 week fitness & wellness program focused on improving your physical and mental well-being, making sustainable lifestyle changes and building habits, with a community of mamas to support you every step of the way.