The Truth About Habit Change: Why Small Steps Lead to Lasting Success
The Truth About Habit Change: Why Small Steps Lead to Lasting Success
As a young CPA, success meant being always available. I started my days before dawn and worked late into the evenings. Everything blurred into an endless cycle of client responses and deadlines. My colleagues praised how hard I worked. But beneath my busy schedule, I was burning out. I didn't see it then, but my work habits kept me from reaching my full potential.
Many professionals I work with face the same challenges. They want to change their work habits but think significant changes will bring quick results. They make bold promises—no more weekend work, no meetings after 5 p.m., perfect boundaries. These plans rarely last. One client told me she swore never to work past 6 p.m. Three days later, she was answering "urgent" emails at midnight. Because of the added guilt, she felt worse than before she tried to change.
The problem isn't about willpower. Our brains don't like sudden, big changes. After years of studying habits and working with other professionals, I found that lasting change starts with something simple: awareness.
Starting With Awareness
Think of awareness as shining a light on your daily habits. As I grew into leadership, I had to see clearly how being always available affected my health, creativity, and relationships. Only then could I make real changes.
Watch your patterns with curiosity. Notice when you automatically check your phone or say yes to new projects when you're already too busy. These aren't character flaws. They're just habits you picked up over time, often because they helped you early in your career.
In a recent workshop, I met an executive who said yes to every meeting request. She thought saying no would hurt her work relationships. When she noticed this pattern, she realized her packed schedule wasn't just about time management. It came from her beliefs about being a good leader.
The Science of Small Steps
When we want to make changes, we often try to do too much at once. But research shows our brains fight against significant changes—it's just how we're wired. Small, steady actions work better. They help us build new habits without setting off our brain's alarm bells.
I started small. Instead of changing my whole schedule at once, I began by taking a short pause before answering messages. This tiny change led to bigger ones. Those small pauses helped me make better choices about my time and energy.
As both a CPA and yoga instructor, I see this work in different ways. You wouldn't jump into a challenging yoga pose without learning the basics first. Building better habits works the same way—start small, stay steady.
Understanding Your Patterns
Every habit has three parts: what you notice, what triggers you, and how you respond.
I've found five main triggers that shape our habits:
Time triggers: Checking email first thing or clearing your inbox before bed
People: Changing how you work based on who you're working with
Feelings: Using work to avoid stress or uncertainty
Actions: Starting new tasks right after finishing others, without taking breaks
Places: How different workspaces change your habits
Knowing your triggers helps you respond on purpose instead of reacting on autopilot. One client noticed she said yes too often during video calls. Something about being on screen made it harder to say no. Once she saw this pattern, she started taking a beat before answering requests in virtual meetings.
Creating Work-Life Harmony® Through Better Choices
I say "Work-Life Harmony" instead of "Balance" because life moves in rhythms, not equal parts. It's about making choices that fit your current season.
When I stopped saying, "I'm so busy," and started saying, "I choose how I spend my time," everything shifted. I saw my time as choices instead of obligations. This helped me align my schedule with what matters most.
Setting boundaries isn't selfish. In fact, it's necessary to do your best work. Making space to rest and think helped me bring better ideas to my clients. I've watched many professionals move from always reacting to taking control of their work day.
A tech leader I worked with started small. She added 15-minute breaks between meetings—not for catching up on email, but for thinking and preparing. This simple change made her meetings more valuable and left her with more energy at the end of the day.
Moving Forward
Try one small change tomorrow. Maybe pause before checking messages or take three deep breaths between meetings. Notice one habit that no longer serves you. Just watch it with curiosity.
In the next few months, we'll examine how our sense of identity shapes our habits. Blending my business background with mindfulness has taught me that lasting change isn't about forcing new behaviors but matching our actions to what matters most to us.