20 Little Shifts That Make a Big Difference
Simple, Practical, and Often Overlooked Ways to Improve Your Life
Life’s biggest improvements often come from small, smart tweaks—not massive overhauls.
Over the years, I’ve collected and curated these tips from my own experiences and from interactions with others who share my curiosity about making life better. They’re the kind of things that are so simple you might overlook them, yet they quietly shift how your days feel and flow.
Here are 20 little things you can do to make life noticeably better. Some are quick wins, some take a bit more thought, but all of them pack more punch than they seem at first glance.
- Set a 3-item daily priority list. Anything more is a bonus, not a burden. Three big things a day are enough to keep you moving without burning out.
- Keep your phone out of the bedroom. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve sleep quality. Pair it with a cool, dark room and a consistent bedtime for better rest.
- Read 20 pages every day. Knowledge compounds just like money. A book here, an idea there, and soon your thinking changes.
- Use a “parking lot” note. Offload distractions without losing ideas. Your brain stays clear while nothing important slips away.
- Put “friction” on bad habits. Make them harder to access or start. Hide the snacks, delete the app, or store the TV remote in another room.
- Make a checklist for things you repeatedly do. Never waste brainpower on what you already know. Checklists prevent mistakes and free up focus.
- Hire a virtual assistant for a one-week trial. Test what you can delegate. You can even put your checklists from #6 into use so tasks get done exactly how you want them. Even a few hours freed can change your week.
- Keep a “brag” folder. Screenshots, emails, and notes that remind you you’re making progress. Perfect for a bad day boost.
- Write your decision filters. Ray Dalio calls these "principles" in his book Principles. 3–5 personal rules that help you say yes/no faster. It’s like having a compass for every choice.
- Give every dollar a job. I learned this from YNAB. Even if it’s just “future fun money,” money without a plan tends to disappear.
- Review your week every Sunday, and a bigger-picture audit every quarter. Spot small fixes weekly, and big shifts every 3 months.
- Keep a running list of small experiments to try. Keeps life and work from going stale. It could be testing a new workout, trying a different email format, or changing your morning routine.
- Ask “What would this look like if it were easy?” Then plan your next week with that answer in mind. It’s a shortcut to sanity.
- Eat the same breakfast and lunch on weekdays. Save decisions for things that matter. Variety is for dinner.
- Pick one tool or workflow to master this month. Go beyond using it, learn shortcuts and pro tricks. The payoff lasts for years.
- Have a “go-to recovery plan” for bad days. For me, it’s breathing exercises or long walks. A short list of 3–4 small actions to reset instead of spiraling.
- Schedule “no-meeting” blocks and thinking time. Bill Gates calls his version “Think Week.” Protect it with the same seriousness as a client call.
- Keep a “to-don’t” list. Warren Buffett’s 25-5 rule is a great example. Clarity comes from knowing what not to do.
- Keep your network warm with daily and weekly touchpoints. A quick daily check-in for friends and peers, plus one intentional weekly outreach to a key contact.
- Be the photographer at events. It’s something I want to do more of. Take the initiative to capture and share photos; it’s a subtle networking hack people genuinely appreciate.
You don’t need to do all of these at once. Pick one or two, try them this week, and see what changes. Sometimes, the smallest moves shift the biggest things.
And if you have your version of small tweaks that made a big difference, I’d love to hear them.
