Life is a combination of success and failure, driven by goals you’ve set along the way. While your goals may not always be well-defined, most goals usually have one thing in common — self-improvement. A new year is always an ideal time to reassess your goals and what you want out of life.
As you grow and enter into different phases of your life, you’ll redefine many of your goals to fit where you are developmentally. It’s a cycle we all go through on our journey of self-improvement. However, this journey shouldn’t necessarily rely on drastic actions like a career change — sometimes, all it takes is small tweaks to kick-start a revolution.
Read on for seven simple things you can do to improve yourself.
Travel Alone
You probably don’t have a solo trip to Italy at the top of your bucket list, but you should. Many people don’t see the benefits of traveling alone and the good that can come from it. It’s time to venture out and understand why Eat Pray Love exists. Being completely on your own in a foreign place will help you let go of fear, love yourself and form new connections — all while feeling self-empowered. Take a risk and venture out into the world alone.
Have an Exercise Routine
It’s no secret exercise improves your quality of life. However, it has many other benefits you may not know about. It can make you happy, reduce your stress and anxiety, help you lose weight and a slew of other things — it can even relieve feelings of depression. Exercise also increases your body’s production of endorphins, which will make you feel more positive overall. Set an exercise routine for yourself at least three times per week. You’ll be doing your body and mind a favor.
Increase Your Skills
Maybe you don’t have the time or means to go back to school and further your degree, but there are other options available to help you advance your skills and education. Consider online courses that benefit busy professionals, full-time students or stay-at-home moms.
Even if you just want to attend a cooking class and can’t go in person, educational video conferences are now available through many outlets. So do some research, then give a video conferencing course a chance to further your development in the area of your choice.
Read a Book Every Month
Depending on your schedule, you may feel challenged to fit reading into your life. However, you should aim to read a new book at least every month. It can be a genre you enjoy, like a good mystery, a self-help book that improves your life or anything else that piques your interest. Biographies are excellent resources for motivation and inspiration, so fit one into your reading schedule every now and then.
Books are sources of wisdom. The more books you read, the more wisdom you’ll gain.
Refine Your Goals
Setting goals is an important part of your development, and throughout your life, your goals will change. Stay on top of them by consistently reviewing what you want to achieve in your life. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and set powerful goals that will push you to be bigger and better than you ever thought you would. Don’t forget to think about both long-term and short-term goals, because both are important to keep in mind.
Wake up Early
Some of us are early birds, and some are night owls. If you’re a night owl, try to wake up earlier in the mornings so you will be more productive and make the most of your day. If you sleep in until noon, you’re wasting half the day. You aren’t a teenager anymore, so improve your quality of life and proactively live out your day.
Explore New Hobbies
It was easy to have different hobbies as a child because your only responsibilities were school and chores. As an adult, your responsibilities have grown drastically, forcing you to put those hobbies on the back burner. Make time for things you enjoy outside your normal routine. What do you love to do? If you like to cook, treat yourself to a cooking class every other week. If you enjoy beach volleyball, join an intramural team with some friends.
Just make sure you choose something that makes you happy. This will become your “me” time when you decompress and relax.
Start your self-improvement journey today. Find a new hobby, refine your goals or hone your skills. Self-improvement doesn’t have to happen overnight. Make a plan, and set it into action. If you don’t already have a list of goals to work with, create one and get on your way.
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