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The bad habits you didn’t pick up. The good habits that you did. The thoughts you chose to hold on to and explore further and the ones you let go. The priorities we set and the long-term dreams we said yes to and gradually stepped toward.
Both the simple everyday choices paired with the foundational decisions that require long-range planning and commitment play a role in the quality of our life today and down the road. Generally, we understand this truth, but whether or not we put it into practice depends on how consciously we live our lives. How present we are, how clear-eyed we are (i.e., self-aware), and how brave we are.
When it comes to nurturing dreams into materialization, it is first the awareness of where we point our sails of intention, and then the knowledge of which everyday choices will increase the potential for our eventual arrival. Most real, lasting change happens quietly and goes unnoticed until it suddenly seems to appear, but the truth is, it was built over time by our daily choices and big investments.
Today, we’ll explore 10 everyday, perhaps seemingly mundane and inconsequential choices that actually contribute significantly to a healthier daily life today and tomorrow, along with five significant investments that require serious consideration. All 15 choices will strengthen our well-being and lead us to being able to fulfill our dreams.
Simple Daily Choices
1. Slowing down to think about what you are going to say and how it will be received by your audience
This is responding instead of reacting put into action. Even in benign conversations, simply taking the time to consider the subject matter we are talking about and whether or not we are talking with someone who is interested in it or we are sharing because we need to talk about it.
In that moment, we actually learn quite a lot about ourselves: are we needing validation or reassurance or do we genuinely want to connect with the person we are talking to. The connection we may be seeking need not be deep and intimate, but simply by paying attention to our audience we demonstrate awareness and see them. We also are exemplifying that we would like to hear from them, that we will listen and respond based on what we hear, getting to know them better, instead of just needing to hear ourselves talk, vent or heal.
Once we know our reason for speaking, we improve the quality of our connections, with others and ourself.
2. Seizing more opportunities to walk, cycle or move physically
Whenever we can, no matter how short, or if a beautiful trail is calling our name, make time to walk every single day somewhere. Letting go of the need to get the closest parking spot, remembering a walk gives us the opportunity to be more fully present rather than lost in our head, perhaps thinking too much.
Walking, as we have talked about before, grounds us. Breathing in fresh air helps to clear our mind and put things into perspective while also opening our mind and eyes to the bigger picture, deepening our appreciation rather than getting lost in ruminating or worrying. When we walk, or are physically active in any way, our nervous system becomes regulated, our well-being is nourished and our physical body is given nourishment as well.
Along with intentional walking or cycling is simply moving our bodies in the activities we engage in everyday. There is a an easy to remember anagram for what exactly this physical activity is and it is NEAT. It stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. All it refers to is any physical movement throughout our day – gardening, cleaning, painting, creating – that isn’t technically viewed as aerobic or anaerobic exercise. Because we are still moving the body and because this movement requires calories, it is still quite beneficial. Read this article from the Cleveland Mayo Clinic to discover further examples of NEAT activities.
Why Not . . . Take a Walk? a two-part series
3. Defaulting to little or no alcohol
While I have never been someone to drink a lot, and usually only wine when I do – after all, the French culture inspires much of my days! ☺️ Over the past couple of years I no longer drink alcohol, and if I do, it is for a special meal, and again, wine is my alcohol of choice. Primarily this choice came about due to my deepening knowledge of perimenopause (episode #402 explored much of what was discovered), and while I still cook regularly with wine – bien sûr, the sauces! I no longer need to pair a glass of wine with a weekly meal which had been a regular ritual for most of my 30s and early 40s.
Instead, I stick to water, tea, and fresh orange juice (the latter sparingly, but with a good weekly breakfast). And that is pretty much it. I keep it simple; it’s far cheaper, and then I invest in good teas that I have found really do enhance the quality of my days when I sit down and savor a pot of tea in the afternoon or to begin the day in the office.
4. Avoiding processed meats
A daily choice that we in large part won’t see the benefit of at all but rather maintain good health and longevity (as we avoid what we don’t want to happen), is understanding the harm we cause to our body by eating processed meats. I have known about the recommendation to avoid them for some time, but it took time to understand what was meant entirely by ‘processed meats’. Then I wanted to understand what exactly is happening that causes the harm to our bodies especially if the meat considered processed is organic or has no additives. This article, posted in 2025 from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, provides a comprehensive run-through of both lists as well as explanations that I found most helpful.
In my own experience, when the science is made clear to me, it becomes easier to choose more wisely and not be tempted because I know how delicious it will taste.
5. Prioritizing sleep
Waking up after having slept through the entire night uninterrupted for at least eight-straight hours is something I celebrate. Thankfully, it happens more often than not, but it didn’t come about without intentionally creating the conditions and applying my own awareness to my needs to improve the likelihood. Below in the post, I share all of the many benefits and ways to increase our quality of sleep, but needless to say, this is not something – sleep that is – to take lightly. If we want better days – a clear mind, an energized being, a happy being! – it begins with how we spend our nights.
