It is normal to feel frustrated and trapped when you realize you are unable to bring out your full untapped potential. While making a dramatic change may seem like a daunting task at times, it's not impossible if you put in the effort.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Evaluating the Improvements to Make in Your Life
Step 1. Identify which factors trigger the behaviors you would like to change
Correcting a bad habit is really difficult, but you have to understand what triggers it. When you are tempted to take the wrong attitude, take a pen and paper to describe the situation. The context in which it is created could be the element that triggers a series of irrepressible effects, so avoiding it in the future, you could begin to improve.
Let's say you want to stop eating junk food. As soon as you are tempted to open a packet of potato chips, try to consider the circumstance in which this urge arose. You may find that when you are stressed, your craving for junk food increases, so by managing your stress you can avoid falling into this trap
Step 2. Describe what your life would be like if it were better
If you want to radically change, perhaps you are convinced that your life is not progressing on the right tracks. To improve, ask yourself what your ideal way of life should be. Include the work you would like to do or the studies you would like to undertake, how you would like to spend your days and how you would like to be seen by others.
For example, maybe you dream of becoming a teacher so that you can work with children. In your spare time, you would like to spend your days helping others, volunteering and being with your family. Maybe you want others to see you as a hard-working, hearted person
Step 3. List the habits and behaviors that are holding you back
If you want to make a big change in your life, you need to replace bad habits with better ones. Then, identify the routine behaviors that are not helping you to live life the way you want and recognize the ones that cause you problems. List everything so that you can undertake general transformation work.
- For example, you may find that a weekend takeaway habit prevents you from eating healthily and saving money for your hobbies.
- Likewise, you may find that excessive cell phone use is stealing too much of your free time.
Part 2 of 4: Making Big Changes
Step 1. Invest in yourself to recognize your worth
You have every right to feel good about yourself, so give yourself a different look. Change your hairstyle and come up with various outfits to usher in a new beginning. If you wear makeup, choose a tutorial to try out a different type of makeup.
- If you can afford it, go to the hairdresser for a new haircut and revamp your wardrobe.
- If you can't spend a lot of money, opt for a second-hand clothing store or one that has great deals and discounts. Alternatively, offer a few friends a clothing swap so that they can diversify their clothing for free.
Step 2. Renew the spaces you live in
A different environment allows you to improve your way of seeing life and unleash your potential. Start by tidying up the space where you live and work. Then, reorganize the arrangement of the furniture and furnishings in order to give a new look to the furniture as well. If you can, add a few new elements to remind yourself that you are making a big difference in your life.
- Even a small transformation can make a huge difference, so don't worry if you can't revolutionize all of your spaces. For example, a small plant and a painting that is a source of inspiration to your eyes may be enough to make you feel regenerated.
- If you can, decorate your home to feel a real change in your life. Change pictures, buy new sheets and replace old or broken furniture.
Advise:
arrange the environment in which you live according to your ideal of life. For example, if you want to write or study more, you could make your desk the focal point of your bedroom. Likewise, if you want to cook every day, you might want to put pots and pans in a more accessible area.
Step 3. Try to motivate yourself
Your disposition of mind can support you or make you break down, so develop a positive outlook on things. Pay attention to what you think to be able to grasp negative mental patterns. As soon as a negative thought touches you, question it and replace it with another more positive or one that has a neutral value. Also, come up with encouraging phrases to repeat throughout the day.
- For example, if you often think "I am clueless", start to demolish this belief by saying to yourself "Actually it is not true, because I am good at singing, drawing and cooking". So, replace it with: "I'm good at many things, even if no one is perfect."
- You may want to encourage yourself with some positive phrases, such as "I can count on myself", "If I work hard, I can accomplish anything" and "I'm improving".
Step 4. Try something new to break out of your protective shell
When you want to make an epochal change in your life, you have to get out of your comfort zone in order to grow. The best way is to start doing new things. List all the ones you've always wanted to try, then roll up your sleeves.
For example, your list might include: trying Thai cuisine, skydiving, signing up for a painting class, applying for an internship, volunteering, chatting with strangers at the grocery store, changing your hairstyle, and going a new way to go. at work
Part 3 of 4: Becoming a Better Person from All Points of View
Step 1. Improve by setting clear and measurable goals
Analyze your life ideal and identify 1-3 goals that can help you make it happen. Therefore, structural so that they are well circumscribed and measurable in terms of progress towards the desired result. Be specific so that you can keep track of your progress.
