We all know the importance of self-improvement, but many of us struggle to find time to do it. We talk about time management, but we can’t manage time. We can’t create more or less of it; it’s constant. What we really need to do is manage ourselves.
I’ve tried many ways to spend time working on myself, but I’ve found these five tips hugely beneficial in my journey to self-improvement.
1. Get your priorities straight!
When everything is important, nothing is important. For many years I said that family was my top priority, yet I worked 12-hour days and lived nine hours away. When I really looked at what I scheduled in my day, I saw that they weren’t first, second or third! When given the opportunity to relocate closer, I jumped at it knowing that it was a step in getting my priorities straight.
Take a good look at your schedule and your task lists. Specifically, what items in your calendar are “monuments” or immovable, unnegotiable items. These are your top priorities. Do they align with what you say are your priorities?
2. Think small!
When we think of self-improvement, many of us think of large, swooping changes, but most lasting change comes from small, incremental changes. I find myself looking at my garage saying, I just need a day where I can focus on getting it organized. That full day never comes, but I could grab one box and sort it. I could toss the donate boxes in the back of my car and drop it off on my way to pick up the kids, but I don’t because I’m trying to make it into a large project.
Improvements are related to small behaviour changes that make a big difference, especially once they start stacking. Small changes every day will make a big difference by the end of the month.
Take your big goals and projects and break them down into small, 5-min or 10-min steps. Can you find an extra 10-min a day to read a self-improvement book? Can you spend 5 minutes after cleaning up dinner working on clearing out your junk drawer?
3. Embrace the “No added time” method!
We all have tasks that we have to do but are mundane. Why not turn that time into productive learning time? Take advantage of your commute and listen to a podcast. Keep yourself motivated while folding the laundry by listening to a book. Get some extra prayer time in while you’re doing the dishes. You’ll be amazed at the amount of time you have available for learning when you start taking advantage of the downtime in your day.
I started listening to podcasts when I fold laundry. Then I started praying my rosary during the morning dishwasher unload and lunch packing time. Soon, I grabbed an audio book and would listen during my short 10-min commute. It started as a way to maintain focus during the mundane tasks, but soon I realized how much content I had gone through and actually retained!
4. Reframe your thoughts!
Reframing is about looking at our thoughts and determining if they are actually true or if we
just believe them to be. Most of our life functions are driven by our subconscious thoughts. The issue is that what our subconscious believes may not always be true.
Some people may say that they can’t trust anyone. The reality is that some people are trustworthy, and others are not. By asking if this is a true statement, you can sort out which parts of it are true and which parts may need to be rethought.
Similarly, I tend to look at my to-do list and think, “I must get all of this done. I can’t remove anything!” The reality is that something will not get done. When I leave it all on my schedule even though I know it won’t fit, it leads to guilt and overwhelm. Something will go undone. Check your schedule against your priority list and make sure they’re aligned. You may see some easy things that should be removed or delegated.
5. Schedule it!
So often I hear people say, “I’m going to start working out.” My first response is always, “Oh great! When are you going to do it?” The typical response is, “Oh, 3 times per week.” To which I say, “Sounds great! When?” This is when the answers start to get a little wobbly.
Many of us, myself included, think because we say we’re going to start doing something, that we’ll just do it. The reality is that the time to do the improvements doesn’t just fall out of the sky. We must plan when we’re going to do them and hold ourselves accountable to that plan.
Some of us may need others to help us be more accountable. If this sounds like you, signing up for a course or getting a coach may be a great solution for you as well.
For the next improvement that you make, determine when you’re going to do it. Or better yet, link it to something that you’re already doing. The key to having healthy habits is to start doing them.
If we wait for the perfect time or when our lives are less chaotic before we start improvements, then we’ll never start. Use one or all of these tips to get started today!
Download our free printable with our tips and actions you can take to get started!
Komentarze