And yet another reason, a good night sleep is important, it is when our brain solves problem our conscious mind cannot yet see. Read this article from Harvard Health to discover exactly what is going on. Needless to say, it will make you eager to go to bed at night if you have a question that you just can’t quite answer . . . yet.
6. Leaving earlier
I have been known to try to squeeze one more task in or spend just a few more minutes on a project before I absolutely have to head out to wherever I have an appointment. This inevitably causes me to rush a bit (or a lot) to make it on time, and that is stress I have caused and could have avoided.
Being able to drive, cycle or walk with ease, not rushing, not becoming frustrated with other drivers (for example) when we are the person who put ourselves in this time-short situation, is a practice in self-awareness and taking responsibility for our peace and how we connect with others along the way and when we arrive by showing them we respect their time.
7. Not engaging in every conversation
While we can never know how something will go if we don’t partake, by being selective about who we choose to express an opinion to, who we express more vulnerability to, personal information to, we again are exercising awareness of what is worth engaging in and what may simply be an old habit of wanting to speak about said topic that has perked up our ears.
There are a myriad of reasons why we have engaged in conversations in the past that may have lead to outcomes we didn’t want. Reflect on these conversations and see them as an opportunity to learn which connections were valuable and which weren’t. Did it deepen understanding of something worthwhile that you care about, strengthen the relationship, did you feel good about what you shared after you left the conversation (for example, the reason we have the norms in the A Cuppa Moments w/Shannon’s monthly video chate – whatever you say make sure it is all three – helpful, kind and true – ensures that after you leave the conversation, you will have peace of mind.
Sometimes, we eliminate stress by not even entering into the conversation in the first place. We will never know how much or if any at all, but if it isn’t something that is critical or you are responsible for to deepen better understanding, then consider whether or not the conversation is for you.
8. Writing a simple daily schedule out the day before, loosely planned, yet intentional for clarity
A daily habit I have gotten into over the past few years, and even made a notepad to support it, is writing out my daily schedule – loosely so – the evening before. I leave it on my desk in my office, and that way I feel as though my mind is empty when I go to bed because I am assured I won’t forget to do what needs to be done (that includes scheduled time for rest and yep, not working).
9. Consciously engaging in analog activities to reduce distraction and remain present and deepen patience
Read books, hold-in-your-hand books, and choose long books. Leave the headphones/airpods at home when you go for a walk, take the time to find the answer to the questions that randomly pop up rather than asking your virtual personal assistant so that you can determine the validity and credibility of the sources, in other words, exercise your critical thinking mind. Pull out a notepad and jot down your ideas in a journal. Go out to dinner, go to the market and interact with people face-to-face. Write a note of correspondence on personalized stationery or a card you know the recipient will enjoy receiving.
10. Make space in your day to simply think, dream and be
Where the magic happens. Where the connections of seemingly disparate ideas, things your eyes have seen, but you didn’t know yet what or how it would come to pass in your life as inspiration for something aligned with your journey. When we are secure with our own company, taking time without an agenda – of what we must do, gives us a gift that we can’t know what we will unwrap. In fact, it is in not having any expectation that we will receive a gift that clears the path for one to cross our path.
Significant Life Choices of Investment
1. Electric mode of transportation
When it came time for my previous car, of which I owned for ten years, to be retired, I knew I wanted to find a vehicle that provided safety (while everyday driving about town as well as make safe passage over the mountain passes during the winter) as well as longevity, but I also knew I wanted to be as responsible as I could to Mother Nature while also minding my budget.
Whether we are taking public transportation or driving ourselves to and fro, not having to fill up my gas tank has not only saved my budget, but my intention is to have a vehicle that is mine for longer than ten years. (My goal is nearly 20 with regular maintenance.)
Depending on the vehicle, depending on the transportation we need and what is accessible, going electric offers many benefits not only for us individually, but also the planet. I am telling you nothing new, but by including this item on the list, I acknowledge that it may not be the cheapest choice upfront. However, over time and during daily and monthly budget cycles, the savings adds up, and our peace of mind as well.
~Read this article to explore how to decide between what would work best for your next vehicle purchase regarding an EV or gas vehicle.
2. Solar panels
Depending upon whether we have a roof that is ours to place solar panels on, or a field, using solar for our energy source is another way to reduce our monthly budget as well as support Mother Nature. Let’s talk about the latter. By using solar, there is a massive reduction in water use as traditional power plants needs a lot of water to power and cool the turbines. And yep, solar panels have no emissions compared to other energy sources such as oil, coal and natural gas.
Solar panels are able to function optimally for 25-30 years, and now with many businesses dedicated to disposing of them properly, you can rest assured that they are recycled responsibly.
