What is life if not a quest of self-improvement? As we go through the daily grind, it makes sense to want to do things better. It makes sense to want to improve on what was done yesterday. And yet, self-improvement seem so difficult to accomplish. It is difficult to remain consistent enough to actually work on improvements.
Difficulty and inconsistency are not reasons to give up trying. When we stop trying to improve, we become content to fall back. There is no middle ground. Those who are not moving forward are being swept back by the heavy current of life.
The thing about self-improvement is that it is too easy to obsess over the big things without mastering the little things first. In light of that, below are five things most of us could improve on. If we could pick just one or two and work at them little by little, the resulting improvements would be contagious.
1. Being Nicer to Others
We live in a day and age in which it is very easy to be rude to people. It’s easy to be judgmental, critical, and even downright nasty. We can all improve on the way we treat people. We can all make a concerted effort to be nicer to those around us.
Rather than always being quick to find fault, perhaps it’s better to speak a kind word instead. Rather than walking by when we see someone in need, perhaps it’s better to stop and lend a hand. Like self-improvement, kindness is contagious.
2. Eating Better
Our fast-paced culture invites us to practice poor nutrition. We are quick to jump on processed foods, prepared meals, and unhealthy snacks. That is bad for us. Moreover, we know it. We can all do better in terms of the food we eat. And if we are what we eat, a healthy diet is important to overall good health.
3. Exercising Regularly
Ours is truly a sedentary culture. So many of us work in office settings where we sit behind computer screens for eight hours per day, doing what we do. We tend to be inactive in our leisure time as well. Suffice it to say that most of us could improve on the amount of exercise we get.
Regular exercise doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. Riding a stationary bike at home for 20-30 minutes per day works. So do regular spinning classes. But according to the folks at the Mcycle studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, the type of exercise a person chooses is less important than the exercise itself. The important thing is moving and breaking a sweat.
4. Managing Finances
It is obviously not good to be physically or mentally unhealthy. It also isn’t good to be financially unhealthy. Poor finances create stress which, in turn, can affect physical and mental health. With that in mind, many of us can do a better job of managing our finances. Learning to live on a budget helps. So does saving for a rainy day.
5. Investing in Relationships
Finally, most of us can probably improve on our current relationships. We can invest more in the people we care about. We can spend time with them having actual conversations rather than staring at our phones. We can make a point of bringing back the evening dinner table. Indeed, the possibilities are endless.
The thing about being human is that perfection is not possible. There is always room for improvement. Little improvements here and there add up to big improvements over time. At least that is the way it’s supposed to be.
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