Top 18 Practical Self Improvement Tips

While it’s easier to complain about the problems you are facing in life, you should know that it isn’t going to take you anywhere. If you can’t change your circumstances, change yourself instead and take the road for self-improvement. There is always room for self-improvement and the more you grow, you will realize that there is so much more to achieve. There is nothing more important than personal growth and inspiring others to grow with you. We all live, what matters is the quality of life you lead. Once you taste the sweet fruit self-development will give you, you will become addicted to constant, never-ending self-improvement.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some self-improvement tips for you to get started.

1. Step out of your comfort zone

Expand, push, and cross the lines of your comfort zone. You cannot become what you want to be unless you move your boundaries a little bit. Yes, it is scary and can be the hardest thing you have ever done, but being scared means you are about to do something great for yourself. Don’t wait for yourself to be ready because you will never be as ready as you are now for nothing ever grows in the comfort zone.

2. Exercise

Do yourself a favor and start exercising from today itself. Working out is good for your mind, body and your soul. It may suck to not being able to have your favorite food, but not as much as being stuck with a body you hate. What you decide to do today, will determine your body for tomorrow. Let exercise be your stress reliever, not food.

3. Be kind and generous

Always, always and always be kind to everything that has life. Each one of us has struggles and each one of us is fighting a battle that we know nothing about; be kind and generous to others because to someone you may be the only help they have received. An act of kindness is never forgotten even if it is a tiny gesture; you kindness will repay you tenfold of what you gave. Throw kindness like confetti.

4. Travel

If you don’t already have traveling in your bucket list, then add it now. Travelling is one of the most memorable experiences that you will have in your life. You will gain perspective of how little space you possess in this world and you will look at things differently. You will learn a lot of things about yourself and develop new skills and money spent on traveling is never wasted. Breathe the air of new places and take in its culture and relish its flavor and be adventurous.

5. Don’t run after perfection

Many people are plagued with the idea of perfection and they spend most their time and energy to achieve something that doesn’t exist. Every single of us have imperfections and flaws that we wish to erase, but the truth that you are not perfect and you will never be; make peace with the fact and stop striving for perfection. Whether it’s your work or your appearance or your life, there will always be some room for improvement. Instead of running after perfection, aim for progress.

6. Be independent

Those who lack a body part aren’t really cripples, but those who are dependent on others for their survival are certainly cripples. Learn to survive on your own and live independently. You never know what life has in store for you and when your world can turn upside-down; never be dependent on others for anything whether it’s emotionally or financially. At some point, you will have to stand alone, make sure you are strong enough to bear all the obstacles. If you ever need a helping hand, you will find it at the end of your arm; be your own hero.

7. Don’t compete

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it; it just blooms” -unknown. You should never compete with anyone else but yourself because you are only in competition with the person you were yesterday. Don’t think of bringing another person down and work for your own betterment. Competing with others will strip you of happiness and you will never feel satisfied with your own self. Successful people never worry about what others are doing, their goal is to do their best.

8. Surround yourself with good souls

The kind of company you keep affects you more than you think. You will meet many people and some of them will make you happy, some will bring you down, some will make you question your morals and some will inspire you. You should surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and who always inspire you to move forward in life. You are going to be as good as the people around you so surround yourself with good souls and let go of those who bring you down.

9. Be comfortable in your own skin

Do you sometimes wish you had a flat belly or even skin tone or wished that you didn’t have that birth mark? If you do; stop! Stop telling yourself that you are not good enough because each one of us is different. This is your body and it’s not going to change whether you love it or hate it; sooner or later you will have to make peace with the fact, so why not embrace it now. Imperfection is beautiful; always remember that because if we were all perfect, this world would be boring. Being comfortable in your skin is the best way to love yourself and you will never feel the need for someone else’s appreciation if you know that you are beautiful.

10. Learn from your mistakes

So what you messed up this time; rise again and do it with double efforts. Don’t put yourself down because you failed because if you are failing at something, then it means that you are trying to achieve something. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes and let them be your stepping stones.

11. Meditate

With work piling over your desk and your boss ranting on and about; your patience reaches to the brink and is on the verge of flowing out. Before you find yourself screaming back at your boss; relax. Take a time out and find a quiet corner and meditate for few minutes. All your stress will be washed away and you will feel refreshed. It will arrange your thoughts and you will be able to focus better at work.

12. Read

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are”- Mason Cooley. A book is someone’s experience, feelings, thoughts, perception, and world; when you read, your mind wanders to places that nobody has seen. You get to be the writer’s friend as you understand him through his words; you can travel in time and meet all sorts of creatures through books. Your horizons expand and books give your mind wings to take a flight to the place where you can see things differently. Books are your constant friends and teachers and the wisest of the counselors; read as much as you can and forget the world.

13. Savor the food

Watching a movie while eating is what we all are guilty of since we were kids. Most of us choose to keep ourselves preoccupied while eating and in the process, we forget to really enjoy our meal. If you are blessed to have three meals a day, take a moment to appreciate it and savor your meal. Relish its taste and take in its mouth-watering smell and appreciate its flavor. Savor each delicious mouthful and be thankful for your food.

14. Overcome your fears

What do you fear the most? Is it water, height or public speaking? Whatever your fears might be, it is time to overcome them. Your fears are holding you back from your growth and are stealing you of all experiences that you could have if not for your fears. You can conquer almost any fear if you make up your mind to do because fear doesn’t exist anywhere but in your mind. Take a deep breath and plunge; you will be fine and when you will come out; you will come out stronger.

15. Wake up early

Stick to the old golden rule of waking up early and half your problems will diminish. When you wake up early you have your whole day ahead to make time for everything that you weren’t otherwise able to. Mornings are the best time to finish all of your delayed work and don’t forget that it will bring a balance in your sleeping pattern which means optimum rest. The reasons why you should wake up early are countless and if you want to change something in life, bring the change by changing your habits.

16. Quit a bad habit

Whether it’s smoking, drinking, biting your nails, dragging your feet or procrastinating; quit your bad habit. Try to lead a quality life by abandoning one habit that everyone keeps you nagging about. If you can’t monitor yourself ask a friend or a relative to remind you of your decision if they catch you doing it. It will evoke confidence in yourself and the sense of accomplishment will further inspire you.

17. Let go of the past

Who doesn’t have regrets? Who hasn’t made mistakes in the past? You are not alone; everyone around you has their fair share of regrets. All of us have made mistakes and wish to change the past and day dream of how things would be different. But time has passed, people have come and gone and you aren’t at the same place anymore. Don’t let your guilt weigh you down; always believe that everything happened for your own sake and if not for your past, you wouldn’t be where you are right now. You have no control over time, and today will pass too; it’s up to you if you choose to mourn over your past or make peace with it and move on to better things.

18. Take a break

While work is important, you need to realize that taking a break from your work life is equally important. Plan a trip or take a spa appointment or simply go out with friends to revitalize yourself. If you can’t find a little time to live a little, then something is very wrong with your way of life.