A new year means a new you and another opportunity to become a better you this time around. Self improvement is a natural and necessary desire in every person’s life. While an improvement you can physically see can be motivational, improving your internal health and mind can be just as beneficial.
If you are struggling to stick to your New Year’s resolutions this year, it’s totally understandable. Some transitions are hard to make, such as reading a book a day for an entire year or only eating keto friendly things until you lose 30 pounds. These are some resolutions that require some major life changes that many people are not so willing to do.
Fortunately, we have some great ways you can improve yourself this year that won’t require any major changes. Some are even as simple as clicking a button. Yes! That’s simple!
So, don’t you worry. We’ve got your back this year because we want to see you become the best you you can possibly be!
Self Improvement Includes When You’re Asleep
The first way you can start your self improvement journey this year is by sleeping better. Pretty simple, right? Well, yes and no.
Research has shown that many people in the world don’t get a suitable number of hours of sleep. The research even claims insufficient duration of sleep has been linked to 7 of the 15 leading causes of death in the US. According to the CDC, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it has even been proven that 1 in 3 adults in the United States do not get enough sleep each night. They state that lack of sleep can be linked to mental distress.
To improve your health and overall well being, always get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. A good night’s rest can lead to less mental distress, more energy, and a better attitude.
What can also help you get better rest at night is having your electronics turned off. The light from a laptop, tablet, or cell phone and interaction with them before going to bed can impair your sleep. We all know that it is 10x harder to sleep at night when chatting with a friend through DM or text. According to a study done by the National Sleep Foundation, texting in the later hours left 67% of their participants un-refreshed at least a few nights a week. It also left 51% of the participants less likely to report that they got a good night’s sleep. So, to ensure that your quality of sleep is the best that it can be, turn off all electronics before bed and place them far enough away, so that you won’t be tempted.
Don’t Let Anyone or Anything Live in Your Head Rent Free
In other words, don’t take things so personally.
It’s hard to read hateful comments on social media, even if all the other comments surrounding them are good. I know from experience that those comments are the ones that can leave you bothered all day, if you let them.
Self improvement is all about you. So, the best ways to always get these negative comments to roll off your back are to keep in mind 2 things…
- Their words don’t reflect who you are or the quality of your work.
Their words mean nothing to you at the end of the day. Unless these social media trolls hold some high position in your life outside of social media that allows them to boss you around, they can’t affect you. These people can only share their opinions on you and what you did. And that’s just what the comments are: opinions. Nothing more than just bad assumptions based on biased perceptions against you.
So, just keep that in mind the next time you come across a hateful comment. Only you know who you truly are and the true quality of the work you produce.
- The only people who write hateful comments are people who are not content with themselves.
A person would have to be really down on themselves to take the time out of their day to go on social media and write something awful. These people are usually the ones who have had a hard day and think that what would make it better is to hurt someone else. Their lives are not where they want them to be. So, keep in mind. It’s not you, it’s them. Especially when the comments are seriously disgusting. That’s the best indication of a person who’s just trying to spread their own hurt.
Instead of focusing on these comments, focus on something else. Leave these comments where they are: in the comment section. Spend the rest of the day doing something that benefits you instead. Or carry on as usual. As if you never saw those comments to begin with. Living unbothered is the best way to live after all.
Take a Vacation From Social Media
Treat yourself to a nice, long vacation. Cause what’s a better vacation than a free vacation? That’s how I like to think about self improvement!
Research has shown that the amount of time the average person spends on social media has steadily been increasing since 2012. Like a drug, we can get addicted to our social media. With more apps coming out every year, people are spending more and more time socializing through their phone and scrolling than making real connections with the people already around them. This topic being my own goal for the new year has allowed me to spend more time focusing on what matters to me. I’ve used this free time to learn how to bake more delicious recipes for my family. But you don’t have to do that. There are so many other fun and fulfilling things someone could do.
Some fun things you could do instead of scrolling on your fun can be journaling. This is a great hobby anyone can pick up with just paper and pencil. It allows you to get all your thoughts about the day out in a healthy and private way unlike what some social media apps can do for you.
If that just isn’t fulfilling enough for you, reading a good book never fails. There are a plethora of genres out there for you to take advantage of. From self-help to a book of poems. You have so many options that social media couldn’t compare to.
So, Which One Should You Try First?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. You can start your self improvement journey anywhere. You can even start by taking a good long nap right now to catch up on some lost hours of sleep. As long as you are putting in an effort to make yourself better this year, you are on your way to living a better life.
If you are interested in learning more on how to improve your overall wellness, you should consider reading this fantastic article on How Houseplants Help Prevent Seasonal Depression.
