As another year draws to a close, another is upon us and for many, it’s time for a fresh start, a year of bettering ourselves and making it a successful year. But life can get in the way, it can be difficult and there are always hard times but making a year filled with happy memories and always thinking positive is something we can all do. So whilst many may be dwelling on what they could have done better this year, it’s time to think of the new year to come and what you can do to make this year your year! 

Here are 7 ways to self-improve:

1) Pick up a new hobby

A hobby is something that many of us have, it keeps us distracted it’s something we can better ourselves in and something we can be proud of when we achieve what we need too within it. Whether yours is golf, art, football, dance, you can always delve into something else. Things that help you learn different skills.

Whether it’s to help you physically, mentally or emotionally having a hobby is a great way to better yourself and it’s something you love and are passionate about. It could be cooking, it’s productive and it’s something we all need to know how to do, so trying out different dishes or even inventing your own will make you feel good.

Writing is another that is beneficial to not only you but to others, writing in your spare time, it’s a form of self-expression and you can write about whatever you want and what interests you the most, dreams, thoughts or desires. Reading, it’s a popular past the time away hobby, it’s productive and it can be done really easily within your downtime, it can be nice to escape into the world of a book. Meditating is so beneficial and a massive stress reliever. It improves focus and memory, it helps you calm your thoughts and emotions. Hobbies are a great way to self-improve as you can constantly improve at your own pace.

2) Overcome your fears

Something that can be hard is standing face to face with your fears because you never know what the outcome is going to be. We all have them and at some point in life, we have to face them. It could be a fear of public speaking, large crowds, heights, uncertainty.

But sometimes they can hold us back and prevent us from growing. It may be that your dream job is to travel and sometimes you may have to go on a plane to do so, but you’re terrified of heights which puts you off doing what you want to do. You might want to work as a business developer and for you to achieve what you want is to pitch your ideas, which includes speaking to people.

As stressful as it will be to actually face your fears, it can be beneficial when you realise that you’re better than what you’re afraid of and it doesn’t control your life, addressing it helps you grow.

3) Eat healthy, exercise, sleep well

As cliche as it may sound, looking after yourself is so important. Don’t always feel like you have to exercise or eat healthy to be a certain weight or look a certain way, it’s for your health and to make you feel better physically and mentally.

You don’t have to go overboard, you can simply go on a 30-minute walk or jog every day, you can go to the gym, just getting up and moving your body for a small amount of time each day, will do wonders to your health, write out a routine, treat yourself at the end of it and remember that if you fall off track, you can easily get back on.

Like exercise, food is just as important to improve your health, of course we love to dig into a yummy cake, drink a cold can of fizzy and delve into the crisps and that is fine to do every so often. Try incorporating healthier foods into your life, fruits, vegetables, high-protein foods and drinking lots of water, don’t feel like you have to restrict yourself, because you can still eat healthily and exercise regularly and have a treat.

Getting the rest you need, is so beneficial to ensure you can function the next day. They say that waking up early around 5-6 am even though it may sound daunting, it something that is becoming more common. Your mindset is already set to continue to be proactive to live out the day. Sleep is so important and it’s key that we get enough of it. Knowing when to rest your body and take a break is just as vital, your body knows when it needs to stop, listen to it.

4) Avoid negative people

Something many of us go through in life is having toxic negativity around us. Negative people can really dampen your mood and they can really drag you down. There’s nothing worse than feeling amazing about what you’re doing, but when someone decides to be negative about it, that’s what you call a toxic person, someone who thrives on making you feel bad.

Getting rid of the negativity is key to making sure you live a happier life. Don’t let someone treat you badly and cause you to feel bad about yourself, they’re not worth it.

5) Start a blog or a journal

Similar to a hobby, something that could really help you is to maybe start a blog something to do with personal development, helping you and others to grow. Startup a blog with the topic you’re interested in, talk about your personal journey, how to live a better life, how to improve yourself and what helps you.

Journaling is a great way to better self-awareness, it’s a type of self-reflection process. When you begin to write, you gather your thoughts, it helps you gain more insights about yourself. It’s your own private space to write about whatever you want.

6) Quit a bad habit 

We all have them, whether it’s not exercising, being late, smoking, drinking too much, spending money on things you don’t actually need, leaving things till the last minute these are all bad habits. But we can easily make it so that they’re not.

Just exercise a bit more, even just walking or just cleaning your house it’s still getting your body moving, rather than just sitting there. Being late, make you set an alarm and go to bed earlier the night before, get everything ready for the next day. There are many remedies to help you to stop smoking and drinking, but if you feel like it’s beyond that then definitely seeking help and confiding in those around you to make sure they don’t let you smoke or drink too much.

We all spend money, but sometimes we spend way too much on things we don’t even need, budget yourself, we’re all entitled to treat ourselves every so often, but wasting it on things we don’t even need or will never use is not worth it. Preparation for any exams or work you have to do to ensure you don’t fall behind and you can meet deadlines.

7) Let go of the past

Letting go of the past is one of the hardest yet one of the best things to do. If something has really gripped hold of you and is causing you to be unhappy, it may be time that you part ways with that. Holding on to it, can prevent you from moving on and becoming a better person. Part ways with it, forgive yourself and move on.

When something holds you back for so long and you finally let go of it it can be liberating and make you feel happy, as hard as it is it may be what you really need.