Making Change Stick

We have all been there. You finish a great book, attend a workshop, or have a burst of inspiration, but then everyday routine takes over and the momentum is lost.

Making lasting change in your health, life, or business is challenging, but it does not have to be overwhelming. Here are three practical tips to help you make a change, alongside three tools to help you get there.

Three Tips for Making a Change

1. Focus on insight, not activity

It is easy to confuse being busy with making progress. In workshops, at least 20% of the time should be spent reviewing insights. This means looking at what you have found out and what you will do next, rather than just listing what you have done. For your own life or business, pause to review what is working and why, so you can decide on your next steps.

2. Focus on one thing

Focus on one single thing. Not two, and definitely not fifty. When we try to change everything at once, we usually change nothing. Ask yourself what one thing you could try next week. Write it down and put it in your calendar.

3. Follow up

Set a deadline to check your progress. If you did not manage it, think about why. What got in the way? If you did achieve it, look at what insight you can gain from the experience to help you move forward.

Tools for Facilitating Change

• The Liberating Structures app: If you run workshops, this free app is full of easy-to-learn activities that build trust and encourage participation.

• Atomic Habits and Tiny Habits: James Clear’s Atomic Habits and BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits are must-reads for creating new routines. Useful concepts include habit stacking, attaching habits to core values, and the B=MAP formula (Behaviour = Motivation, Ability, Prompt).

• Habit-tracking apps (like Streaks or HabitShare): If you need accountability, these apps help you visualise your progress. They let you track that one single thing you committed to and set reminders so you don't forget to follow up.