The One-Degree Turn

Week 98: The One-Degree Turn

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When an airplane changes its course by even one degree, over time and distance, it can end up in a completely different destination than originally planned. This subtle change in trajectory can be used as a metaphor for life: you don’t need to make drastic, radical shifts to see significant improvements. Instead, a small, one-degree turn in your habits, mindset, or daily routines can lead to meaningful and sustainable changes over time. By adopting this approach, you can steer your life in a better direction without overwhelming yourself with dramatic transformations.

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Why Small Changes Matter

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1. Avoiding Overwhelm

??? Radical life changes often feel exciting at first, but they can quickly become overwhelming. A huge shift in habits, goals, or lifestyle might be hard to sustain, leading to burnout or frustration. The one-degree turn, however, is a gentler approach that allows you to make gradual adjustments without the pressure of immediate results. These smaller changes are more manageable and less intimidating, making them easier to maintain in the long run. Instead of starting to shift your waking up time by 2 hours to go to gym, try changing by just 30 min at the start.

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2. Building Momentum

?? Small changes compound over time. Much like saving a little bit of money each day eventually adds up to a substantial sum, tiny shifts in behaviour can have a big impact over time. Each small success builds on the last, creating momentum that makes it easier to continue improving. Before you know it, you’re making noticeable progress toward your goals without having to overhaul your entire life. Show up to the gym for 30 min every day, over time you will see results.

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3. Sustainable Growth

?? The one-degree turn approach also fosters sustainable growth. Drastic life changes often involve huge leaps that may not be realistic in the long term. By focusing on small, incremental shifts, you’re able to grow at a pace that feels natural and sustainable, ensuring that the changes you make become lasting parts of your life. What is more important is to go to gym every day, even if for 30 min, instead of going for few days for 2 hours and then stopping it altogether as it is unsustainable.

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How to Make a One-Degree Turn in Life

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1. Identify Small Areas for Improvement

?? Start by identifying one small area of your life that you’d like to improve. This could be as simple as waking up 30 minutes earlier each day, drinking more water, or reducing time spent on social media by 15 min. Instead of aiming for an extreme change, focus on something that feels manageable but still moves you in the right direction.

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2. Commit to Consistency

?? The key to the one-degree turn is consistency. Commit to your small change over an extended period of time. For example, if you want to improve your health, you don’t need to radically change your diet overnight. Start by adding more vegetables to your meals or incorporating a short daily walk into your routine. Stick with these small shifts consistently, and they’ll slowly become second nature.

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3. Celebrate Small Wins

?? One-degree turns don’t always offer immediate, dramatic results, so it’s important to recognize and celebrate the small wins along the way. Did you successfully stick to your new habit for a week? Did you notice an improvement in your energy or mood after making a minor adjustment? These wins, however small, are milestones on your journey toward greater change. Celebrate them and use them as fuel to keep going.

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4. Adjust as Necessary

?? Just like a pilot makes ongoing adjustments to stay on course, be open to recalibrating your approach as needed. Life is dynamic, and the changes you make today may need to evolve over time. The beauty of the one-degree turn is its flexibility—if you find that a small change isn’t working, you can adjust your course without feeling like you’ve failed.

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Conclusion

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The one-degree turn teaches us that big, lasting change doesn’t have to come from radical overhauls. Instead, it comes from small, consistent shifts in the right direction. By making manageable improvements and sticking with them, you can gradually steer your life toward a better destination. Whether it’s in your career, health, relationships, or personal growth, embracing the one-degree turn approach allows you to achieve sustainable, meaningful progress without overwhelming yourself.