Small Habits That Make a Big Difference

 

Tiny changes can make monumental differences. In his breakout bestseller Atomic Habits, writer James Clear explains the power of what is known as “habit-stacking.” This process is built on doing one small thing on the pathway toward achieving a larger goal. Suppose I want to read more during the week. I could start by just reading one sentence, which brings me an incremental step closer to my objective. Then the next day, I might increase my reading to a whole paragraph as I begin “stacking” new smaller habits on top of one another to produce ideal results. 

Focus on One Important Thing Each Day

Some days, it feels like my to-do list is a mile long, and I get stuck doing a little bit of everything but finishing nothing. Making a long list is overwhelming! The solution? Decide on the ONE most important thing you need to accomplish each day and make it your priority.

It might be calling a friend to encourage them, preparing a science experiment for your homeschool lesson, or simply cleaning out that junk drawer (or junk closet…). Narrowing your focus reduces overwhelm and increases productivity.

Stay one week ahead

               Looking at an entire unit can be so overwhelming, especially when we’re either new to the profession or teaching an unfamiliar class for the first time. While having a big picture vision of where students need to be at the end of a unit and back-mapping from there is important, the smaller details of instruction can be worked out weekly. That way, the intimidating task of designing several months’ worth of lessons is far more doable, and not nearly as scary.

Have emergency plans

                Life is unpredictable, and we never know what is going to happen next. If anything, the last three years have reinforced that truth. Being out without notice is far less stressful if teachers develop an arsenal of emergency lesson plans, ideally for about a week of instruction. Then, assuming these plans are shared with an instructional leader who will have the information on hand if needed, everyone has one less thing to worry about when things go awry. 

Practice active listening

In legal settings, where details matter, active listening can prevent misunderstandings and errors.

Listening actively means you are focusing all of your attention on hearing and understanding what someone is saying to you. You stop yourself from thinking about how you want to reply, analyzing what they’re saying, or letting their words trigger another chain of thought.

Once they’re done speaking and you’ve fully absorbed what was said, now you can take another second to process and respond. You might repeat back what was said to confirm that you understand, first.

This obviously isn’t how most conversations flow.

Some people will tell you to practice active listening all the time, and that’s an admirable goal. It’s just not practical for most people, especially if you work in an environment where it’s hard to get a word in edgewise.

Use your active listening skills where it matters most — with clients, in emotionally charged moments, and during any conversation that is likely to result in another to-do on your list.

Plan for a quick exit

Sometimes, teachers need to leave in a hurry. That might be for a midday appointment, to be at a child’s school on time for pickup, or just because the week is ending and we’ve had it. Figure out the best way to leave the building without compromising anyone’s security, and use it as a quick getaway when the time comes. That way, those occasional stressful logistical gymnastics will get a little easier.

Carve out an “untouchable” time

 Being available is considered a good thing, but as every teacher knows, there is such a thing as overdoing how much people can access our time. Selecting a specific block of each day that is carved out for nothing but our own needs is the best thing we can do for ourselves. That might be an early hour at work before everyone arrives, or a time in the afternoon lull when people have left the building. Using that time to get work done, stream a television show or just stare into space with a comforting beverage makes the rest of the day go much more smoothly.

Embrace digital tools

If your firm doesn’t already use case management or document management software, you’re at a disadvantage. Advocate for this change — it will make everyone’s lives easier.

Your primary legal software is the starting point of your digital organization journey. Look for tools that can help you keep track of everything else in your day, too.

Project management software like Trello, monday, or Todoist can be an organizational game changer. Each of these systems takes a different approach — some operate with cards on a board, others are structured like calendars, checklists, or charts — so find one that feels intuitive to you.

Get in the habit of working directly from your digital tools. This next tip will help:

 Tidy Up as You Go

Make cleaning up a small, daily habit (often more than once a day!). Homeschool life often means chaos—books, papers, and snacks everywhere. Another small habit that’s made a huge difference in our home is tidying up as we go. Are you ever embarrassed when you need to give someone a ride? Do you find yourself having to ask your passengers to excuse the junk mail and trash? When you and your kids leave the car, take a moment to grab trash and belongings. Maybe even keep a designated trash bag or small trash can in the car to catch the trash that usually ends up under the seats. Make this a family rule!

A clean car (and house) not only reduces stress but also teaches kids responsibility.

Plan Dinner While Making Breakfast

After a full day of homeschooling and parenting, the last thing you want is to scramble for dinner ideas at 5 p.m. I’d love to be one of those people who has weekly menu plans, but I’ve never been able to be that organized for more than a week. Instead, I take a few moments during breakfast prep to decide what’s for dinner. You can even ask for votes or ideas from the family to get the kids involved!

This simple habit gives you time to thaw ingredients, prep vegetables, or use that slow cooker you’ve been meaning to dust off. Plus, it’s one less decision to make during your busiest time of day.

 Keep a Family Prayer Journal

We all know prayer is powerful, and one of the best ways to see God’s hand in your life is by keeping a family prayer journal. Write down prayer requests from each family member, and revisit them regularly to see how God has worked.

This habit builds faith and gratitude and reminds your family of God’s faithfulness.

Take the time to plan and prioritize

Schedule at least 15 minutes every morning to determine your priorities for the day. It’s also a good idea to take a little longer at the beginning of your week to look ahead and list things that need to get done before the weekend.

Sure, your priorities might shift throughout the day, but if you start the day knowing your must-do items, you’re a lot less likely to let important things fall through the cracks.

This system also helps you set firm, polite boundaries.

When someone adds something new to your plate and wants it done right away, you can easily point to your list of priorities. Instead of always responding to a fire drill, you’re now prioritizing like a pro and working on things in the order that they need to get done.

Effective communication

People work together best when everyone has all the information they need. Your effective communication skills keep everything flowing smoothly.

In legal support, you’re on the front lines. Everything flows through you, and you’re often the first to know about updates and changes. If your communication skills are lacking, it will be painfully obvious to everyone in the firm.

Even if you’re already pretty good at communication, don’t skip this section.

Stellar communication is so crucial for legal support that every little improvement pays off. Here are some of the ways you can upgrade your skills: