Only one-third of Americans report feeling happy with their lives. Are you part of this small group, or are there things you’d like to change about yourself and your situation?
If you’re not feeling as happy, healthy, or productive as you’d like, keep reading.
Listed below are eight self improvement hacks that will help you achieve your goals and work toward a better, more satisfying life.
1. Say Thank You
Making gratitude a regular part of your life can have a huge impact on your happiness.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the things we want and all the things that seem to be going wrong in our lives. And, the more time you spend complaining and focusing on the negative, the worse things seem to get.
Luckily, you can break the cycle by stopping for a minute and think about everything that’s going right. You’ll find that just a few minutes of dedicated gratitude can help you quickly turn your day around.
The next time you’re having a bad day, get out a piece of paper and write down five people or five things you’re grateful for.
To stop negative feelings before they start, try making gratitude a daily part of your routine. Every morning or every night, write down three things you’re grateful for. This has been proven to help you feel happier and more optimistic.
2. Donate to Charity
Developing a more generous mindset can also promote greater feelings of happiness and contentment.
In fact, one study found that scientists could predict a person’s happiness based on how much money they gave away.
The more you invest in others, the happier you’ll feel. It’s okay if you can’t afford to spare very much, too.
Just the willingness to give what you can will make all the difference.
3. Stay Organized and Manage Your Time Well
If you’re always feeling unproductive or stressed out, it might be beneficial to take a look at your organization strategy. The better you manage your tasks and prioritizes, the more satisfied, productive, and positive you’ll feel.
If you’re struggling to stay organized, these tips can help.
- Avoid multitasking — this actually makes you less productive and diminishes the quality of your work
- Set boundaries and know when to say no
- Figure out the time of day when you’re the most productive — that should be when you handle your most pressing or challenging tasks
- Avoid time-wasters (distracting phone calls, social media, gossiping with coworkers, etc.)
You don’t have to implement all these changes at once. Just start with one adjustment and work your way up from there.
4. Learn to Forgive
Holding grudges doesn’t help anyone. People who make a habit of practicing forgiveness tend to feel happier and more productive. They also experience fewer health problems.
Of course, practicing forgiveness isn’t exactly easy. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a particularly difficult situation.
For example, it can be very hard to find room for forgiveness when you’re trying to discover more about hiring a personal injury attorney to help you cope with the aftermath of a serious accident.
Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean you allow someone’s bad behavior to continue.
You can still pursue justice without holding a grudge or wishing ill on the other person. This creates more space in your life to focus on what truly matters.
5. Change the Way You Talk to Yourself
Do you have a habit of saying negative things about yourself? Are you frequently criticizing your work, picking at your imperfections, and getting frustrated with yourself for your lack of perfection?
This negative self-talk isn’t doing you any favors.
It’s okay to want to change things about yourself. But, think about how you’d go about encouraging someone in your life to make changes.
You wouldn’t berate a person you loved until they changed their behavior, would you? Most likely, the answer is no.
Try talking to yourself the way you’d talk to a friend. Be firm, but also set realistic expectations and congratulate yourself on the small improvements you make along the way.
6. Take Responsibility for Yourself
Some people tend to take all responsibility on their shoulders. Others have the opposite problem.
If you’re constantly blaming other people for your problems, it’s time to take a step back and take some responsibility for yourself.
At the end of the day, you are the only person you can control. Even if things aren’t going your way, all you can do is change the way you respond to them.
Taking responsibility doesn’t necessarily mean accepting blame, either. It just means that, rather than just complaining about a situation, you accept it and look for ways to make it better.
7. Take Breaks
Are you guilty of always being “on”? Are you always plugged into your work, checking emails and texting coworkers, even when you’re supposed to be relaxing at home?
Many people are in this position, and smartphones and tablets make it harder to switch into “rest mode” at the end of the day.
By taking dedicated time away from work on a regular basis, you’ll feel more energized and productive when you return.
Find ways to disconnect. Turn off notifications when you get home from the office, or let your employees know that you won’t be available over the weekend. Setting boundaries and giving yourself time to recharge can make a huge difference to your happiness.
8. Learn Something New
Finally, make sure you’re always finding new ways to learn and grow. Challenge yourself and remember that it’s never too late to take up a new skill.
Learn a language, learn to knit, take up a new sport.
It doesn’t matter what you want to learn. Taking on something new will help you feel happier, more productive, and more accomplished.
Looking for More Self Improvement Hacks?
These self improvement hacks will take you a long way when it comes to improving your life and boosting your happiness and productivity. But, remember that there’s always room for more improvement.
If you want to learn more about how to stay organized and maintain your health and happiness, check out some of our other life hacks today.
We’ve got advice to help you through just about any situation!