Many of us want to improve our lives. Whether you want to improve your ability to earn money, improve your quality of life, or improve your mind, there’s always room to get better.
If you want to constantly progress and improve, developing the right habits can take you a long way. Here are five habits that, once developed, can help you improve yourself:
1. Read Educational and Inspirational Books
A habit of reading can be one of the best ways to improve yourself. Choose books that are educational and inspirational. Read books about people who’ve achieved goals similar to yours. Whether it’s learning about history, money, business, or art, continue to read. You’ll learn about whatever you are reading of course, but the benefits extend beyond the educational side of things. Those who read have a better ability to focus and stick with the task at hand. It also helps you write better, which is important in an era where so much of your work communication happens online through email.
While reading for enjoyment and relaxation can be a pleasurable experience, it’s not going to have the same effect. Develop a good educational reading habit, and you’ll be well on your way to improvement.
2. Take an Interest in Others
Another way to continually improve is to take an interest in others. Listen to people. Understand their viewpoints. This can help you learn new things, as well as increase your knowledge of the world. Taking an interest in others can also lead to networking opportunities that will improve your career. And, as you get practice listening to others, you’ll develop better relationships, which will improve your emotional life and support system.
3. Try New Things
Get in the habit of trying new things. Branching outside your comfort zone on occasion is a good way to stretch yourself. You also get in the habit of knowing that you can accomplish the impossible. Little by little, trying new things can help you expand your horizons and move you forward. Progress is an important part of self-improvement, and trying new things, whether it’s an exotic food or meeting someone new, can help you take those steps into the future.
4. Make a Plan
Do you have a plan? You need one if you want to keep improving yourself. If you want to improve your finances, you need to make a financial plan. If you want to get into shape, you need an exercise plan. If you want a healthier diet, you need to improve your food plan.
From increasing your knowledge base to getting more sleep at night, a plan can be a big help. You don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to make a plan, either. There are plenty of free online resources for learning, including opencourseware from major universities. Create a schedule and a plan that allows you to make improvements to your life, then stick with it. Results won’t happen overnight but if you stick with it, you’ll get to reap the rewards.
5. Take Time for You
Don’t forget to take time for you. Sometimes you just need to relax and unwind. That way, you can recharge your batteries and be fresh and ready for whatever comes your way. Make time for your hobbies, and for time with your family and loved ones. You often come up with your best work when you’re refreshed. You’ll be more productive, and you’ll be able to make solid progress in your life.
What habits would you add to this list?
{ read the comments below or add one }
Could not agree more with all suggestions.
One lesson I have learned is not to be too inclusive with too many desirous achievements at once. Too many objectives at once is overwhelming and ends by defeating the purpose – it ends with very little achieved and virtually no objective completed. Worst of all is a sinking feeling of failure and a slide into depression.
My plan is a macro plan for all I want to achieve, and stepping-stone micro plan and a flexible time-line (within a 3 weeks either side of a date) for achieving each goal. Flexibility is required because life is so dynamic and can interfere with the availability of your time – you or a family member falls ill; the boss needs you to travel for a couple of weeks; a family celebration is called for and you are required to host it. Time flexibility also allows for some degree of difficulty in undertaking the goals for example: more research required; a component for the task is not available and so forth.
I’d add that you should find a counterpart who drives you to do better. My best friend and I see one another improve and then work hard to outdo one another in a competitive sport we both play. It’s like the Lennon-McCartney relationship that led The Beatles to write such great music.
To piggy back off your comment, someone to hold you accountable helps tremendously.
Do things you’re scared of that you know are good for you. Take risks. Win through volume. Hustle hard.
Travel is broadening. If you can’t do much travelling in person, read travel books, especially “travel literature.” Instead of wasting your time on books about vampires, sex and murder, why not read “In a Sunburned Country” which is an excellent book about Australia by an American/English fellow who visits parts of the Lucky Country most people don’t see. Or read “A Year in Provence” to learn about France in a comfortably entertaining way. Study maps, so when you hear about a country you will have some idea of where it is. Talk to people from other countries and ask them questions with genuine interest in the answers. Broaden your horizons and know the world around you.
This is a pretty inclusive list as it is. One thing I like doing as part of No. 5 in the list (taking time for yourself) is to analyze myself once every few days (what things did I recently do/say that I should avoid in the future, and what did i recently do/say that I should repeat). It’s always healthy to have such conversations with oneself.
One important thing is your health; eat right, train your body, stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol, etc. Keep your motor “your body” in top condition.