September is here, and fall is just around the corner. I hope you’ve had a relaxing summer filled with fun and family. Now, with kids back in school, holidays around the corner, and a new year ahead – it’s time to get back to business. Perhaps that’s why September has been designated Self-Improvement Month. To kick-off the month I thought we’d explore self-improvement in this week’s weekend word.
self-im·prove·ment
ˈˌself əmˈpro͞ovmənt/
noun
- the improvement of one’s knowledge, status, or character by one’s own efforts.
Self-improvement requires a person making positive changes to themselves through their own efforts. It takes a lot of introspection to determine which areas of your self you would like to improve, as well as time and effort to make those changes.
If you don’t know where to start, try the mind, body and soul approach. Here are our top 3 tips for self-improvement in each category:
Mind
- Read a Book – Whether you want to learn more about a subject in business or personal development, or just want to read for fun, there are several calming benefits to reading that are good for your mind.
- Meditate – Meditation has a great calming effect that allows you to focus on what’s most important to you and letting go of all the clutter in your mind. You don’t have to meditate for a long period of time to feel the benefits. A simple 5 minutes a day will do. Don’t know where to start – research meditation guides on your phone’s app store or online.
- Clear Your Energetic Chaos – The universe and everything in it is made of energy, and when your personal energy is at an imbalance, it can affect every area of your life. There are two main areas of our lives that can contribute to energetic chaos – biology and physical space – and by making the right changes in these areas, you can help restore balance to your energy. Head on over to our friends at Graceful Spaces to learn more about how you can balance your energy with BioEnergetics and applying Feng Shui to your home/office.
Body
- Find a Workout that Works for You – While it’s a great option, getting exercise doesn’t have to require a gym membership. There are plenty of ways to incorporate a workout into your everyday life. Go for a longer walk or hike with your dog or family, walk/bike to work if you’re able to and take a walk around the office on your breaks, download workout apps to play on your phone, TV, etc. Find a way to get active and stick with it!
- Create a Cookbook – How many times do you come home from work not wanting to cook because it’s too much effort and time to find a healthy recipe? This month, set aside time to research healthy recipes that fit your cooking level and lifestyle so you have an arsenal of affordable, healthy meals at your fingertips.
- Meal Plan/Prep – Create system of meal planning and prep that works for you! Set aside time once or twice a week specifically to plan and prep your meals. A simple search on Google or Pinterest will provide you with tons of make-ahead or freezer meals to help. By doing it all in one batch you save time from having to repeat the same tasks each night. Also, you can save money by choosing recipes that have the same ingredients so you can buy in bulk!
Soul
- Find a Hobby – Everybody needs to have something they do that’s just for themselves. Whether it’s watching or playing sports, crafting, reading, etc. find something you like to do that’s just for you.
- Schedule Me-Time – If there’s nothing else you do for yourself on this list, sit down and find 30 minutes each week that you designate as “me time”. This time is a blank canvas, you can fill it however you want. Just make sure you focus on yourself and not your obligations during this time!
- Do Something Good for Humanity – Helping others in your community can be very rewarding. Whether you’re donating time at your local soup kitchen, mentoring someone, volunteering for events or making a donation – your efforts make a difference. Your soul will thank you for it! If you’d like to feed your soul by doing good in the global community, consider making a pledge to support helping an orphaned child in Uganda work towards self-improvement.
For the kids in our schools, every month is self-improvement month. They are constantly working towards creating a better version of themselves that will one day be independent and self-sufficient, able to thrive on their own. For just $20 per month, you can provide a year of education for one child in Uganda. By pledging to make monthly a donation today, not only will you be improving your life, but the life of an orphaned child in Uganda as well.
To make a donation visit: https://hope4hearts.donortools.com/my/funds/64767-Make-a-Difference
“Each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity.”
– Marie Curie
Peace and Love,
Cristen
