Some things matter more than others. Since your time is so limited, it’s wise to use your time as effectively as possible. You can’t do everything, but you can do the things that matter the most.
Fortunately, many of the most important things are also easy to do. If you’re serious about taking your self-development to the next level, there are things you can do that will give you the best bang for your time.
2. Become an expert. Expand your knowledge and become an expert on whatever it is you’re trying to improve. The more you learn, the greater your potential to make progress.
3. Create routines. Routines encourage consistency and require a minimal amount of brain power. Routines eliminate decisions. At the very least, have a morning and an evening routine. Set yourself up to have a great day and end your day on a positive note. An example morning routine:
4. Measure your progress. Things that you measure get done, and they improve. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, bench press more, save more money, or become a better cello player, find a way to measure your performance and progress.
5. Review your day. Reviewing your day allows you to gain the most benefit from it. Review your good decisions, mistakes, and progress. Use that information to make every day in the future even better.
6. Use affirmations when your self-talk goes south. Everyone suffers from negative self-talk to varying degrees. One way to combat it is to recite affirmations when your thoughts are negative. Have a list of affirmations you can read. YouTube also has a lot of affirmation audio recordings you can listen to.
7. Unplug at least an hour before bed each night. Give your brain a break and put away all of your electronic devices at least 60 minutes before you turn out the lights. No TV, cell phones, computers, video games, or tablets before bed. This is a great time to read a book and increase your knowledge.
8. Plan your day in advance. It’s easy to waste a day by not having a plan. Avoid going to bed without having a clear plan for the next day. You’ll accomplish much more with this simple idea. Never again will you wake up wondering what you need to do that day.
Self-development can be hard work, so it’s important to make your efforts as effective as possible. Consistency, planning, routines, and review are simple but powerful tools you can use each day. These take little time but supercharge your efforts. If you’re working hard to develop yourself, use these tips to enhance your results.
