8 Practical Ways to Celebrate Self-Improvement Month
Have you ever heard of Mustache March? Yes, it’s really a thing. Did you know that October is National Pizza Month? I can get behind that one!
More month-long observances are popping up all the time. Some are funny or weird. It’s impossible to keep track of them all. But September’s got one worth celebrating.
September is Self-Improvement Month! It’s a great time to check on the aspects of our lives we may be running on autopilot. Self-improvement doesn’t always have to be hard and grueling. You don’t have to change your whole life or spend a million bucks. In fact, these tips are centered around self-care. Because when we take care of ourselves, improvement is inevitable.
Here are eight practical ways to celebrate:
1. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Gratitude is a game-changer. Our brains are programmed to look for danger. It’s a bummer, but this is what historically kept us from being eaten by large predators. Nowadays, this instinct can send our anxiety into overdrive.
Cultivating a gratitude practice can retrain your brain to look for the positives in life. This helps us to be happier, less stressed, and more resilient.
Your practice doesn’t have to be fancy either. It could be as simple as thinking of three things you’re grateful for before you go to bed each night. This journal is another good option. Writing things down can help to solidify them even more. Even better, you can get family and friends involved by taking turns around the dinner table and sharing what you are thankful for. You don’t even have to wait until Thanksgiving!
2. Pick one area of focus.
Self-improvement can be overwhelming. We have so much information thrown at us from all directions that it can feel like we’re failing at everything.
Drink eight glasses of water a day.
Exercise at least five times a week.
Meditate.
Eat your veggies.
The list is never-ending.
Try to pick one area of focus for this month. Remember, the goal is celebration! Make it something you like doing. Maybe it’s carving out more time to play with your dog. The benefits of play are enormous, and not just for kids! Hate meditation? Try an adult coloring book instead.
Whatever it is, make some time to take care of yourself in a way you actually enjoy. Hopefully, your ritual will extend way past September.
3. Start a new tiny habit.
Many studies show that around 80% of New Year’s resolutions get abandoned by February. Why is this? It’s likely because most of us plan to overhaul our lives to an extreme that is not sustainable all at once.
BJ Fogg, a Stanford University researcher, swears by tiny habits. I mean really tiny … like five seconds or less tiny. Instead of starting a strength training routine, think about doing one squat each day. Instead of giving up alcohol completely, consider taking one extra sip of water each day.
This might sound ridiculous, but success is highly motivating! When we set unattainable goals, we inevitably fail. This unpleasant experience makes us less likely to try again. The opposite is also true. When we set goals we know we can achieve, we are likely to keep going. We’ll probably end up doing a few more squats and drinking that whole glass of water.
Dream big. Then start small.
4. Decide what’s really important. Only spend time on those things.
Ever beat yourself up for procrastinating? Maybe it’s not you. It’s probably natural to only want to spend time on things that matter to us and add value. Try this method inspired by Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix.
Make a list of all the tasks that stress you out or cause you to procrastinate. You might find a lot of overlap there. Go figure! Include anything that you just plain don’t like to do.
Next, cross out anything that isn’t necessary. Give yourself permission not to do these things.
Circle anything that you can outsource. Then make it happen! Hate tidying up? Can you hire a housekeeper for a deep clean once a month? Despise scooping poop? Are you able to get a dog walker?
Automate whatever you can. If you hate paying bills, set up autopay. If you can’t completely delegate or automate some tasks, it helps to at least schedule them consistently on your calendar. For example, if you know you make your budget on the 30th of every month, then you don’t have to worry about it for the other 29 days.
This process can be a little time-consuming, but it frees up time in the long run to spend your life doing things you enjoy with people you love.
5. Spend time doing something you love.
We can get so busy doing all the must-dos of life that we forget to stop and enjoy it. This month I want you to try something new. Instead of cramming everything you think you should be doing into your schedule first, I want you to prioritize at least one fun activity. It could be as simple as going for a walk or setting aside a few minutes to read in the morning.
This idea comes from The Now Habit by Neil Fiore. In this book, he proposes an unschedule. He recommends scheduling fixed activities, self-care, and play first. I’m not advising you to go this far unless you want to. However, I do like the idea of prioritizing self-care and play.
What’s something you love doing but don’t feel like you have enough time for? Having brunch with friends? Going out dancing? Try penciling that in first at least once a week. It might put a little pep in your step and give you something to look forward to.
6. Spend some quality time with loved ones.
We’ve all been through the wringer one way or another over the last year and a half, going in and out of lockdowns and COVID restrictions. Those of us who live alone may have struggled with isolation. The rest of us may have suffered from not having a second alone. Even if you fall into the latter category, spending quality time with loved ones may have been difficult. You may have been in the same space, but juggling work, homeschooling, and life in general may have left you feeling disconnected.
Pencil in some time to connect with the people you love. It’s a little more challenging depending on what you feel comfortable with and what the restrictions are in your area. Still, it’s so important now more than ever. A small outdoor picnic or even a walk together can be rejuvenating and reconnect you to the ones you love.
7. Write down all the things you love about yourself.
We can get so focused on all the things we think we need to improve about ourselves that we can forget to take time to appreciate all that we already are. Take some time to brag about yourself. I know it sounds cheesy, but give it a shot!
Try these prompts:
What do people tell me I’m good at?
What do people ask me for help with?
What do people compliment me on?
What am I most proud of?
Still having a hard time? Ask your friends and family. Don’t be shy! Keep your list somewhere handy so you can take a peek whenever you need a boost.
8. Celebrate your growth.
This one piggybacks on the last suggestion. We can be so focused on where we want to go that we forget to look at how far we’ve come. Take some time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far: this year, this week, this lifetime. Start wherever you feel comfortable.
Try to do this for as many areas of your life as possible: family, home, career, education, health, fitness.
“The more you praise and celebrate your life,
the more there is in life to celebrate.”
~ Oprah Winfrey
There’s no point working so hard to get better if we don’t stop and savor our accomplishments.
Self-improvement does not always have to be all work and no play. Sometimes it means creating space and time for self-acceptance instead of constantly pushing ourselves forward and stretching ourselves to the limit. Use this month to celebrate the past and get excited about your bright future.
You deserve it. I am proud of you.
❤️ GG
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