Tiny Fixes for a Tired Life: 7 Habits That Make Your Life Better

Lately, I don't know about you, but holy cow, it just feels like everyone is a little frayed at the edges, a little overwhelmed. Maybe you feel lonely in ways that you're not talking about, and you're wondering, "Why is everything just kinda harder than it should feel right now?" But there's some good news. The fix, it's not some massive overhaul. See, there are these small, powerful habits that are gonna make your life feel better, and I know this because these are the same tiny habits that I use in my life to help me feel better. And I also love the fact that they're backed by research, and today, I'm sharing them with you. Let's start with this tiny habit number one, which I call... Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins Podcast. I am so excited that you're here with me right now, and it's always such an honor to spend time together and to be with you. And I love what you and I are going to talk about today because if you feel like I do right now, well, then you're probably really tired, and I'm not just saying physically tired. I don't know what it is about this time of year, but doesn't it just seem like everything starts to pile up over and over? And so, you and I are going to talk about not adding more to your plate 'cause you don't need that. We're gonna talk about the tiniest little fixes that make a big difference when you feel like you and I do right now, when you feel tired. You're gonna love this conversation. And if you're a new listener, I also want to take a moment and personally welcome you to the Mel Robbins Podcast family. I'm so glad that you're here with me right now, and if somebody shared this with you, I wanna point out something. That means that you have somebody in your life that cares about you and they want you to feel a little bit better. They know you're working really hard, they know life is overwhelming, and they know that this episode, because they listened to it, in particular, is gonna make a big difference. And because you took the time to listen to this, I know you're the kind of person who values showing up for yourself and the people you love, even when you're tired. So welcome. So let me just start by confessing something to you. I missed a really good friend of mine's birthday last week, and here's the thing. I had the card, I had a stamp on it for crying out loud, I had it sitting on my desk, I thought about her all day. Did I mail it? No. Did I call? No. Well, I meant to call. You know how you mean to call? You're like, "Okay, well, when I get in the car, okay, when I have a little bit more time." Did I text? No. No. (laughs) And then when the day passed, you know what I felt? I felt like, "Oh my gosh, is it really Loserville if I take a photo of the card that I forgot to mail yesterday and text it to her a day late?" And the worst part of this is that this is not a one-time thing for me. I have been missing people's birthdays lately. I have been forgetting to buy presents for people. And the sad thing is, I don't miss these special dates because I don't care. It's the opposite, I care deeply, but like you, I'm tired, I'm distracted, I'm overloaded, and maybe you can relate to that. I mean, yeah, the world that you and I are living in right now, it's fast, it's noisy, it's impersonal. You're constantly getting bombarded with all kinds of stuff from every single angle, and it makes it kinda hard to be the kind of friend or sister or brother or partner or neighbor, frankly, a human being, that you truly wanna be. I mean, I'm the kind of person, I wanna remember people's birthday. I hate it when I forget these kinds of things. I hate it when I let myself down because I go halfway there, but I don't make it all the way there. And so, that's why I wanted to talk to you today, because I don't think the answer is caring more. You already care a lot, right? The problem is you're overloaded. So you care, but it's not translating in terms of your ability to demonstrate that you care. So what is the fix? Well, good news, it's not a massive life overhaul because you and I don't have time for that. The fix, for a moment in life where you're tired, it's just the smallest intentional habits. I'm saying tiny fixes for a tired life that are gonna help you and me feel connected, more present, and more like yourself again. Now, these are habits that I've been practicing for a long time, and they're making a real difference, but here's the thing. Even I need to be reminded that these habits are important. Even I, who know these habits, and I am telling you from the start, the seven things I'm gonna share with you today have made a huge difference for me. When I get tired and overwhelmed, I need to be reminded of them. Not because they're dramatic, but the opposite, because they're doable. That's why you're gonna love 'em. You just needed to be reminded to do them. So today, let's talk about seven simple things, research-backed, real life-tested, and I promise, even just one of them could shift something in your day, in your relationships, or give you a sense that you feel like yourself again. So let's get into it. Let's start with this tiny habit number one, which I call replay the good stuff. This one's actually a new one for me, and it takes just seconds to do, it is so simple, and here is how you do it. Normally, I'm telling you, don't look at your phone, don't spend so much time on your phone, but if you ever feel tired and overwhelmed, tiny habit number one, replay the good stuff. You're simply gonna pick up your phone, you're gonna open up your camera roll, which I'm doing, and just scroll and go back in the past. Why am I asking you to do this? Because when you open up your phone and you see some of your favorite memories and some of your favorite people, something incredible happens. Even when you're feeling tired and overwhelmed, it lifts your spirits.And there's also a ton of research about why this works. There is a study done by researchers at UCLA that found that viewing photographs of loved ones activates a sense of social support inside of you, which helps you feel less stressed. So, you may be listening to me right now as you're driving into work or home from work, or sitting on the train, or taking a walk and you're feeling stressed. If you just look at photos of people that you care about, or you go back to past memories, it's going to lift you up and remind you you're not alone. This isn't the only moment in your life. Tiny little thing that makes a big difference, right? And here's another report that I found. This was conducted by leading behavioral psychologist Joe Hemmings in the UK. They found that looking at your older photos is almost as relaxing as taking a bath, and when you're at work, you can't exactly take a bath, but you can look at some old photos. See, researchers found that looking at photos can inspire nostalgia, happiness, and inspiration as well. It also lowers your stress hormones and it pumps up your endorphins. It reminds you that your life isn't just this moment. Your life is full of great memories and good moments, even if your brain forgot about them because you got so much going on right now. In fact, I want to double down on this, because I want you to hear from world-renowned Dr. Ethan Kross. He is a psychologist and professor at the University of Michigan. He runs the Emotion and Self-Control Lab there. Dr. Kross is an expert in how to stop negative self-talk, and he shared with me why looking at photos can be so helpful. So take a listen and hear what Dr. Kross had to say when he appeared on the Mel Robbins Podcast.