The unsexy truth about change
We’ve all seen the glossy posts about life transformation. The perfect morning routines. The beautifully styled journals. The inspirational quotes on candlelit desks. It’s made to look so effortless, isn’t it?!
But real change? It’s rarely glamorous.
The journals that actually work are dog-eared and scribbled in, filled with messy thoughts and action plans. The books that inspire change aren’t pristine – they’re read, highlighted and may even have a coffee stain or two.
Change doesn’t come from what looks glam or from big, sweeping gestures. It comes from the small, unsexy things we do every day that no one else can do for us. The things we do over and over, often without immediate results.
For me, one of those small, unsexy changes has been letting go of blow-drying my hair every time I wash it. I have few kinks in my hair (no gorgeous curls like my sisters) and I really didn’t like how it looked sans blow-dry, especially on post wash days.
For years, I’ve had rather a fixed mindset around this. But this summer, I decided to embrace air-dried hair. Why? Because I want the freedom to jump in the pool for a quick swim or head to the beach with my fur baby for a walk and a dip without worrying about fixing my hair afterward.
It’s not groundbreaking, but this one small change has given me so much joy and freedom. It reminded me that letting go can be just as powerful as adding something new. Sometimes, what we’re hanging onto, whether it’s a habit, expectation or belief, is the very thing stopping us from creating the life we want.
Here’s my ultimate Unsexy List to Change. It’s not glamorous, but it works:
- Go to bed earlier.
- Drink water.
- Say no without guilt.
- Schedule the appointments you’ve been avoiding.
- Get outside for fresh air daily.
- Move your body in a way that feels good, not because you have to.
- Unfollow anything or anyone that drains you.
- Plan simple, nourishing meals for the week.
- Finish the book, the project, or whatever you’ve started.
- Give yourself permission to take messy, imperfect action.
These aren’t the kind of changes that get applause or compliments, but the truth is, they’re the ones that build the foundation for a life that feels good from the inside out.
If you need a little help tracking, and celebrating yourself, for those small unsexy actions you’re taking, try a habit tracker or perhaps My Daily Celebrations – something I created to help me… because showing ourselves the love while acknowledging our efforts is rewarding and motivating!
What’s one unsexy step you’ll take today to create the change you want for yourself? I’d love you to let me know.
P.S. You don’t have to make all the changes at once, start with just one thing. If it feels overwhelming or you’re not sure where to begin, I’m here. Let’s figure it out together, just drop me a note. You’ve got this!