One of the reasons Bend, Oregon, is loved by so many outdoor enthusiasts is because we have sunny days supposedly 300 days a year. And so, solar panels are a great choice for houses in our city. My house happened to have them originally installed which give me incentive to buy it. As they were only a few years old, I was thrilled because I knew my energy bill (electric) would be drastically reduced, and it has been. Essentially, all I pay for are fees and taxes which equates to around $20 a month, each month, year-round. That seems unfathomably since I know what I would be paying without the solar panels having lived in Bend for 4+ years prior to buying Le Papillon.
Needless to say, yes, they are an upfront investment, but the investment pays off tremendously – in the long term for the planet and in your monthly bills (and some states have incentive and write-offs come tax season as we have had here in Oregon).
3. Hardwood or Tile/Stone flooring
Cleanliness, maintenance, longevity. While I enjoy having carpet in my bedroom, keeping the carpet clean is an annual task, and so it has been my intention to reduce both the regular recurring tasks and bills (cleaning) by installing hardwoods. Others will want to install tile or stone based on preference, availability and aesthetics, and all are great reasons, but when you can, choose to invest in quality flooring that will stand the test of time. And in fact, as I have been in the middle of updating a few areas in Le Papillon with hardwood and doing some research, I discovered that when it comes to renovations to our home that have a ROI worth considering, hardwood flooring is the only one that reliably not only earns you back what you paid, but you actually make more than you paid when you sell the property. So! If you can, when you can, invest in flooring that you both love and goes the distance while also being easier to keep clean and hypoallergenic too.
4. Education
It will surprise no one in TSLL community to know that the investment in our education is a worthwhile long-term investment, but I had to include it here on our list today. In a post I wrote many years ago, I share 6 benefits of doing so, and #6 is one I cannot emphasize enough.
5. Being a student of yourself and what nourishes you, so that healthy relationships are chosen, whatever type they may be that provide what is needed
For as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by people, the lives they choose to live and whether it appears to make them happy or not. As a young girl, observing my aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, you name it, I pondered all sorts of questions based on what I observed. As we know our childhood experiences are formative, but one thing I never did was accept what was told to me, instead I observed what I saw and how I felt regarding the energy in any one person’s presence, home or way of life. I wasn’t passing judgment, rather I was trying to figure out what I wanted for my own life, how I wanted to construct it based on opportunities that may come my way and directions I might choose or not choose.
When it came to relationships, very few relationships – marriages, partnerships – inspired me to want to be in one. For me, freedom was key, but so too was a joy of life, and I saw a lot of joy lacking in many of the couples I would meet. Of course, as a child, and even as an adult, we can never know all of the choices or non-choices (life events in which we have no control) that occurred in anyone’s life, but I took thoughtful note, and realized I needed to learn a lot about how to give myself the tools that were available if only I was brave enough to learn them and be temporarily uncomfortable through the learning process.
Some of the learning processes were traditional – school, university, passing tests, earning a diploma, gaining a license to teach, etc., but other lessons I had to choose to see them as lessons, to stop blaming, to stop shrinking, to start asking questions and start exercising new muscles that simply needed toning.
My life may not look like most, or maybe it does, but not to most of the people I encounter where I live, but that is not the goal. The intention is to live a life of contentment – so that I know I am contributing and making sure the contribution also brings me to life and thus nourishes me so that others can be encouraged that they too can find such peace. I shared in 2024 when I launched the Contentment Masterclass that this course is the course that reminds us of what we have always been capable of, we just may not have known how to tap into our capabilities. This course provides the connector, the key to open the door to all that is waiting to be discovered within you.
Life can appear complicated as though we have to do a thousand things in a day just to make it through well, but this is preposterous. The only people that gain from our complicating our lives are, well, no one who really cares about our living well.
The photo I chose for today’s post/episode captures a quiet moment, designed by Rita Konig in her and her ex-husband’s North Durham Farm House that is actually situated in a bedroom. The writing desk invites the inhabitant to sit down, the cozy armchair encourages slowing down. When we give ourselves time to do these things we can become amazingly clear about what is and isn’t working, about what we have questions about and would like to find answers to. We can also energize ourselves, which also gives us the ability to gain clarity as to how to live well in the next moment.
Living well, when lived consciously, approached with simplicity – letting go of what doesn’t nourish our intended life and embracing and prioritizing what does — is easier than we may have realized. We just each need to find the knowledge that reveals what is best for us.
In the short-term, as we make these daily choices and invest in these big decisions, we will feel more energized, more rested, content and at peace while also happier in our days, and in the long-term, we will also find peace, more contentment and oodles of more happy moments to savor. Now that is something to look forward to as well as savor right now.
Petit Plaisir
Marianne, MHzChoice
~Watch the trailer here:
~Learn all about TSLL’s 4th book – Savoring the Sojourn and the gift available during the preordering window here.
Watch the trailer for the book below:
