The power of starting small: How to change your habits

Have you ever felt the urge to reset your habits? Maybe you’ve felt a little out of control, and your starting to notice the consequences of poor choices. You feel tired and puffy, your noticing more body aches and joint stiffness, you don’t feel great about your food choices, and you're ready to start feeling good again. Well, you're not alone. I often get messages from clients who haven’t checked in for a while, saying they’re feeling off-track, and desperate for a BIG change. They want to overhaul just about everything, and have come to me with an all or nothing mentality about their goals. Not feeling great has motivated them and they want to start a diet, hit the gym six days a week, cut out carbs and sugar, and maybe even joy itself. It feels like action, and like taking control. But this approach almost always leads to one thing: burnout.

Why the "All or Nothing" Mentality Fails

The all-or-nothing mentality is seductive. It promises quick results, big transformations, and the satisfaction of "going all in." But here's the catch: it's one of the fastest ways to set yourself up for burnout, frustration, and ultimately, failure. Why? Because it skips over the foundation of the small, sustainable habits that actually make change stick.

Big Goals, Tiny Hinges
Imagine you decide to start working out, and the only time you can fit it in is 6 AM. Sounds simple enough, right? Just set the alarm earlier and boom, new routine! But wait. If you normally wake up at 6 AM, this means adjusting more than just your alarm clock. You’ll need to shift your bedtime routine to get enough rest, reconsider your evening activities to wind down earlier, and adapt your morning rituals to fit the workout in. Plus, you’ll have to manage the ripple effects on your energy levels throughout the day. That’s a lot of change stacked on top of one decision. Without the groundwork of smaller habits in place, it’s like trying to build a house on soft sand. I might stand up for a while, but one shift, and it all comes crashing down.

The Power of Small Wins
Sustainable change isn’t about making massive leaps; it’s about stacking small wins. Want to change your diet? Don’t overhaul your entire meal plan overnight. Start with awareness: track what you’re already eating. This simple act builds mindfulness, showing you patterns and habits you didn’t even realize you had. Once you see those patterns, it becomes easier to make small, but meaningful changes.

Want to read more? Instead of committing to X number of books in a year, start with a simple, achievable goal: 10 minutes of dedicated reading time per day. Want to feel better overall? (If you know me, you saw this coming.) DRINK MORE WATER. Set a daily hydration target and watch how this one small habit improves your energy, focus, and even your mood.

Why Small Habits Matter
The all-or-nothing mindset overlooks the fact that every big change is made up of dozens of tiny, interconnected habits. These small habits are where the real progress happens because they create the structure that supports larger goals. They build consistency, resilience, and a sense of accomplishment, all of which are critical for long-term success.

When you focus on small, manageable changes, you’re not just creating habits, you’re training your brain to recognize progress. This reinforces your motivation, making it easier to build momentum. In contrast, the all-or-nothing approach often leaves you feeling like a failure the moment you miss a workout, eat something "off-plan," or fall short of your lofty expectations.

Making lasting change isn’t about flipping a switch; it’s about adjusting the dimmer, little by little. The all-or-nothing mentality fails because it ignores the journey and fixates on the destination. But real growth happens in the small steps and daily decisions, the micro-habits, and the quiet wins that build over time.

So, before you dive headfirst into your next big goal, pause. Ask yourself: what small habit can I start with today that will make the bigger goal feel less overwhelming tomorrow? Focus on that, and you’ll find that sustainable progress isn’t about doing it all; it’s about doing the small things consistently.

The First Step Toward Lasting Change

After years of coaching people through real, lasting transformations, I’ve seen the same pattern repeat itself: when we try to overhaul everything at once, we almost always burn out before we see real results. That’s why I created the Ultimate 7-Day Habit Reset Guide. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to help you take back control of your health without falling into the all-or-nothing trap.

This guide isn’t about restriction, deprivation, or chasing perfection. It’s about bringing awareness to your current habits, making small but impactful shifts, and laying the foundation for sustainable success—one day, one habit at a time.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, this is it. Seven days. Small, intentional changes. Real momentum.

Ready to take the first step? Download the free guide here and start creating meaningful shifts in your daily life.

Going Beyond the Reset: The Power of PATH Coaching

Maybe you’re at a point where small shifts aren’t enough—you’re craving deeper transformation, the kind that doesn’t just change your habits but redefines your relationship with your health, your choices, and yourself. That’s where PATH Coaching comes in.

I designed PATH Coaching around the principles that make change sustainable—not quick fixes, not rigid rules, but a deeper, more intuitive approach to building better habits, better health, and a better way of living. The results? More energy, better movement, stronger resilience, and a greater sense of control over your life.

Because here’s the truth: life doesn’t stay the same. We age. We navigate stress, injuries, careers, relationships, and unexpected curveballs. What worked for you five years ago might not serve you today. PATH Coaching helps you adapt, reset, and build a foundation that lasts—without the burnout, self-sabotage, or guilt.

Whether you start with the 7-Day Habit Reset or you’re ready to dive into PATH Coaching, know this: you are not stuck. You are always capable of change—one small, intentional step at a time.

Let’s take that step together.