Find Your Everyday Superpower: 12 Tiny Things That Work
Have you ever noticed that tiny, intentional practices (even the ones that seem insignificant), can make all the difference? Things like taking a deep breath or rolling your shoulders back and down or stepping outside—things like that have a unique super-power: They’re simple and easy to do. They don’t take a lot of sustained energy or fancy gear or a cleared schedule. And practicing them regularly can make a significant impact on your day for the better.
In our book, 12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life, we write, “One tiny thing at a time, we can find ourselves thriving and more in love with our lives.” We’ve asked some of our trusted colleagues in the realm of intentional living and minimalism to share what works for them in a specific area of life. Because you just never know when what works for somebody else will provide inspiration to find your own tiny things.
Space
I used to think spaces were meant for filling, and fill ours I did. Our home was stuffed full and overflowing with everything from "helpful" kitchen gadgets and trending new tops, to toys, discount home decor and shelves upon shelves of "but-what-if-I-need- it-someday" items. It was chaos. After an encounter with minimalism I learned that I, in fact, thrive with clearer spaces and less stuff to manage. Through the practice of living with less, I was able to create a space that best serves me and the life I am meant to live. One simple, intentional, practice that has helped me not only maintain a clutter free home, but a clutter free life, is to pause in the face of feeling overwhelmed and ask myself this one question, "What needs to go?" Whether that be a physical item, commitment, or a personal expectation, I've found letting go of something always offers me more space, better clarity and a greater capacity to invest my best self in the things that matter most.
—Rachelle Crawford, author of the Abundant Life With Less blog where she makes minimalism doable by sharing inspiration and practical strategies. You can find her @abundantlifewithless on Instagram and Facebook.
Work
The tiny intentional practice that helps me to maintain a sense of presence while working is to turn off all notifications on my phone. The only alerts I receive are phone calls. No apps or emails. If I need to check those, I schedule a time to do so instead of being interrupted by a notification and losing my focus. This small practice helps to increase focus and productivity.
—Lauren Tingley, working mother of two who shares simple tips for home, family and fun at Simply-Well-Balanced.
Spirituality
In these days of pandemic, I often wish I was a monk following a schedule that has been tried and tested over millennia instead of scraping together a makeshift plan for a rapidly changing situation. Instead, I've started taking advice from a long-dead Catholic: Saint Francis de Sales. Most mornings, I try his approach to starting the day. I begin by lighting a candle, inviting God's presence with me, and writing out a plan for my day. I take a deep breath and ask for God's help. I imagine all that could happen and rehearse how I might respond to interruptions and unforeseen circumstances. I offer up both the good and the bad to come, knowing there are no perfect schedules or humans. Later in the day, when my schedule takes a detour or I start doomscrolling on Twitter, I take a deep breath and maybe put away my phone for an hour. I remind myself it's never too late in the day to begin again, again.
—Stina Kielsmeier-Cook, author of Blessed Are the Nones, a spiritual memoir about mixed-faith marriage, monasticism, and the search for spiritual community. Connect with her at stinakc.com.
Food
This mealtime practice takes less than 60-seconds but can have a lasting impact. Before your family begins eating, quietly pause, and make direct eye contact with each person at the dinner table. This surprisingly simple habit that we practice each week during Sunday Dinner feels awkward at first, but it is a simple way to slow down and say, "I care about you."
— Zina Harrington, advocate of the unbusy lifestyle at Becoming UnBusy.
Style
I hear from so many people that are apprehensive about decorating and making their home, “their home”, after they’ve simplified. Living a simple lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to live in a cold and stark home. It’s very important that your style is in alignment with the things that you enjoy and love. Simply put, you have to feel at home. One simple and intentional practice that I do, is to add my favorite flowers to my decor. Every spring, l welcome the new season with fresh white tulips on my kitchen table. In the summer, I have lilacs. In the fall, irises. I’ve even planted these flowers outside, so I have easy access to them throughout the growing year. Intentionally add things to your home so that when you catch a glimpse of them, you smile from the inside.
—Angie Kikstra, founder of Cozy Minimalism and the Cozy Minimalism podcast. She believes that clutter comes off best in layers and decorating and styling is best done over time, authentically.
