Julie Henne If you’re anything like me you’ve probably devoured a stack of self-improvement books over the years in hopes of finding that magic solution.
From Dale Carnegie’s ‘How to Make Friends and Influence People,’ to Eckhart Tolle’s‘The Power of Now,’ there is an abundance of information out there. We all have good intentions and while we faithfully read the self-help literature and avidly watch the videos, how many of us actually implement the advice and make meaningful changes in our lives?
Maybe our goals are too ambitious and numerous and we just need to simplify, taking it one step at a time. Since September wasSelf-improvement Month, here are a few tips to get started on the path to a better you.
Look after your health for Self-Improvement
This one seems pretty obvious, but without a healthy body, we can’t achieve much. So monitor your diet and take some exercise, even it’s just a short daily walk around the neighborhood. Watching what we eat every day and planning healthier diets, can be fun. Experiment with different recipes, try something new and get cooking. Yoga is also a great way to de-stress so check out some local classes or online videos.
Find a meaningful hobby
Whether you’re a quiet creative or an active adrenaline junkie, finding a satisfying hobby you enjoy can only improve your life. Maybe you like to write poetry, knit, sew, shabby chic furniture, or paint. Or you may prefer more active pursuits like camping, hiking, running, or kayaking.
If you like horses, start volunteering at a therapeutic riding center -doing what you love while helping others. Whatever it is that you enjoy carve out some time to pursue those activities each week. As well as relaxing, you’ll also be creating and/or experiencing something new.
Create a Dream Board for Self-Improvement
We all have ambitions and dreams, things we want to do or achieve in our lives, or places we want to see. And by now you’ve probably heard of the power of our thoughts, making daily affirmations and creating our own reality. There’s a fun way to do all this –make a dream board. Grab a friend, open a bottle of wine, and get cracking.
All you need is a large piece of card and a stack of old magazines. Cut out the photos that correspond to your wishes –maybe it’s a special beach or a house. Cut out letters to create positive statements. Raid your kid’s sticker stash and add stuff like hearts and stars. Get creative and have fun!
Learn Something New
Whether it’s a new language, computer coding, playing the piano, or crochet, learning something new actually helps our brains grow. Research shows that the brain is plastic –each time we learn a new skill and practice it the brain forms new connections and neurons, in effect learning strengthens the brain like physical exercise builds and tones muscles. So learning new skills can keep you sharp and possibly prevent debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Have an ‘Offline’ Day for Self-Improvement
Mark a day each week where you make an effort to unplug. Constantly checking e-mails and social media sites can drain our energy as well as our time. So devote one day a week and leave the phone at home. See how you feel at the end of the day. How did you fill the time you’d have spent scrolling through endless posts and distractions?
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