For example, "being more active" is not a useful goal because it is neither measurable nor specific. It would be better to decide to "train half an hour a day"
Step 2. Adopt new habits that allow you to achieve your goals
List all the habits useful for achieving the goals you have set for yourself. Then, decide how to plan your daily life according to these new behaviors, in order to gradually achieve the expected results.
For example, let's say your goal is to get back in shape. In this case, you could work out every day and improve nutrition. So, in order not to lose these good habits, schedule days to go to the gym and the times to cook healthy dishes
Step 3. Eliminate the less important activities so that you have time for the essential ones
The days are counted, so adding new goals to your agenda may take you out of the way. To find time to devote to your new goals, identify activities that do not bring any improvement in your life and replace them with more important ones, such as new habits you have decided to acquire.
For example, suppose you normally spend your lunch break playing on your mobile. Try to use this moment to train
Step 4. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to grow
The people who are part of your life exert a huge influence on your way of acting and your stimuli. Spend more time with those who continually try to evolve and focus on what makes them happy. In this way, you will be encouraged to make a radical change in your life.
Look for events and places that allow you to meet people with whom you have common goals and interests. You may be making new friends
Advise:
don't be afraid to leave someone out. If you surround yourself with people who intend to grow, you automatically have less time for who could be a negative influence.
Step 5. Monitor your progress daily in relation to the goals and habits you have established
Keep track of all the work you are doing to achieve a goal and be happy with every little achievement you get. Focus on progress, not where it ends. This way, you will be more motivated to move forward.
- Write down the effort spent on achieving your goal each day.
- When you accomplish something, even if it is unimportant, be happy and congratulate yourself on your progress.
Part 4 of 4: Keeping the Course
Step 1. Find a reliable partner to improve with
It's easier to stay motivated by partnering with someone. Ask someone you have a common goal with or trust if they want to share your challenge. Talk to each other at least once a week to feel committed to sticking to the agreement and to continue making progress.
Depending on your goal, you might even propose to work closely together to get the results you want
Advise:
if you want to achieve more than one goal, consider involving more than one person. For example, you might have a friend who trains with you, a roommate who helps you track the use of your free time, and a colleague who checks your progress at work every day.
Step 2. Reduce the distractions that keep you from staying focused on the most important things
For example, TV and cell phones can be great distractions, but don't fall into their trap. When something prevents you from changing as you would like, eliminate it from your life or place some restrictions on yourself. In this way, you will be able to advance towards your goals.
- For example, you could use an application or software to restrict the use of social media on mobile phones and computers.
- Similarly, you could disconnect all the cables from your TV to avoid turning it on.
Step 3. Take a weekly review of your progress
It will allow you to understand if you are proceeding correctly and, possibly, if you have made any mistakes. In addition, it helps you to make useful changes to reach the final goal. So, each week reflect on everything you have been able to accomplish and the changes that can help you improve in the next one.
For example, try to quantify the time spent on your goals, identify activities that seemed unnecessary to you, and finally decide on the wisest way to organize the next few days
Step 4. Give yourself a reward every time you have made a positive change in your life
Give yourself a small reward for your progress. It could be a motivational star on the calendar, one of your favorite dishes, or a small purchase that you wanted so much. Reward yourself continuously in order to incentivize you to improve.
- If it's a small change, you could put a star on the calendar you use to track the development of good habits or goals.
- If it's a bigger achievement, you might want to treat yourself to a small reward, such as having a good coffee at your favorite coffee shop or taking a relaxing bath with salts.
- If you reach a very important milestone, the reward must be more important, like a new pair of shoes or a day at a spa.
Step 5. Focus on the path that allows you to improve rather than the final goal
It takes time to completely change, but you will surely notice small transformations along the way. In these cases, you have to celebrate because it means that you are starting to live the life you want. Don't think about how long you are missing to reach the goal you have set for yourself. Rather, enjoy the journey to reach it, day by day.
Don't strain yourself to the point of stressing yourself out and feeling disheartened. Go gradually and try to reap all the benefits along the path you have taken
Step 6. Consider resting so as not to run out of energy
When you decide to revolutionize your life, you are led to use every moment sensibly, falling into the error of considering rest and breaks useless. However, your body and mind need to switch off if you want to feel good. So, set the days to relax, putting aside fatigue and tension, so you can recover your energy and not lose your way.
- For example, you can schedule one rest day a week to relax or have fun.
- Alternatively, you could set aside one day per month to relax by staying at home.
Advice
- It takes time to turn your life around, so be patient! In order not to lose motivation, remember the small changes you have already made.
- Don't change to impress others. Try to live the life you want and set goals that allow you to get where you want to go.
