Ten habits to help make the best version of yourself
Among the best-selling books across the world, self-help books are some of the most popular types of reading materials out there. Everyone wants to be the best person they can, preferably without a lot of work and as quickly as possible. Here are some of the easy things you can do to become the best person you can be — with very little effort and time.
Do some cardio
If you want to decrease stress, improve your health and get rid of some extra pounds, cardio is a logical choice. As many people have busy lives today, having no time for cardio is a frequent excuse. However, you can always take a run around the block, hit the treadmill in the gym, go swimming in the pool, ride a bike across town, or simply jump some rope in your living room. The possibilities are endless, and there’s no excuse for not doing cardio — at least 3 times a week.
Eat healthy
You are what you eat — and you don’t want to be a bunch of processed junk food. Our diet has a profound effect on how we feel and act. To become the best version of yourself, try eating whole, unprocessed foods and cut down on sugary treats.
Make sure your meals are lighter and smaller in size and try to make them as regular as possible. At the same time, drink plenty of water to help rehydrate your body, while avoiding sodas and alcohol. There are plenty of resources for healthy diets online, but you can always visit a nutritionist for a custom-made meal plan just for you.
Wake up (and go to bed) early
Just five more minutes, mom! — you probably remember that sentence too well from your childhood years. The fact is, there’s very few people who like waking up early. It’s dark and peaceful outside, and all you feel like is hugging your pillow and sleeping in.
However, waking up early has plenty of benefits. Research has shown that waking up at 4AM makes a significant difference in productivity. Besides, it’s the perfect time to do things for yourself. How many times have you said that you’ll do something fun later and forgot it? Simply wake up an hour earlier (and go to bed an hour earlier, too) — and go do it.
Read more books
If the only reading you do are work emails, tweets and Facebook statuses, it’s time to stop and rethink. Paper may be obsolete by today’s standards, but there’s very few things more beneficial for the human mind than reading a book.
Some of the benefits of regular reading include learning more, expanding your vocabulary, lowering stress, improving your memory and focus, and minimizing the chances of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Mindfulness meditation
Whether you’re a believer in meditation or not, it has been proven that it has plenty of benefits for your mind and body. Physically, you’ll be able to boost your energy levels, get your blood pressure down, and improve your immune system. On a mental level, you will feel a decrease in stress and a better overall mood, as well as more creativity. Since you can meditate pretty much anywhere and at any time, it’s a shame not to give it a try. What do you have to lose anyways?
Smile whenever you can
Turn that frown upside down — you should smile whenever you can if you want to be the best version of yourself. Did you know that smiling is actually contagious? If you see just one person smiling, you are more likely to smile yourself, as studies have shown.
Besides making others around you smile, you’ll release more endorphins, appear more attractive to others and generally seem like better company than someone who’s constantly frowning.
Be grateful
In today’s rat race and chase for all things material, many people get caught up thinking about things they don’t have. Whether it’s a new car, bigger house or the latest smartphone, there’s always something to crave for.
Instead, focus on what you do have and be grateful for it. Take a step back and appreciate that you’re in good health, have shelter over your head, food on your plate, and you’ll realize that you are much better off than you think. A little bit of gratefulness goes a long way.
Try new things
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone — it may sound cliché, but there’s a whole lot of truth to it. If you keep doing the same things over and over again, you can easily fall into a rut and get bored or simply lack challenges.
Following the idea of optimal anxiety, you should venture into new things that are just outside of your comfort zone. You’ll learn new things, increase your productivity and creativity, and push your boundaries more easily.
Do something that you love at least 2 hours per day
With work and family taking up so much of our lives, sometimes it can be really challenging to find time for ourselves. However, without an outlet of some sort, you can quickly become overwhelmed with the pace of your everyday life. Whether it’s a sport like golf or ice hockey, collecting vintage baseball cards or growing petunias in your garden, devote some time to the things you love, daily.
Write a journal
If you don’t have the time, talent or will to write a book, you can (and should) write a journal. Simply lay down the most important events in every day, whether they’re happy or not so happy. You can go old school and pick up a notebook or write down on your laptop — the benefits are the same. You’ll be able to reflect upon your day and have something to look back on in times to come. One of the major upsides to writing a journal is being able to live in the moment as you try to capture it for your journal. You will have a better feel for the present, without worrying about what has happened and will happen.
——
With these ten tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the best person that you can. Implement them one by one, and you’ll see your world change before your eyes.
Don’t just read. Practice it! BooksInAction contains all the habits presented here. Spending only 5 minutes daily, you will shape your skills and life philosophy, which will eventually change your future.
Currently, BooksInAction contains over 1500 habits and principles from the best personal and professional development books! Discover what people do daily to be wealthy, healthy, and happy.