Nature
Spending time in nature is a simple but important part of how I take care of myself. I use nature immersion as a mindfulness tool to help me with anxiety. It’s as though being in the natural world is a conduit for calm to enter my system. If I'm feeling anxious, just a few, intentional minutes outside helps to restore balance and settle my nerves. My favorite pastime (and self-care tank-filler) is a long run on winding trails in a local forest. In lieu of that, short bursts to smell the flowers, gaze at the moon or watch birds keep me going and help me stay grounded and present in the moment.
—Emma Scheib, slow living advocate and writer at Simple Slow Lovely
Communication
I am not built for habits or daily patterns. Yet a cycle I respond to enthusiastically is letter-writing with my friend who lives in Hawaii. Whenever I receive her correspondence, I write back immediately. In fact, I have the next 2 funny and beautiful (one of each) note cards addressed and ready for their turn to be sent. Nobody is going to put my letters in a museum or archive for their brilliance, but sharing the stuff of our lives, our hopes and thoughts as well as more gossip-worthy details, makes picking up the mail a delightful tiny detail of my day. My friend is living far from her family and many friends, during a pandemic. I love to picture her smile when she gets a card from me.
—Lee Ann M. Pomrenke, Lutheran pastor, mother and writer. Her first book Embodied: Clergy Women and the Solidarity of a Mothering God releases from Church Publishing Inc on September 17, 2020.
Home
Years ago, I began decluttering my home. I'd been feeling burdened by all the stuff and it was distracting me from being fully present in my life. As I went through the decluttering process, I had many realizations. One that surprised me was gratitude. Letting go of the excess helped me to feel more grateful. Decluttering is an ongoing practice in my life as I continue to gain clarity on what is necessary and useful and what isn't. As I continue to be intentional with what we own, I'm thankful for the purpose it served and gratefully pass it along.
—Julianna, writer and creator of The Simplicity Habit. She writes to help people declutter and simplify their homes and lives.
Sensuality
I'm not a talented dancer, not by a long stretch, but I do love to dance when no one is watching. Find a free, video dance tutorial on YouTube. Pick a genre you wouldn't normally try...maybe it's hip-hop, ballet, or salsa. Practice five minutes here and there. You will feel incredibly in sync with your body, even if your sense of rhythm feels like a hot mess. Build confidence with your body, and take that confidence where your desire leads you!
— Brooke, creator of Happy Simple Mom. She is a lover of organizing, decluttering and spending time outdoors. She writes to encourage others to simplify their homes and lives. Follow her on Facebook.
Creativity
When life is busy, our creative outlets tend to fall by the wayside. I like to look for small ways to rethink and repurpose time. For example, I try to keep my spark for DSLR photography lit through my family. A daily challenge to "find something beautiful" with my daughters via our camera phones keeps me watching for small moments. Photos of neighborhood flowers I capture while on long walks with my husband let me practice composition. When I fold the people I love into my creativity, amazing things happen.
— Zina Harrington, Let's Lasso the Moon, a site dedicated to discovering simple ways to ‘find happy’ with the people who matter most.
Learning
A simple act that has had a significant impact on my life is my daily journaling practice. Even when I’m busy, I always try to find a few minutes to reflect on my feelings. My goal is to learn more about myself and my needs, so I approach my writing with an open heart and a curious mind. These simple reflections often create “sparks” that lead to bigger, life-giving changes.
— Jennifer Burger, voice behind Simply + Fiercely, a community striving to live simpler, more intentional lives. A reformed shopaholic, she’s now a minimalist helping others clear the clutter and create lives they love.
Community
As a strong introvert and socially awkward human who craves deep connection and community, I have to resist the instinct to hide or isolate. One small but powerful practice that helps me show up raw and real, build beautiful relationships and brave community, is to get curious. When I take the stance of curiosity (or joyful possibility) I shift mental and emotional focus away from self which lessens anxiety, helps me stay fully present, and allows me to hold space for others to feel safe and be real with me too.
—Krista O'Reilly-Davi-Digui, writer & Joyful Living Educator who helps “messy humans” like herself quiet the noise of comparison, perfectionism, and fear and show up fully to their imperfect & beautiful lives in every season.
With a bit of inspiration from others, support, and a willingness to start small, you can harness the momentum you need to live the life you want.
