a woman preparing a salad and wearing exercise clothes

How to Change Your Life in 30 Days And Build Habits That Stick

Some of my biggest wins have been from successful 30-day challenges that I have completed. Like recently when I managed to work my way up to 150 squats per day in just one month!

Conquering the leg burn in just 30 days is one thing, but is it really possible to change your life in 30 days?

Making lasting change to your life in just one month may sound ambitious, but with the right plan and consistent effort, it’s entirely possible!

Spending 30 days intentionally working on a more balanced fresh start can give you a lasting boost of positive energy that will lead to lasting positive change in your life.

My goal with this guide is to share some actionable steps to achieve meaningful change in just one month.

If the idea of making a lasting change to your life in just 30 days sounds overwhelming – don’t worry! To make this journey manageable, I’ve divided it into four weeks, each with a specific focus to help you take meaningful steps toward your goals.

This structure will help you to break the process into smaller actionable phases, which will make it easier to stay consistent and motivated throughout the month.

By staying organized and working hard on small daily habits, you can commit to your self-improvement in order to create a life that feels more aligned with your goals and values!

Let’s start by focusing on one area at a time so that you can build momentum and create sustainable habits that will transform your life!

a woman walking outdoors

Week 1: Reset Your Life

Changing your life in 30 days is like pushing a big reset button on your life so that you can move forward in the direction of your dreams and goals.

This first week of your 30 day challenge to reset your life is all about reflecting, resetting, and life organisation.

A life reset gives you the opportunity to create clarity, let go of what’s not serving you, and prepare for the months ahead.

Here’s a few simple steps you can take to get started during this first week.

Conduct a Life Audit

Take a day to reflect on where you stand in various areas of your life (like your career, relationships, health, finances, and personal growth).

Write these down in a self-care bullet journal or on a simple notepad.

Ask yourself a few life reset prompts like:

  • What’s working well?
  • What areas feel stagnant or unfulfilling?
  • What changes would make the biggest impact on my happiness and well-being?

This reflection will help you pinpoint areas to focus on over the next 30 days.

To get you started with this first step, I have put together this free life audit worksheet to help you reflect on the various areas of your life!

Declutter and Simplify

Clutter can hold you back. Whether it’s physical, digital, or mental clutter, use this first week to reset your life by organizing your surroundings.

Tackle one area each day by using the following schedule:

  • Day 1: Clean your workspace. Organize your desk, declutter your files, and create a functional area that inspires productivity.
  • Day 2: Simplify your living space. Donate or discard items you no longer use or need.
  • Day 3: Declutter your phone and email. Unsubscribe from newsletters, delete unnecessary apps, and organize your inbox.

These small steps will create a sense of order and make space for new opportunities! It’s amazing how free I feel after a good declutter session!

Set Clear Goals

Write down your goals for the next 30 days using the SMART framework. The goal is to write goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

For example, instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” aim for, “I will drink 8 glasses of water daily and exercise for 20 minutes 5 days a week.”

Make sure your goals reflect what truly matters to you and that they align with your vision for the next 30 days.

Use these inspiring quotes to inspire you to start this phase of your journey strong!

Week 2: Build New Habits

This second week is all about building momentum by incorporating small, positive habits into your daily routine.

Remember that consistency is more important than perfection!

Create a Morning Routine

A strong morning routine sets the tone for the day. Consider incorporating the following habits:

  • Gratitude practice: Write down three things you’re grateful for each morning to shift your mindset toward abundance.
  • Mindful movement: Spend 10-20 minutes doing yoga, stretching, or light exercise.
  • Journaling: Use a self-care bullet journal to track your goals and reflect on your progress.
a woman writing in a daily journal

Commit to a 30-Day Happiness Challenge

Dedicate this week to small daily actions that boost your mood and cultivate joy. Examples include:

  • Smiling at a stranger
  • Listening to an uplifting podcast
  • Spending 15 minutes in nature
  • Writing a thank-you note to someone who has impacted your life

These small, intentional acts can have a profound effect on your overall happiness.

We use this 30 day challenge template in our house to hold us accountable to our goals. I love how visible it makes my progress throughout the month!

30 day challenge template

Focus on Your Health

Take this week to prioritize your physical and mental well-being. Simple actions like cooking nutritious meals, staying hydrated, and getting quality sleep can dramatically improve how you feel.

If you’ve been meaning to reset your life in terms of health, this is the time to start!

Try to avoid overly ambitious goals like “lose 20 pounds” during this time of your journey. The goal here is to focus on small, impactful positive habits that will carry you throughout the month!

Week 3: Embrace Change and Take Action

By now, you’ve built some positive momentum. You’ve probably noticed a positive shift in your overall mood, energy, and feelings about your life in general.

Week 3 is about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking bold action toward your goals. It’s time to use all that positive energy to make some big life changes!

Face Your Fears

Fear often holds us back from making meaningful changes. Identify one fear that’s limiting you and take a small step to confront it.

For example:

  • If you’re afraid of public speaking, volunteer to present in a team meeting.
  • If you fear rejection, challenge yourself to start a conversation with a stranger.

Each small act of courage will build confidence and teach you that you’re capable of more than you think!

Break Big Goals Into Small Steps

Take some time to think about the big dreams and goals that you have for your life.

This week is all about thinking big, but acting small. For example:

  • If you want to write a book, start by writing 500 words per day.
  • If you’re saving for a vacation, create a budget and commit to setting aside a specific amount each week.

Small, consistent steps will make even the most ambitious goals feel achievable.

a woman holding a plan on a yoga matt

Surround Yourself With Positive Energy

The people and environments you expose yourself to can significantly impact your mindset. Take some time this week to take stock of your relationships and surroundings.

Week 4: Reflect, Refine, and Sustain

We’ve made it to the final week of this big, crazy life-changing 30 day challenge!

This last week is about solidifying your progress and ensuring the changes you’ve made are sustainable. After all, we want lasting life change here, not the type of change that fades after a few days.

Celebrate Your Wins

Reflect on the progress you’ve made over the past month. Write down your achievements in a journal and reward yourself for your hard work.

Celebrating small wins boosts motivation and reinforces positive habits so that they stick.

Reassess Your Goals

Not every goal will go according to plan, and that’s okay. Take time to review:

  • What worked well?
  • What challenges did you face?
  • How can you improve moving forward?

Adjust your goals and strategies as needed to keep moving in the right direction.

Plan for the Future

Use this final week to map out your next steps. Personal growth is an ongoing journey, and the habits you’ve developed this month can serve as a strong foundation for future change.

What tools will you use to keep you on track in the coming months? Try using a habit tracker to map out the habits you want to ensure you stay accountable to.

It’s Time to Start Your Life Reset!

While it may seem overly ambitious to think that you can change your life in just 30 days, it is an entirely achievable goal if you approach it with intention and consistency.

By reflecting on your current situation, building positive habits, embracing change, and taking bold action, you can set yourself on a path toward lasting happiness and fulfillment.

Remember, the journey doesn’t end after 30 days! If you are looking for more inspiration, or you want to spread your journey out over a few months, check out my guide on how to change your life in 6 months!

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family on social media! If you know someone who would like to learn how to change their life in 30 days, this blog post could be just what they need!


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