Self Improvement 101

Self  Improvement 101

By: Lyndsey Walthall

            Last week we discussed burnout. Why it happens, and steps you can take to fix it. I must admit, sometimes blog topics come easily. Other times I have to scour the internet for ideas. This is par for the course (I have learned) with any type of writing. Thankfully, this week’s topic is one that evolved rather naturally: self improvement. Last week I stressed how important you are, and how often you neglect your personal needs to take care of, well, the whole world. Work obligations, family and friends. Personal and professional goals that require you to burn the midnight oil when your vision is blurry from lack of sleep.

Admittedly, self improvement is hard. It’s way too easy to peruse the self help books at your local bookstore, lured in by the appealing covers of happy, well-rounded people. Read this book, and you too will find every answer you seek, they promise. In theory, it’s simple. In reality, you buy the book and take it home, where it spends the next two years untouched on your bookshelf, drowning in dust, until you loan it indefinitely to a friend. Start simple. Self improvement isn’t a race to make sure you’re as great as everyone you know; it’s about loving yourself enough to be patient with yourself.

So how do we do this? How can we start to improve ourselves? For starters, set goals. Everyone has goals. But unfortunately, we tend to view said goals in an all or nothing manner. For example, say you need to lose 50 pounds, but 50 pounds feels insurmountable. Breaking that 50 down into 10 pounds at a time isn’t nearly as daunting, and you will be less likely to give up.

Create healthy habits, and try your best to eliminate bad ones. Again, don’t fall into the trap of all or nothing, here. If you want to eat healthier but really like McDonald’s, don’t completely eliminate it from your life. There is no reason you can’t reach your health goals and still enjoy the occasional cheeseburger or ice cream cone as a special treat. Life is short, and you deserve it. Limit your screen time and move your body! This is something we’ve talked about over and over in the blog. It’s so important to remain active, both for your physical and mental wellbeing.

You’re probably going to cringe at this one: scare yourself. I don’t mean put yourself (or others) in danger, and I’m not talking about stupid, reckless behavior. I mean go do something that scares you. Whether it’s a new hobby you’ve been considering or putting yourself out there for potential criticism, how are you going to know the ending if you don’t write the beginning? Fear is scary, and we naturally avoid it. But being complacent isn’t any better.

You are always changing, growing and evolving. “Perfect” does not exist. You are enough.