Too often, we get overwhelmed with the idea of making a change in our life. We build it up to be something intimidating, a process we have to go through, a lengthy journey into something new. But there are SO many small, simple, and free ways you can improve your life right now — from your own home!

These are some changes I’ve implemented into my own life that have made massive changes for my future — try some out for yourself!

Simple (& Free!) Ways to Majorly Improve Your Life

1. Listen to positive podcasts

Tune in to some positive podcasts in your free time, or in the time you can multitask! Things like cutting vegetables or doing laundry that don’t require your 100% mental focus are the perfect opportunities to pop on a podcast in the background.

Maybe you normally switch on the television in those moments. But instead of the same Netflix drama day in and day out, try a podcast! This is one of the best ways to surround yourself with positive influences in your life. It can even start to feel like your digital mentors or advisors are hanging out in your kitchen with you, sharing their words of wisdom while you get things done!

The best part about this tip: podcasts are basically free. Do you need a little tech to tune in? Sure. But once you’ve built your collection of inspiring, motivating podcasts, you can listen whenever you have some mindless time to fill.

Some of my fav podcast recommendations are:

• Gary Vee Audio Experience
• Happier with Gretchen Rubin
• Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations
• The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her
• Detail Therapy (shameless plug! 😉)

Bonus tip: Unsubscribe from podcasts or social media pages that don’t make you feel good! Stop letting negativity take up that valuable space in your mind.

2. Invest in your future — ASAP!

Don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s too early to start planning ahead! Start investing money in your future as soon as possible. A super-simple way to do this (without fronting a bunch of money right off the bat) is to start rolling over the spare change from your purchases and investing it with an app like Acorns.

Acorns is an app that rounds up purchases made with your card to the nearest whole dollar amount, and invests that leftover change for you. If I buy a $4.50 coffee at Starbucks, Acorns will round that purchase up to $5.00 and save the 50 cents in my investment portfolio!

These little chunks of change can be an amazing foundation for your future, especially if you’re not just putting it in savings. With investment apps, you’re putting that money somewhere where it can grow over time. While this one technically isn’t free — it’s super close. Acorns charges $1 a month for up to 1 million dollars invested. But when you weigh that $1 against the peace of mind of setting your future self up for success, it’s so worth it.

Bonus tip: Change up your investment portfolio type to match your risk preference. Acorns will automatically enroll you into a conservative portfolio, but if you want to get a little riskier, go for it!

Psst — want 5 extra bucks in your Acorns account? Use my link!

3. De-clutter one area of your home

Pro tip: Outer order = inner calm.

I challenge you to head to that area in your home where you’re always trying to be productive. Maybe it’s your home office, your kitchen, or your living room. Focus on that one room and clean. it. UP! Get the junk out of the drawer in your desk, clean out the clutter in the pantry, or tackle that looming pile of laundry sitting at the foot of your bed.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that we do not need to be as connected to things as we are. How often do you stumble upon something in the junk drawer that you totally forgot you had? Instead of holding onto the clutter, find a way to take inventory and keep track of the things you have. This will keep you from over-buying, and you’ll always know where things are.

Bonus tip: Keep going! If you finish your main room, move on to the next. Block a power hour into your schedule and knock out that clutter!

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QOTD: What’s a simple and free way you’ve improved your life recently?