I’ve been working really hard lately to focus on myself and how I’m building my business and my career potential. I had a few weeks there to sulk about work opportunities (or lack thereof), and I decided recently that it’s time to stop moping and start moving. We have so many big changes happening in our life right now. What better time is there than now to get up and take control of my future? I’ve mentioned more than once on this blog that I do my best to be intentional in all that I do. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that in terms of self-improvement though, and it’s time to change that, too. Since it’s finally May (yay!!!), I’m diving in headfirst and taking the plunge into self-improvement, self-awareness, and self-love. Here are five techniques I’m using every single day.
1 // Tune out the noise – try a podcast.
So, this might seem like a weird one to start with, but let me explain. I’m very quick to tell people I have no time to do certain things. But here’s the thing…I do. Each day, I walk Danny twice for about 30 minutes. Historically, I spend that combined hour blasting music in my headphones. Now, I’m taking that time to listen to podcasts. I don’t have a set channel that I listen to, and I don’t pick the same topic every day. For example, today I listened to one of my absolute favorite channels, “The Influencer Podcast,” with Julie Solomon. I love that it’s so multifaceted and applies to so many people from so many walks of life. Am I building a brand? Maybe. We’ll see. Is there a ton of valuable information in there about the marketing I do? Heck yes. Instead of listening to the chatter and noise, I’m focusing my energy and honing in on self-improvement and self-help with the right tools. Podcasts are the perfect place to start.
2 // Build your skills.
This sounds super generic, and that’s probably because it’ll look different for everyone. For me, it’s honing in on little things I’ve let slide. For example, I grew up speaking French. Having not used it for several years now though, it’s rusty at best. I’m no longer confident speaking or writing it. So, I downloaded an app for my phone call Duolingo. It’s free, easy to use, and super interactive. I set a goal to use it 15 minutes every day. Instead of mindlessly scrolling instagram or photos, I take 15 minutes to hone this skill. I can feel it coming back ever so slightly, and it’s a great feeling.
3 // Practice great habits.
This is a no-brainer, right? Actually, wrong. We tend to think of things in the short-term. A few little tiny bad habits don’t make huge changes overall – at least not in the immediate future. However, little bad habits compound upon one another over time and actually weigh us down. Let’s be real though…this isn’t always just about bad habits. For example, I have a history of putting my boys to bed, curling up on the couch and binge-watching shows with my husband. Or, if Ryan’s TDY like now, I binge-watch by myself. I get lost in my little show hole, and before I know it, it’s 10 PM. One of the biggest things I’ve been working to practice lately is cutting that down time and, instead, making a conscious effort to get off my butt and get in bed at an appropriate hour. I get in bed at 9, read for 20-30 minutes, then I go to sleep. It’s the tiny habits that actually make a huge difference over time.
4 // Promote self-worth.
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed in my adult life thus far, it’s how easily I become overwhelmed and overburdened. It’s easy to settle for feeling inadequate. However, the second I settle for those feelings of inadequacy, I diminish my self-worth and my potential for success. Self-worth and self-improvement are so multi-faceted. You need to have both in all areas of life to truly succeed. But here’s the thing. You can’t chase success. You have to attract it, and you do that by exuding positivity, good vibes, and self-worth. For example, I work in marketing writing. If I don’t exude confidence, value, and worth, my work will show that. If I take the time to build myself (and others) up, however, my work sings.
5 // The why, what & how.
Above all else, I’m a goal-getter. I love setting goals and tackling them head-on. However, I’ve learned how very intentional and specific I have to be about those goals though. Think of it this way; if you have a goal to be rich, that’s great, but what does that mean? Why do you want to be rich? What will being rich do for you? How will being rich transform your life? Only once you answer those three questions can you actually set about tackling those goals. For me, that means dreaming big and diving deeper into what I know and believe I can do and accomplish. It means serving others in order to serve myself. It’s such a tiny self-improvement step that makes an enormous impact.
One of the biggest things that I love about where I am right now is that there is so much room for growth and potential. I would have loved to have that job that I interviewed for, but I’m not sure it would have been the best thing for me in the end. Instead, I’m working hard to focus on what I can do to learn and grow in my craft – and in life – and take everything to the next level. Success starts with me every. single. day.
Do you practice any self-improvement techniques? What works for you? I’d love to know!
