Self-improvement is an endless journey. In different stages of life, we will have different goals to achieve. In order to reach those goals, it’s very important to build a constant self-adjustment system for personal growth and adapt to new changes. 

Why is self-improvement important?

Self-improvement means we have to improve ourselves in every aspect, from mental health and work to social relationships. 

Imagine that our life is a game; there are rules to follow and countless unpredictable challenges we need to overcome to upgrade. The higher the level, the tougher it is. But this is also what keeps us entertained for hours. It happens the same in reality. New hobbies, new books, or new opportunities take us on new adventures and get us motivated every day.

why self-improvement important

The ultimate guide for effectively self-improvement

However, it’s not something that happens overnight. You have to spend extra tons of time and effort on it. And here are 5 tips everyone needs to know before stepping onto the personal growth journey.

Start small

Taking small steps is necessary as coming up with big goals can be overwhelming sometimes. It can keep us unmotivated and procrastinating. Instead, break them into smaller pieces. If your goal is to finish 10 books a year, then start with 2-3 pages each day. 

tips for self improvement

Stop comparing  

With the explosive rise of social media in the world, it’s easy to get carried away with success stories and how people polish their names out there. In some way, this is where the inspiration comes from and what motivates you to do more.

In contrast, comparison consistently builds up a stressful and anxiety process when seeing people get what they want. Instead of wasting our precious time on other people, we should focus on ourselves. Here are a few things to separate from comparison:

  • Jot down your strengths and what makes you unique.

  • Journaling: This will organize your thoughts, reveal your feelings, and unwind your mind.

  • Practice gratitude: Paying attention to what you have rather than what you wish can be a great booster to your happiness. 

Take a rest 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing allowed us to work more on personal plans and form potential positive habits such as doing exercise, learning, cooking, etc. However, it also created a new phenomenon: toxic productivity. 

This is an unhealthy obsession with being over-productive, fear of missing out, comparison, and anxiety when facing the "hustle culture" on social media. Defining yourself by how productive you are throughout the day will make you always on the verge of burnout. What you need to do to avoid this self-destructive behavior is just relax and take a few days off.

Remember success may not happen in that short of time but your mental health does. 

Discipline is everything

Discipline equals freedom! It sounds contradictory at first but makes perfect sense. With good discipline, you can put your future in your hands and have more choices 

You can start to master self-discipline by practicing with a plan and clear goals. Just 1% of your goals are completed each day, gradually over time, you’d be surprised by what you got at the end. 

Avoid overthinking

Careful planning is good but in fact, not everything is under our control. Overthinking just makes us exhausted and kills optimism. Stop thinking and start doing it right away. You will see it’s not that bad.

For example, you’re considering switching careers. Instead of thinking you should quit your job immediately or not, you may want to conduct information from professional sources, sign up for relevant courses, and follow experts who work in the industry. Reviewing these details both helps you get a better overview and decisions. 

Worrying too much gives you nothing but panic and anxiety, so just start taking action. 

Conclusion

Self-improvement doesn’t mean being flawless because nobody’s perfect. Making mistakes is what makes us humans. Allow yourself to experience more, try more, and most importantly, to be wrong. Through all those mistakes, you will eventually become a better version of yourself day by day, and that is what self-improvement is about.