How to Improve Yourself –
By: Josie Aiyla Lembirik –
There is no denying the fact that we all have room for improvement. Whether it’s in our personal or professional life, we can always do better. We get so caught up in the daily grind that it causes us to forget about self-improvement. We sometimes even neglect our growth and development, failing to realize that we are our most important project. Well, you know what? I want to put an end to this oversight. It’s about time we prioritize ourselves and make self-improvement come first!
The wonderful thing about self-improvement is that it’s an endless journey. There will always be new knowledge to seek, a bad habit we need to break, or new skills we need to learn. It doesn’t matter our age, background, or where we are in life; we can always work on improving ourselves. The key is to start contributing to our growth and development right now and never stop.
Though it’s critical to note that self-improvement is not solely about obtaining new knowledge or skills, ultimately, it’s about us accomplishing all our goals and becoming the best versions of ourselves. It’s about fully developing into our true character, living a meaningful life and striving to reach our full potential.
So, how can you work on improving yourself? Here are five helpful tips to get you started:
1) Read Books
Reading books is one of the best ways to promote your development and improve yourself. This seems like an obvious answer, but we often forget how important reading daily truly is. If you make it a habit to read for at least 30-45 minutes per day, you’ll realize how much it helps you learn more. You can read scholarly articles online, fiction or non-fiction books, articles from the news, or anything you want! It doesn’t matter what specifically you read- just try to read anything for at least 30-45 minutes daily, and I promise it’ll help! After all, the more you read, the more you learn, right?
2) Learn a New Skill
So, maybe you think you’re already doing pretty well regarding your growth and development. If that’s the case, I encourage you to seek an entirely new skill- something you’ve never done before! Expanding your horizons by learning something new is another excellent way to promote self-improvement. We should all constantly be pursuing knowledge. Remember, knowledge is power!
There are several new things you could learn. Maybe now is the time for you to finally learn how to play a new instrument or try to pick up a new language! You’d be surprised by all the wonderful things you could discover about different people and cultures by simply learning a new language. I’m still in the process of learning the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. It’s tough- I’m not going to lie to you, but by slowly learning Arabic, I have gained a whole new perspective of the world around me.
Another thing you could do is sign up for a course in something you’ve always wanted to learn about or try to take on a new hobby! Not only will this help you grow as an individual, but it will also make you more valuable and desirable in the job market.
3) Set Goals
Now this is where I get driven with excitement. A critical aspect contributing to your journey of self-improvement is your ability to set goals and meet them. What do you want to achieve? What new skills do you want to develop? Are you desperately trying to break your bad habits? Answer these questions to establish your goals and then create a plan to accomplish them.
To map out the journey to success with our goals, we must understand that it’s not just about setting goals. To be more specific, it’s about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. I’m a big fan of using S.M.A.R.T. goals as a course of action.
There have been many wise intellectuals that have contributed to the characterization of the acronym S.M.A.R.T. goals. However, I believe credit should be given to George T. Doran, as he was the one who clearly outlined the criteria for a goal to be considered “SMART.” Even though he didn’t use that specific acronym back in 1981, he still set the foundation for what is now known as S.M.A.R.T. goals.
I could go on and on about S.M.A.R.T. goals all day, as I’m very passionate about the concept, but I’ll try to get straight to the point and quickly define this brilliant acronym for you. For a goal to be considered “SMART,” it must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. Now, let’s break each of those down for us to understand clearly.
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First off — A Goal Must Be Specific
It’s critical for you to clearly define your goals, addressing the “what,” “why” and “how” of what you’re aiming to do. Ask yourself the following questions:
1) Who is involved?
2) What needs to be accomplished? and
3) Where and when will it be done?
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Secondly — A Goal Must Be Measurable
Goals need to be quantifiable, including specific criteria for measuring your progress. By clearly defining measurable indicators, you can more efficiently track your achievements and ultimately determine whether or not you have successfully accomplished your goal.
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Thirdly — A Goal Must Be Achievable
Goals should be realistically attainable. It’s essential to aim for something that, of course, challenges you but is also realistically within your reach. Can this goal actually be accomplished? Think through the resources and skills needed and the time available to you when determining whether or not a goal can realistically be reached.
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Fourthly — A Goal Must Be Relevant
Goals should be aligned with your overall personal or professional objectives. They should be relevant to your overall dreams and ambitions and hold significance in the context of all your life’s dimensions.
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Lastly — A Goal Must Be Timely
Your goals should have a very clear and specific timeframe that includes a deadline for completion. This will help you prioritize and stay focused on achieving your goals within a clearly defined period of time.
It’s incredible how incorporating these brilliant S.M.A.R.T. goals can truly provide you with a realistic and effective plan for you to accomplish all your goals and ambitions successfully.
If you’re feeling passionate about S.M.A.R.T. goals and are interested in learning more, I highly recommend you read S.J. Scott’s book, “SMART Goals Made Simple: 10 Steps to Master Your Personal and Career Goals.” This book is incredible and provides practical guidance on setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. It offers strategies for you to overcome all the obstacles and, in the end, achieve success. You can find it on Amazon here.
Now let’s move on to the importance of exercise when aiming to improve yourself…
4) Exercise
Another way you can positively contribute to your growth and development is by exercising. Exercising not only enhances your physical health, but also your mental health. It reduces stress and anxiety, significantly boosts your mood and improves overall cognitive function. Now with this, I will full-on admit I need to learn how to practice what I preach.
We all need to make it a habit to exercise regularly. On ScienceDirect®, Marco Peluso and Laura Andrade’s journal article “Physical Activity and Mental Health: The Association Between Exercise and Mood” states that “adult[s] should accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.” Putting exercise into our daily routine will significantly contribute to our overall goal of improving ourselves.
5) Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is another great way to work on improving yourself. Take a few minutes each day to reflect positively on your life and think about all the things you are thankful for. Making a habit of doing this daily will positively influence your mental health and overall well-being.
Do you know how on Thanksgiving, we all take turns telling each other what we are grateful for? Well, for five minutes each day, pretend like it’s Thanksgiving. Go out for a good cup of coffee and tell a supportive friend or family member about these things you are thankful for. Being grateful for what you have in your life is a critical aspect of self-improvement.
The five helpful tips we discussed today should encourage you to work on yourself. Remember, you are your most important project. Keep in mind that self-improvement is not a one-time event. It’s a lifelong journey. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or fail. We must make mistakes to learn. It’s all part of the process. The important thing is to persevere, keep moving forward, and never give up.
Self-improvement is the most critical project you will ever undertake. It’s a journey of self-discovery, growth, and development. Your aim must be to become the best version of yourself and live a fulfilling and meaningful life. So, start now and never stop. The world needs the best version of you.
Author: Josie Aiyla Lembirik | How 2 Avenue
Published: April 20, 2023
Last Updated: May 17, 2023