Sometimes our goals seem so big, so daunting, and so far away, it’s hard to stay motivated. You know what you want to achieve, but doing what it takes to get there is so difficult. How many times have you committed to losing 10 lbs., to keeping a cleaner house, to starting that hobby you’ve always wanted to try? Next week, we tell ourselves. After I get past this really busy time in my life, I swear. But one excuse leads to two, and those goals just keep drifting out of reach.

But this business has taught me a thing or two about setting goals. Within big goals, are a lot of little changes. And most of the time, those little changes are way less scary than you think, and way easier, too. When I started out, I set these big goals of what I wanted my business to be. I wanted it to be different than any other shopping experience. I wanted it to be fun, both for me and my customers. I wanted to change the way people thought of buying clothes and accessories online, and I wanted to do it with kindness and inspiration and a lot of laughter. But all that went into just the start-up was so overwhelming. I told myself I needed to start making some changes. If I was going to have it all, the business, the family, the fun, I had to get it together like never before.

Little changes led to more little changes. I played around with my schedule, making sure I carved out valuable time with my kids and my husband. I made sure my business was separate enough to keep me sane and close enough to keep me connected to them. Thank goodness Shawn is so stinkin’ talented and literally transformed our garage into a beautiful boutique nearly overnight. And of course, Sam helped add the Chic to our boutique with her crafty decorating skills. But every big step, I’ve realized, was full of little steps of change.

Here are 5 little changes I’ve either already implemented or am making now:

1. Drink a glass of water first thing every morning!

The science on this is pretty clear. After being asleep for hours, your body needs to be rehydrated. There’s a lot of evidence that making this little change in your life can boost your mood, your metabolism, and aid in digestion. And since drinking water can trick your body into feeling less hungry, it could be a great addition to portion control goals first thing in the morning. 

More from this BusinessInsider article.

2. Get a planner and write in it every day!

How many of you out there use planners? This is the best little change I ever made. Pick a time of day that works for you - right when you wake up, when you get home from work, or before you go to bed. But write in your planner every, single day. Jot down appointments or events coming up in your life. Include even little things you’d like to get done, laundry on Wednesday, picking up a gift for your mother-in-law while you’re grocery shopping on Sunday, watching Ashely’s Chic Boutique...well, every day! Even on the days when you can’t think of anything you need to do, write yourself a note of encouragement. Write something funny that happened or something that made you smile. It’s sort of like journaling, but journaling that keeps you super motivated and productive.

My absolute favorite and the one I use is this one:

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And here are a couple others that I know friends of mine like, too: 

3. Make lists! Cross them off!

Lists follow me everywhere I go - on my desk, to the grocery store, on my nightstand, shoved in my purse. There’s just something so motivating about writing things down and then getting to cross them off when I’m done. I’ve been known to write things down that I’ve already done just so I get the satisfaction of crossing them off. Sometimes I write myself lists of things I want to get done months or even years from now and then stick them in my planner for safekeeping and a good reminder.

And anything worth doing is worth doing with style. So check out a couple cute list makers to keep handy everywhere you might need them:

4. Give compliments freely!

I love this one! It can be someone you know or a total stranger, but make a conscious effort to say something nice to someone else every day. This has a multitude of benefits on your life. Giving compliments makes that person feel seen and appreciated. And in turn, will make you feel good for making them feel good. When my daughter Sophia was around three, she pointed at a woman walking by our table at a restaurant and said, “She’s beautiful!” The woman was probably in her mid-50’s, her slightly gray hair was pulled back neatly, not much make-up and dressed in semi-casual clothes one might wear for a nice dinner out. My point is, she wasn’t a 20-something supermodel straight out of a magazine or anything. At hearing Soph’s compliment, the woman lit up, like literally, her smile and blush made her skin just glow with surprise and joy. She barely pushed out a thank you as Soph shrugged and moved on, not expecting anything in return. It was a moment to make anyone pause. We all need to do a little more of that for others, and hopefully they will do the same.

5. Appreciate the day!

This one is tough sometimes. We get caught up on to-do lists, frustrations and obligations. Just life, right? But I think this one is a powerful little change. Look for something each day to be grateful for. As you rush out of the door to work, take a deep breath. I love the smell of summer mornings! Stare at your napping kiddo just an extra second longer. Give your significant other a longer than usual squeeze. (I read once that 30 second hugs can significantly improve your mood.) Whatever you pause on, make a mental note that this moment is good and you’re grateful for it. It makes the tough stuff so much easier to bare!

Your ACB Blog assignment this week is to make a little change. It can be from this list or one you make yourself! But we want to hear about it! Comment below and share the blog with others you think would love a little change! And check in at our live shows and tell us how the little change is going!

I can’t wait to read your responses!

Chic Blessings friends,

Contributor/Editor: Kristy Porter