11 Ways to Always Be Improving Yourself

It’s safe to say that I think it’s important to always be improving yourself and growing as a person.

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you think it’s important too!

The thing with self-improvement is that it’s never done. The more you grow, the more you learn that there is so much more out there that you can do to grow some more. We’re constantly evolving.

A lot of people want to improve themselves, but sometimes they don’t know how, or where to start.

Or sometimes we just feel like we’re stuck in a rut and are looking for new ideas.

So today I thought I’d share 11 ways that you can constantly be growing and improving!

1- Never hold onto the past.

Is there some pain from the past that you’ve been holding on to, and continually being upset about? If your answer is yes, it’s time to let it go. Forgive yourself, forgive whoever hurt you, and try to move on.

Letting go of the past isn’t a one-time thing either. You should develop an attitude of trying to let bad things go as they happen to you and learn to live more mindfully, in the present.

I know it’s not always easy to let go of the past though, trust me. It’s something that you might have to work on for a long time. It’s something that I’m still learning to do.

2- Read books regularly.

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. If you’re looking for personal growth, self-help books are probably your best bet. But you can learn from pretty much any book that you read. Not only that, but reading is a great way to keep your brain working and keep it healthy.

If you’re looking for suggestions for good self-help books, keep an eye out on this blog because I have plans for upcoming self-help book reviews!

3- Learn new things or try new hobbies.

Gaining new knowledge, skills, and passions is good for you. Learning new things and developing new interests can help make you more well-rounded and maybe even help you gain new insights, figure out what you want to do, or figure out who you are. Learning something new also helps you to stretch yourself – physically, mentally, and/or emotionally – which is good for you.

You might like: 30 Creative Hobby Ideas for Better Mental Health

4- Keep a journal (or a blog).

Journaling is a great way to explore who you are and gain better self-awareness. It’s a great way to reflect and work through your thoughts and feelings. You could also start a blog. Starting this blog has probably been the best thing I’ve done in terms of self-improvement! It’s a great way to not only figure out who you are (which it’s done for me) but to also hold yourself accountable.

You might like: Bullet Journal Essentials for Beginners

5- Give back and help others.

To me, one of the greatest feelings in the world is the feeling that I get from giving back and helping other people. It’s the greatest way for me to realize how much compassion I have for other humans, and to spread some positivity around. Helping others can also really help you put your problems into perspective. It doesn’t have to be anything big either, just do something to put some positivity into the world sometimes.

You might like: Making a Difference with Random Acts of Kindness

6- Step out of your comfort zone.

Being comfortable doesn’t usually help you grow. You’ve got to challenge yourself, do things that scare you, and step out of your comfort zone at least once in a while. What makes you feel uncomfortable? Whatever it is, try to do it sometime. Shake things up and allow yourself to face that fear and grow. You’ll be surprised by what you’re capable of!

7- Exercise regularly.

You know exercise is important. Yet, I feel like so many of us disregard the importance of it and just don’t do it. You don’t have to aspire to be a bodybuilder or anything. Simple but regular exercises like walking every day can go a long way toward making you healthier, happier, and more confident.

8- Wake up (or get started) earlier.

Waking up early to get a head start on your day can really make a big difference! Many “self-help gurus” – such as Anthony Robbins – acknowledge how waking up early can help with your productivity and your happiness. When you start waking up earlier and having a positive morning routine, you’re giving yourself the momentum to have a productive and happy day. It’s a great habit to have!

9- Set goals and commit to them.

I believe that goal-setting is one of the best things you can do in terms of improving yourself. Everybody could benefit from setting goals, no matter who you are. Whether that goal is to get a new job, lose 20 pounds, write a book, or anything else. And be sure to set small goals for each of those larger goals – such as updating your resume, creating a fitness plan, or creating a book outline. Setting goals is a great way to be working toward something instead of just floating through life. And be sure to write those goals down!

10- Steer clear of toxic people.

Sometimes no amount of self-improvement or personal growth will make a difference if you spend time around people who constantly bring you down. Negative people can drain your happiness and hold you back in so many different ways. I’m a firm believer in the fact that you should cut ties with people who do nothing but make you feel bad if you can really stay away from them. I know that it sucks, but if you can’t help them pull themselves out of their toxic state, you’ll just be dragged down with them.

11- Do things for yourself.

So many of us spend way too much time and energy caring about what other people think and setting aside what we believe or feel. For instance, let’s say that you want to pursue a certain career, but you’re scared that your parents wouldn’t like it or your friends would judge you. So you set aside your hopes and dreams, just because you’d feel bad if people gave you a hard time. That’s no way to live your life!

If you want to grow as a person, you need to do things for yourself – not anyone else. And that includes being able to say “no” to people when they ask too much of you. Keep in mind that it’s your life, and sometimes you gotta do what’s best for yourself. I’m not saying to act like a jerk (you should always be kind) but remember to put your well-being first when you need to.