2023 Author: Katelyn Chandter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:08
Behind every big success in life are small changes. Any significant change involves a series of successive small changes called habits.
Regardless of what exactly a person wants to change in himself, three points are fundamental: any significant change implies a series of successive small changes; all-or-nothing tactics often fail; small changes in yourself spur the desire to move on along the path to success. Here are 7 tips on how to change your life with small steps.
Greater success habits
Tip 1: Kill your inner critic
A little constructive self-criticism never hurts as it encourages us to grow and become better. But self-criticism that is too strong or wrong can be extremely harmful to us. People often become the fiercest critics of themselves. Here are three ways to deal with criticism.
Stop sign. When a negative thought occurs to you, imagine a big red stop sign and repeat this word to yourself. These visual and verbal symbols will give you better control over your behavior.
Talk to yourself the same way you talk to other people. If you know that you will never tell others, never say it mentally to yourself. Treat yourself with the same respect as you treat others. Be kind and respectful, be able to support and forgive everyone's mistakes - just like children and loved ones.
Add the question "how?" To your internal dialogue. A negative attitude in internal dialogue can shackle us, prevent us from developing and learning new things. If you are thinking to yourself, “I cannot do this” or “I cannot succeed in this,” try modifying these phrases by adding the question word “how?” To them. Let them sound like: "How can I do this?" or "How can I succeed in this?"
Tip 2: take breaks
"If I give up lunch and work for another hour, then I will have time to complete this building." Sounds familiar? Working hard at work may seem productive, but in reality it is not always the case. Research shows that neglecting work breaks decreases productivity, decreases resourcefulness, increases stress and fatigue.
Taking regular breaks from work promotes health. Scientific research shows that, on average, productivity begins to decline after 50-60 minutes of continuous use. To avoid this, you should take breaks every 40 minutes. Of course, every person is unique, so everyone can adjust the frequency and frequency of breaks independently. Experiment to find the work routine that works best for you. However, breaks should not be taken too often. This can negatively affect your self-esteem and increase indecision.
Tip 3: find new reasons to be grateful
Recognizing familiar objects of gratitude (like health or family) is easy, but sometimes it gets in the way of seeing the big picture. Find new areas in which you can find objects of gratitude, and each time you take notes, vary them (for example, home, family, friends, health, work); use different ways of expressing gratitude (diary entry, letter, prayer, appeal to a friend, blog entry, etc.); try to be as specific as possible when expressing your gratitude. For example, today you are thanking fate for giving you a healthy heart. Tomorrow you are preparing to thank her for her healthy muscles and bones, and the day after tomorrow for your young and creative mind.
Look wider at the world. People in developed countries have a sense of peace and security, a stable economy and the opportunity to get what we cannot live without: food, water, shelter and clothing. This luxury, unfortunately, is often taken for granted. Try to think of it as a gift more often. Remember that many are deprived of the bare minimum and live in conditions of war, poverty, hunger, disease and brutality. Think about the benevolence of fate towards you, about how much was done by your ancestors, and about those who today defend your rights and way of life.
Try to see the positive in everything. Try to see a ray of hope in any event. For example, instead of complaining about rainy weather, try to see the rain as a source of life for plants and flowers. And if you have to stay late at work, be grateful that you have it and that it allows you to support your family. Develop the ability to see good even in bad.
Tip 4: spend money on memorable events that are right for you
When you choose the activities to spend on, spending unnecessary can lead to wasted money and frustration. Just because your friends or family want something doesn't mean you want it. For example, if you are a simple person, then you do not need a pretentious dinner at an expensive restaurant. Better to spend the evening with friends and family in a small cafe. And if you prefer a “wild” vacation, then a trip to an expensive all-inclusive resort, when you don't even have to leave the hotel, will be worse for you than staying in a modest hotel and rich opportunities for exploring the surrounding area. Not everything we have experienced is equal in terms of emotional satisfaction, so choose activities that can truly become memorable for you.
Tip 5: Honestly Assess Your Weaknesses
Identify the situations in which you find it most difficult to express your thoughts. Mostly at work? In friends company? In family? Try to understand what exactly keeps you silent in these situations or in your relationships with specific people. Maybe something from the past? Are you afraid of the possible consequences? Perhaps frankness has once come out on your side?
Tip 6: Reward Yourself
Start with the past. To train yourself to celebrate your accomplishments, you first need to show yourself that you know how to achieve them. Create a Reward for Achievement table and list your five most important accomplishments. Write a couple of sentences about each, specifying what exactly helped you succeed. In the next column, list your three feelings about these victories. Whenever you lack determination in completing a task or achieving a goal, study this chart to inspire yourself to new achievements.
Don't forget to celebrate intermediate victories. When you are on a particularly large or long project, support yourself along the way. If you postpone this until the end of the work, you may lose motivation or, even worse, leave the project altogether before it is completed. Divide large tasks into smaller ones with clear boundaries to mark each achievement. For example, if you are writing a book, reward yourself for every chapter you complete.
Tip 7: Say YES more often
Make yourself a day called "Yes to everything new." Try one day to say only "yes" to everything new. Whatever is offered to you, agree (of course, if it is reasonable and safe). At the end of the day, write down everything you feel in your journal. Was this day more lively for you? Did you feel happier? Experienced fear?
Feeling stronger? More confident? Did anything surprise you? Try to repeat these experiments regularly. The more often you say yes to something new, sometimes even frightening, the easier this process will become for you in the future. And the more positive results you see, the more often you will begin to say "yes" to new things in the future.