When it comes to self-improvement, the first step is asking yourself why it is you want to improve yourself and what it is specifically you want to improve. It could be breaking old habits, taking frequent breaks from social media or improving/starting to work on your fitness levels.
Whilst these habits may have been created years ago, unsurprisingly, some of these habits may have worsened and new ones were created due to the pandemic. It was not just habits that were impacted, this past year has certainly had a severe impact on our mental wellbeing. However, the abundance of time we found ourselves with meant a rising number of people began to self-reflect, learning more about themselves and trying to shed any of their old habits.
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease and the prospect of returning to normality slowly becoming a reality, many of us are looking for ways to improve ourselves to be able to fully enjoy time with loved ones. Fortunately, it is never too late to begin improving yourself.
If you are one of the many people looking for ways to improve yourself this summer, here are just six simple things to help you work on yourself.
Work On Becoming A Better Person
In the world today, there is no perfect person. To some degree, we all have our flaws, made or make mistakes and are still learning about the world around us. Whilst we may have our flaws, this does not have to mean that we cannot be a better person, or even try and become one.
In Ed Latimore’s guide to becoming a better person, he offers a variety of methods to try that can help you towards your goal to become a better person. It is important to remember as you work on becoming a better person, that you are not being overly hard on yourself. You need to do the opposite when you are working on becoming a better person.
As a result of becoming a better person, you will be in a greater position to treat those around you with the same level of kindness and compassion that you give to yourself. There is also the bonus of it potentially helping in improving both your physical and mental health.
Set Yourself A Challenge
It is believed that it takes a minimum of 21 days to form a habit. So, if you are wanting to incorporate more exercise into your life, break a bad habit or even begin meditation to help centre yourself, set yourself a target of 21 days, or the popular 30-day challenge. In doing so, you could help to kick-start a new habit, one that could help to improve yourself and how you live your life going forward.
If, however, you are someone that struggles to keep the momentum of starting a new activity or hobby, consider asking a friend to join you in the challenge. This can be a great motivational boost, as you can encourage one another to continue with the challenge and not skip a day.
Have At Least One Digital Detox Day
Do you ever feel as though there are one too many tabs open in your mind? If you are away from home, or even in another room of your house, do you panic if you do not have your phone on hand? Do you sometimes find yourself switching between apps on your phone when trying to pass the time? If you found yourself answering yes to these questions, then you may want to consider putting your phone down and spending some time away from technology.
This could be leaving any of your most used technology in a room or deleting your most used social media apps to help you resist the temptation of scrolling for hours. Alternatively, you might book yourself in for a spa day, where they ask guests not to use technology during their visit. In doing so, you can fully immerse yourself into the experience, to allow yourself to fully unwind and relax as you the amenities of the spa.
Learn Something New
If you are reducing the amount of time you spend using technology, you can use this time to pick up a hobby or learn a new skill. This could be trying to learn a new language, learning to play an instrument or even starting a craft project. There are plenty of crafts kits for beginners available to purchase, allowing you to find a project that you enjoy doing. In the end, you will have a new skill and decorative item for your home or given to a loved one as a gift.
Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Facing your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone can be a huge confidence booster. It does not have to be a fear that causes you great distress, instead of one that requires a little push in the right direction. For instance, if there is something that you have always wanted to try, whether it be wearing a certain style of clothes or dying your hair a particular colour, take the plunge and go for it. Neither is permanent if you use temporary hair dye of course, but taking the leap and trying something new shows you have the confidence and capability to do other things that may have previously scared you.
Over the past year, many of us have become used to a new style of living. This could be limited trips outdoors, wearing leisurewear for most days. Now that restrictions are being eased, this is a great time to step out of this comfort zone that you have become used to. As mentioned, doing something that is whatever scares you a little, does not have to be a crippling fear, just something a little more daring than you are used to can help to increase your confidence. Additionally, it is a great way to improve yourself as you have proven to yourself that you are capable of stepping out of your comfort zone.
Volunteer Your Time
This can be something that helps you step out of your comfort, especially if you are wanting to be more active in your local community. You could volunteer for a cause you are passionate about or find something occurring in your local community that you would like to help out with.
Regardless of whether you donate an hour of your time once every couple of weeks, or for a few hours at the weekend, volunteering your time is an act of kindness that you can be proud of because you are making a difference.
The Decision Is In Your Hands
Nobody can force you into doing self-transformation. Not only will it make the process more difficult, but it will also mean that you are unlikely to stick with the things you have learned, and instead you are more likely to fall back into old habits.
The process of improving yourself should be organic and taken at your own pace. Whether you are working on becoming a better person or reducing the amount of time you spend looking at a screen, set yourself targets that you feel are realistic for you and are more likely to achieve.
